Australia fast bowler Scott Boland will return to his original BBL club Melbourne Stars, having not played in the competition last season following two years with Hobart Hurricanes. He has signed a three-year deal with Stars.Elsewhere, Matthew Kuhnemann, who played three Tests for Australia on the recent tour of India, has re-signed with Brisbane Heat on a three-year deal, turning his back on interest from other clubs.Boland became a cult hero in Melbourne following his MCG heroics on Test debut in December 2021 when he took 6 for 7 against England to claim Player-of-the-Match honours.Related
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But while he had been a mainstay in Victoria’s first-class attack for a decade and pushed himself into the Test ranks, he had not been a regular in Stars’ line-up during his six seasons between 2013-14 and 2018-19, playing just 31 matches. He moved to Hobart Hurricanes in 2019-20 and played 26 matches over two seasons but did not play at all last summer as he played in three of Australia’s five home Tests.Stars took the opportunity to offer him a deal to return to the BBL.”I can’t wait to be a part of the Big Bash again and it’s great to be back at home with the Melbourne Stars in front of family and friends at the MCG,” Boland said. “The Stars have the best fans in the league and hopefully I can be a part of some success and that elusive first BBL title.”Stars are also likely to add Boland’s recent Hurricanes team-mate and Western Australia left-arm swing bowler Joel Paris to their list for the coming season while it is understood Nathan Coulter-Nile has also re-signed for another year.Matt Kuhnemann produced an outstanding spell•Getty Images
Meanwhile, Heat were pleased to re-sign Kuhnemann long-term after he was courted by several clubs following his outstanding BBL last season where his 16 wickets and economy rate of 7.57 were a key part of Heat’s run to the final.”Matthew was a key retention priority following our efforts last summer and his signing is a massive boost for the club,” coach Wade Seccombe said. “We fully expect him to continue to push for higher honours in the future and look forward to working with him to help him reach those heights again.”Kuhnemann is currently recovering from a stress fracture in his back that cut short his county championship stint with Durham, but he is expected to be fully fit for the Australian summer.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is personally targeting a “world-class” player, and it is believed that the Gunners are in advanced talks to sign him ahead of the summer window.
Andrea Berta set for busy summer transfer window at Arsenal
New sporting director Andrea Berta will soon commence his official role as Arsenal’s head transfer chief, which has prompted much excitement ahead of what will be his first window at the club.
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The England star has been out since before Christmas.
ByEmilio Galantini Mar 28, 2025
The 53-year-old will touch down in the UK before the beginning of next week, according to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel, and is expected to be in attendance for Tuesday’s Premier League clash against Fulham.
Berta, who played a key role during his 12-year stay at Atlético Madrid – orchestrating deals for the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Rodri, Jan Oblak, Yannick Carrasco, Luis Suárez and Marcos Llorente – comes to N5 with a glowing reputation.
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Since former director Edu’s departure in November last year, Arsenal had been linked with PSG’s Luis Campos, among other high-profile officials, but Berta seems like a very good fit for Arsenal and Arteta.
There are already reports that Berta is set to splash the cash this summer, with GiveMeSport stating that Arsenal could spend up to £300 million on seven new signings under the Italian.
He is apparently set for a busy opening window as he looks to overhaul Arteta’s squad. Following Berta’s appointment, the Gunners are reportedly after a new back-up goalkeeper, full-back, defensive midfielder, left-winger, striker and, potentially, an alternative to Bukayo Saka out wide (GMS).
However, one of his key goals will be to win the race for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has already stated this week that Arsenal are “almost definitely” going to sign Zubimendi, but contrary reports state that Real Madrid are very much still in the mix.
The 26-year-old’s contract includes a £50 million release clause, which Arsenal are prepared to trigger (Fabrizio Romano). The main obstacle to this move is convincing Zubimendi to swap his boyhood club for the Premier League, which Liverpool failed to do last summer when the Spain international snubbed Arne Slot’s advances.
