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Tottenham are suing Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS firm for over £11m due to a breach of contract.

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Details of legal wrangle revealedSpurs accuse Ratcliffe's car firm of breach of contractIt is INEOS' latest court battle over sponsorshipFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Spurs filed a lawsuit against Ineos Automotive Limited earlier this month in the High Court and now the details of the dispute have been revealed by . Spurs accuse Ratcliffe's firm of breaching the five-year deal it signed in 2022, which was worth a minimum of £17.5m, to promote the Ineos Grenadier as the club's official 4×4 vehicle partner.

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Spurs are claiming that Ineos failed to pay them the £5m-plus instalment that was due last December, having also not stumped up almost £500,000 the previous August. The north London club are also claiming at least £5,275,974 in damages after the deal was cut short with more than two years to go. The legal battle is the latest episode in a simmering rivalry between Tottenham and United. The teams met four times last season and Tottenham were triumphant on each occasion, most significantly in the Europa League final in Bilbao.

DID YOU KNOW?

INEOS have withdrawn from several sponsorship agreements recently in what they claim are the consequences of Europe's green initiatives. The firm stopped sponsoring Sir Ben Ainslie's sailing team earlier this year and also pulled out of a deal with the All Blacks rugby team. Ratcliffe has also overseen massive cutbacks at United, including making 450 staff members redundant.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR RATCLIFFE?

Despite the cutbacks at United and by Ineos, Ratcliffe has approved the Red Devils committing to spend in the region of £130m on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Cunha has already arrived after United paid his £62.5m release clause while the 20-times English champions are close to striking a deal with Brentford for Mbeumo for an initial £60m plus £5m in add-ons. Any other signings are only likely to happen if United can generate extra revenue through player sales, although their unwanted players such as Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford are proving difficult to shift.

da bet esporte： Nicolas Jackson is becoming a hot topic again at Chelsea, having returned recently from injury after missing five Premier League games due to injury.

da casino： Whilst the 23-year-old has scored nine times this season, also providing five assists, he is now without a goal in his last 11 Premier League games, last netting against Brentford in December.

Enzo Maresca has made it clear he is a fan of Jackson and his contribution to the team, making relentless runs in behind, pressing from the front and putting in those extra yards.

However, his lack of goals, paired with the likes of Cole Palmer’s drop in form, has seen Chelsea struggle to find the back of the net in recent months.

It seems almost inevitable Chelsea will sign a striker in the summer as they look to provide Maresca with another centre-forward to compete with Jackson. There is one man in particular who is dominating the links in the media as of late.

The latest on Chelsea's interest in Liam Delap

Liam Delap is being heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, with Manchester United also said to be in the running for the 21-year-old Ipswich Town striker.

The latest on any prospective move is that the Blues have reportedly held talks with Ipswich regarding a possible summer move.

The English forward has made 31 appearances this season in the Premier League, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists.

The 6 foot 1 forward is built perfectly for the Premier League, having the physical capacity to bully defenders with his broad build, whilst having the technical quality to match, having joined the Manchester City academy in 2019 after coming through at Derby.

Liam Delap vs Nicolas Jackson in 24/25

Stats (per 90 mins)

Delap

Jackson

Goals

0.45

0.42

Assists

0.07

0.23

xG

0.35

0.56

Progressive Carries

2.23

1.99

Progressive Passes

1.15

1.48

Shots Total

2.25

3.33

Goals/Shot

0.17