Mikel Arteta's stance on Martin Zubimendi with Arsenal in advanced talks
Now, a report by TEAMtalk has shared Arteta’s stance on Zubimendi, with Arsenal still in advanced talks to strike a pre-summer deal.
Arteta “certainly” wants Zubimendi at Arsenal, as per this report, and as previously reported, loose terms have already been agreed with the player. However, although negotiations are at an advanced stage, they’re apparently not finalised just yet.
This could hand Real Madrid some hope, but the good news for Arsenal is that Liverpool are apparently not planning to reignite their pursuit this year.
The Sociedad star has previously been called the “perfect” midfielder for Arteta, while Kieran Tierney has labelled him “world-class”. Given Thomas Partey and Jorginho are set to leave for nothing at the end of the season as things stand, it is imperative that Berta seals a move for Zubimendi to fill the void left in Arsenal’s engine room.
OSão Paulo foi absolvido da acusação de que torcedores do clube teriam cometido atos de racismo no jogo contra o Fluminense.A Procuradoria do STJD (Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva) ofereceu uma denúncia após supostos gestos que teriam sido direcionados para a torcida visitante durante partida pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, no estádio do Morumbi.
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Tabela > Veja tabela da Copa Sul-Americana
Imagens divulgadas por torcedores do clube carioca mostraram pessoas com a camisa do Tricolor na arquibancada do estádiofazendo gestos que podem ser entendidos como racistas. No mesmo dia, o São Paulo divulgou uma nota de repúdio lamentando o caso.
Segundo informações divulgadas inicialmente pelo portal “UOL” e confirmadas pelo LANCE!, a Procuradoria do STJD enquadrou o São Paulo no artigo 243-G do CBJD (Código Brasileiro de Justiça Desportiva), que prevê punição justamente para casos de atos discriminatórios, desdenhosos ou ultrajante, “relacionado a preconceito em razão de origem étnica, raça, sexo, cor, idade, condição de pessoa idosa ou portadora de deficiência”.
A reportagem do L!já teria apurado que um dos acusadosse apresentou voluntariamente à delegacia e alegou inocência. O outro, até então, não havia sido identificado.
Os auditores do casoentenderam que não foi possível confirmar que os gestos tiveram cunho racista. Porém, a procuradoria pode recorrerao Tribunal Pleno.
Jonathan Tah may be forced to miss the start of the Club World Cup despite confirming a free transfer to Bayern Munich from Bayer Leverkusen.
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Tah signed four-year contract at BayernConfusion over participation at Club World CupLeverkusen to charge a sum for early releaseFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to a report by , Leverkusen initially demanded a €7 million fee from Bayern to agree to free Tah from his contract before it expires at the end of the month, with the centre-back having already agreed to join the Bundesliga champions on a four-year deal. Bayern are currently negotiating over a deal closer to €3m.
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Unless an agreement is reached, Tah will not be available for the group stage of the competition in the United States, where the Bavarians will face Auckland City, Boca Juniors and Benfica. He would also miss out on the round of 16 but would be eligible from the quarter-finals after his Leverkusen deal reaches its end.
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The Germany international initially agreed to join Bayern last year, but said recently he was convinced to stay by Xabi Alonso. He played 402 competitive matches for Leverkusen over a 10-year spell and was a vital cog in Xabi Alonso’s double-winning side in 2023-24.
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN MUNICH?
Bayern will start their Club World Cup campaign against Auckland City on June 15, at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
Mukesh Kumar has also been named in the squad; Mohammed Shami has been rested and Umesh Yadav dropped
Shashank Kishore23-Jun-20232:22
Has Cheteshwar Pujara played his last Test?
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mukesh Kumar have been selected in India’s Test squad for the first time for the tour of the West Indies, while Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped and Mohammed Shami rested. Fast bowler Navdeep Saini has also made a comeback to the squad in place of Umesh Yadav.It means India will have a new No. 3 for the series after Pujara, 35, scored only 14 and 27 in the World Test Championship final against Australia earlier in June. Unless India move Shubman Gill down to No. 3, Pujara’s spot could be taken by either Jaiswal or Gaikwad for India’s first series in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle.Related
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Ajinkya Rahane, who was India’s highest scorer at The Oval, has kept his place after making a comeback following a 15-month absence from the Test team. He has also been named vice-captain. The rest of the squad, led by Rohit Sharma, includes most of the players selected for the WTC final.Jaiswal had made the trip to London as a stand-by player along with Mukesh, after Gaikwad, who was part of the original list of back-ups, withdrew to get married. While Jaiswal and Mukesh are uncapped, Gaikwad has played ten limited-overs internationals; his most-recent an ODI against South Africa in October last year.Gaikwad, who plays for Maharashtra, has a first-class average of 42.19 from 28 games with six centuries, and his technique has impressed the selectors and team management who have been looking to bring him into the Test team for a while now.Jaiswal has been prolific for Mumbai and has a first-class average of 80.21 in 26 innings. In his most recent first-class game – the Irani Cup – he made 213 and 144 for Rest of India against Madhya Pradesh. That aggregate of 357 is the most for any batter in an Irani Cup game. Jaiswal has the ability to not just open but also bat at No. 3 if required.Mukesh is a workhorse who plays for Bengal. The 30-year-old is a line-and-length fast bowler who has built an impressive body of work in domestic cricket. He was key to Bengal making two Ranji Trophy finals in the last three seasons and has been on the Test radar for a while, having featured in every India A tour over the past two seasons. He has 149 wickets in 39 first-class games.Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are all still recovering from surgery for various injuries, and with Rishabh Pant undergoing rehab after surviving a car crash last December, KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan have been picked as India’s wicketkeepers in the Caribbean. Bharat has played all five Tests since Pant’s injury, but has scored just 129 runs at an average of 18.42.What next for Cheteshwar Pujara?•Associated PressOn the spin-bowling front, Axar Patel provides back up to R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Jaydev Unadkat, who has been part of every Test squad since the tour of Bangladesh last December, was also retained and is the only left-arm seamer in a fast bowling group that also includes Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Saini and Mukesh, all of whom have fewer than 100 Test wickets each. Saini has not played a Test since the famous victory at the Gabba in 2021.India open their tour of the West Indies with the first Test in Dominica from July 12. The second Test begins on July 20 at Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. They won their previous Test series in the Caribbean 2-0 in 2019.India’s Test squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk), Navdeep Saini
Spinner experienced “low back symptoms” during Ireland Test
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jun-2023
Jack Leach picked up four wickets at Lord’s•Getty Images
England spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the men’s Ashes after scans revealed he had suffered a lumbar stress fracture. Leach developed “low back symptoms” during the Test victory over Ireland at Lord’s and he will now miss the entire series against Australia.Leach was among in the 16-man squad for the first two Tests announced on Saturday, with England set to name a replacement “in due course” according to an ECB statement.Related
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Leach has been ever-present under Ben Stokes, with the captain trusting him to fulfil a more attacking role in the side. In 13 Tests, he had taken 45 wickets at 38.22, including a maiden ten-wicket haul in the win over New Zealand at Headingley last summer.The Somerset left-armer is also the only English-qualified spinner to have taken more than 10 wickets in the County Championship this season. Candidates to come into the squad could include Rehan Ahmed, Will Jacks and Liam Livingstone, all of whom made Test debuts in Pakistan over the winter, as well as the previously capped Dom Bess and Liam Dawson.Leach picked up 3 for 35 in the first innings against Ireland, but struggled for breakthroughs on the third day as Andy McBrine and Mark Adair put on a 163-run stand for the seventh wicket to help avert an innings defeat.Stokes also turned to Joe Root’s offspin at Lord’s, and one option for England could be to select another quick bowler and rely on Root for fill-in overs.England have already lost the services of Jofra Archer, following the recurrences of his elbow problem, and did not consider either James Anderson or Ollie Robinson for the Ireland Test due to minor injuries. Olly Stone is also currently sidelined, while Jamie Overton is recovering from a back stress fracture – although England’s pace stocks were buoyed this week by a five-wicket haul on debut for Josh Tongue.They hope to have Stokes available as an allrounder, as he continues to manage a knee issue, but Leach’s injury less than two weeks out from the start of the first Test at Edgbaston only adds to concerns around how to balance the bowling workload.
Rangers are now well-placed to sign an “excellent” English striker as they search for replacements for Cyriel Dessers, according to a report.
Gers planning for the summer
Although hopes of winning the Scottish Premiership have long since faded, there is still a lot to play for this season, with Rangers booking their place in the Europa League quarter-final after a penalty shootout victory over Fenerbahce on Thursday night.
However, the Gers must try and bridge the gap to Celtic in the league next season, and they are now starting to make plans for the summer, at which point their first priority is likely to be bringing in a new permanent manager.
Rafa Benitez and Russell Martin are among the names most recently linked with a move to Ibrox this summer, at which point there could also be a revamp of the squad.
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This would be a big blow for the Gers.
By
Henry Jackson
Mar 14, 2025
There have recently been suggestions that Mohamed Diomande and Hamza Igamane could depart in the summer, and the latter’s potential exit, coupled with the doubt over Dessers’ future, means it may be imperative to bring in a new striker.
According to a report from Football Insider, Rangers are now looking at St Mirren striker Toyosi Olusanya as a replacement for Dessers, and they are well-placed to get a deal done.
The Gers are willing to sell Dessers in the summer, and Olusanya is at the top of the list of potential replacements, having performed well at Ibrox earlier in the campaign, scoring in his side’s 2-0 victory back in February. The St Mirren star is viewed as a player who would tick lots of boxes, irrespective of who is brought in to replace Barry Ferguson this summer.
Rangersinterim manager Barry Ferguson celebrates after the matc
"Excellent" Olusanya impressing for St Mirren
The 27-year-old has been on quite a journey, spending a lot of time in the English lower leagues before making the move to St Mirren, and a move to Ibrox would be by far his biggest transfer to date. The London-born forward has already eclipsed his goal tally from last season, netting 12 times in all competitions, and he has received high praise from manager Stephen Robinson.
“He missed a chance last week. He missed a penalty. He showed great character and bravery. For anybody who takes a penalty credit to them, he stepped up. Our penalty taker had gone off at the time.
“For a player, you miss a penalty, you miss a penalty. He’s shown a great response to that with two great goals. His movement was excellent and he gave us a comfortable lead.”
However, there are doubts over whether the Englishman is at the level to be a real upgrade on Dessers, considering this is his first majorly impressive season in front of goal, so Rangers should continue to monitor his performances between now and the summer.
David Moyes has been nothing short of a revelation since returning to the Everton dugout in January after nearly 12 years away, with Saturday’s salvaged draw against West Ham United making it eight games unbeaten in the Premier League.
Everton managerDavidMoyesbefore the match
14th in the standings, relegation fears feel a long time ago, the Toffees now looking to create a base from which future successes can be achieved.
West Ham, with whom Moyes lifted the Conference League in 2022/23, changed their fortunes at the pit of the Premier League with the Scotsman in place, and The Friedkin Group will no doubt harbour early excitement that a similar rise can be achieved on Merseyside, at Bramley Moore.
Moyes has reportedly been informed he will hold the keys to the transfer chest this summer, and while there are certainly areas already in need of investment this summer, Everton already boast several stars threatening to make plenty of noise in higher spheres in the top-flight over the coming years.
Everton's most valuable players under David Moyes
Everton’s market business while controlled by Farhad Moshiri left plenty to be desired, with relegation concerns seemingly an every-year issue in recent times.
But while TFG, Moyes and incoming Director of Football Angus Kinnear herald a new era at Bramley Moore, there are of course some stars who stand out above the rest and could remain important parts of the second Moyes era.
Jarrad Branthwaite stands out chief among them.
Everton rejected a series of offers from Manchester United for their prized defender, staying firm on their £75m valuation. Top clubs will be sure to return in the future, a marker of the young Lion’s potential.
Further up the field, Iliman Ndiaye is the cream of last summer’s recruitment, joining from Marseille for £15m and scoring eight goals from 28 matches this season, including three in a row to help Moyes toward his brilliant start.
Were suitors to emerge this year, you’d bank on the Blues fielding enquiries with a far higher financial floor, if at all.
The goals may have dried up for Beto over the past few weeks, but his upswung form since January has reminded the Everton faithful of the thrill of having a powerful and prolific goalscorer.
That £26m fee paid to Udinese in August 2023 is beginning to become more understandable, with potential interest this summer likely to be turned away without some willingness to enter that ballpark.
Beto
Though he’s not properly on the books yet, Moyes might just have struck gold with another rising star, one who was picked to be a part of the fledgling project by the man himself and may become one of the most valuable members.
Moyes can strike gold with Everton's rising star
Remarkably, Moyes has transformed Everton since replacing the resigned Sean Dyche three months ago with nominal spending in the winter window, instead polishing and re-energising his existing options.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?Override
Alcaraz had had previous experience in the Premier League with Southampton in 2022/23, suffering relegation but demonstrating his budding ability after scoring four goals and laying on two assists across 13 starting appearances.
But since making his mark with a goal and assist apiece against Crystal Palace in early February, the 22-year-old has proved he is a more complete player, bringing a combative streak to match his natural danger in attacking situations.
As per Sofascore, he’s completed 60% of his dribbles, averaged 3.6 successful duels and 1.6 key passes per game while also completing 83% of his passes.
Described as a “special talent” by journalist Antonio Mango, Alcaraz’s tactical flexibility was one of the major selling points when he was welcomed in January, initially brought in on loan from Brazilian Serie A side Flamengo, with a mandatory £12m purchase clause active at the end of the campaign.
Everton midfielder Charly Alcaraz
It’s early days yet, but tying him down with such a small price tag might prove to be a bona fide bargain down the line. While still at Southampton, Alcaraz moved on loan to Juventus for the second half of the 2023/24 term, with an option to sign him for £40m.
This didn’t come to fruition, but it still stands as a yardstick for the South American’s potential, something that may even be realised in the conditions created at Everton since Moyes’ arrival.
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His versatility is a massive plus. Alcaraz enjoyed success against the Irons on Saturday, creating three key passes, making three tackles and winning nine duels, as per Sofascore, compensating for continued injury absences as Jesper Lindstrom dropped to the bench.
Owing to his technical quality and invariably tenacious approach, the Argentina talent may still be a loanee but he’s proving the £12m investment may well be worth it, in fact proving to be a shrewd deal indeed in the future.
If he can put in the hard work, Alcaraz may even become more valuable than the lion’s share of Everton’s standout players, eclipsing the worth of those such as Beto.
Everton striker Beto
Alvarez might have missed a gilt-edged chance in the closing stages against West Ham, but his performances since joining from Brazil have suggested he has what it takes to become a high-class midfielder in the Premier League.
The Liverpool Echo’s Chris Beesley still felt it was just to hand him a healthy 7/10 match score, praising the ‘glimpses of quality’ that bespeak a potential future in some high-level conversations.
Charly Alcaraz in action for Everton
Juventus have already been interested in snapping him up for a £40m figure, and if he continues to show his skills as he has been doing, getting him down as a permanent part of this fast-changing Everton squad seems like a no-brainer.
More clinical than DCL: Everton now in huge race for "fantastic" £17m gem
On the eve of PSG vs Inter in the Champions League final, Gatorade invited youngsters from around the world for a special tournament
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Football can, should and often is a force for good. It is more than winning and losing, rather more about spirit and community, happiness and enjoyment, no matter your age, background, philosophy or all else.
Sport allows people from all walks of life, be they adolescent or adult, to dream. For 14 to 16-year-olds who aspire to make it as professional footballers, Gatorade's 5v5 Tournament – running since 2016 – is almost on a plain of fantasy. Grassroots tournament at local level decide national champions for boys and girls all over the world, with these winners representing their respective countries facing off in the host city of the Champions League final. The prize is a trip to that showpiece event, this year held at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.
The last four – two boys' finalists and two girls' finalists – also had the chance to meet several icons of the game. Cesc Fabregas was one of the marquee names to pop by, with Robert Pires, Claude Makelele, Cafu and Laura Georges all attending the last day of festivities in Munich's Olympiapark and later playing in a legends' match to wrap up proceedings. GOAL had the chance to speak with the quartet about their involvement in the initiative and what's kept them coming back each year.
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Gatorade
Setting an example
The opportunity to come and inspire the next generation is as much of a pull as any other factor to these ex-professionals. It's a nice, timely reminder of their importance and influence, even nowadays. Makelele and Pires, two close friends from their days representing one of the most successful France teams at international level, had contrasting views on their fame as they grow older, but aligned all the same.
Former midfielder Makelele said: "Of course, I'm happy to set an example, I'm happy because sometimes you can lose yourself in football and you need someone who can understand. Sometimes it's good to copy, we all copy different players when we start, you want to set a good example and I hope I'm a good example for them."
Pires, dripping in sweat after being put through his paces in the legends' game, retorted: "It's not easy because, coming back like me, you are old! But the most important thing is for everyone to enjoy the day, to be together for these sorts of events. I'm feeling good and I'm happy to be here with the guys, with everyone."
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Gatorade
Passing on the legend
Cafu, the oldest A-lister at 54, was thrilled to be known by the kids, particularly those from his native Brazil. "I feel extremely happy to come over and realise we can still contribute to the formation of the new generations," he said.
It was then put to the former Milan and Roma star that right-backs nowadays are periodically hailed as 'the new Cafu' if they show promise and potential, which brought a trademark wide smile to his face.
"It's a great honour to still be referenced like that nowadays!" he exclaimed, before reeling off his favourite right-backs of the modern game. "I like Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Achraf Hakimi of course… and Dodo from Fiorentina!"
Makelele, a self-confessed Chelsea fan having enjoyed a successful five-year stint there as a player, was also in the mood to talk about his successors in the modern era at Stamford Bridge, where the Blues seem to churn out generational midfielder after generational midfielder.
"Moises Caicedo, I love this boy!" Makelele hailed. "Romeo Lavia also, he can provide great competition. I think next season, you will see a better Chelsea. Only one team in Europe has won all the trophies, no one other club has done this. I think it's good, there was a negative way because they had injuries, but they corrected it and they are very good, they're back in the Champions League and they won a trophy."
Gatorade
Supporting the women's game
As one of the most successful players to ever grace the women's game, Georges was especially pleased to see girls given a platform to perform and live their dreams.
"I wish my [youth] team could participate in this tournament!" she said. "But I'm glad the kids have these opportunities from different countries, having the experience of a final tournament is great."
As was the case with Pires, Makelele and Cafu, it was hard to peel Georges away from crowds wanting pictures with another of their heroes. "Whenever I meet fans, I think it's always important to get to know them, to share experiences about the game, to give them support and thank them for taking their time to support the women's game, we are nothing without fans," she added.
Though Gatorade 5v5 concluded with the men's Champions League final, Georges was keen to discuss the women's Champions League final from a week earlier. Arsenal, huge underdogs heading into the showdown in Lisbon, beat heavy favourites and holders Barcelona 1-0, and Georges thought it was important for the parity of the sport to shine through.
"This final was great to showcase the talent of the women's game. Barcelona are great, but Arsenal showed through the season so much resilience and hard work. It was great to see that, it's not just about one team being on top, but every team in the women's game stepping up their level. Everyone can beat everyone."
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Gatorade
5v5 to the world
There are clearly differences between small-sided games and the 11-against-11 standard of professional football, but that doesn't mean there aren't skills which are transferable. In fact, that's how football tends to begin.
Makelele pointed out: "5v5 is different, it's like when we're in the streets and building our teams! It's good, the kids can learn how to be competitive, play one-to-one, and they play football. 5v5 is the beginning of football, you never start at 11 against 11. The way skill is more important, the way you contact with others, you can play! It's a short distance, then evolution makes you open up football more. 5v5 is the beginning."
Both Cafu and Pires attest that sharpness and quickness of thought are key to this form of cage football. The Brazilian said: "5v5 is a much faster game, so you have to think faster, you have to be more accurate and precise with the ball. Every decision has to be made in a small amount of time," Pires added: "It's not quite the same because you need to be more focused, you have to concentrate more on what’s happening on the field. But I like it because you can work it out tactically, your ability on the ball, you have to be fast and have good vision."
After Erling Haaland had squandered a first half penalty and AFC Bournemouth raced into a one goal lead courtesy of star striker Evanilson, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City looked set for a demoralising FA Cup exit.
But, a terrific second half turnaround saw the Citizens eventually run out as a determined 2-1 victors to soar into the semi-finals, with the aforementioned Nordic centre-forward atoning for his spot-kick howler by levelling up proceedings in the South Coast sunshine.
The lethal City number nine wasn’t the only striker to get in the on the goalscoring act, as the winning goal of the afternoon would fall to new recruit Omar Marmoush a matter of minutes after he came on in place of Haaland.
Marmoush's performance in numbers
Marmoush has been an instant success donning his new colours, with the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt forward already a reliable option Guardiola can throw into contests.
Indeed, the electric Egyptian has five goals next to his name from 11 City outings, with his goal contribution numbers for the season – which includes his whirlwind output in Germany – up to a staggering 40 goals and assists from 35 clashes.
Kepa Arrizabalaga could perhaps have done better with this effort, but the clinical City number seven wouldn’t have cared one bit when wheeling away in celebration, knowing his strike had sealed his side’s progression through to Wembley.
It really was a game where the substitutes stood out for the star-studded visitors, with 20-year-old sensation Nico O’Reilly arguably putting in the performance of the game when handed the full second half.
O'Reilly's performance in numbers
Everyone associated with the reigning Premier League champions knows that this summer could be one of immense change as some of the current declining crop move on from the Etihad.
Thankfully, stars such as O’Reilly are proving to the City faithful that the future can be bright with a next generation of talent coming through.
O’Reilly’s numbers vs Bournemouth
Stat
O’Reilly
Minutes played
45
Goals scored
0
Assists
2
Touches
30
Accurate passes
10/15
Key passes
2
Big chances created
1
Total duels won
3/5
Stats by Sofascore
From just 30 touches of the ball, the promising City number 75 would wreak absolute havoc, with one dart forward early into the second half finished off by Haaland, before then teeing up Marmoush for 2-1.
Away from shining in an attacking capacity, O’Reilly also won his fair share of duels with three successfully won, on top of also winning two tackles to preserve his side’s slender advantage right until the full-time whistle was sounded.
Having picked up three goals in the FA Cup this season too away from his heroics against the Cherries, it now feels like a matter of time before the 20-year-old is regularly picked by Guardiola in the Premier League, with his versatility to play in a number of different roles potentially coming in handy.
The Manchester-born starlet has lined up as an attacking midfielder and striker primarily for the U23s, but the 9/10 performer – as was the post-match rating gifted to him by Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski – has even lined up in the left-back spot in the senior set-up to date which more than proves his flexible nature.
With the future of Guardiola’s men very much a topic of conversation, O’Reilly’s time for more consistent first-team minutes must come very soon, especially if he can continue to change games in the same manner he did against Andoni Iraola’s stern hosts.
Indeed, although he did not start today’s game, he’s made himself undroppable heading into their midweek fixture. He simply has to be on the team sheet.
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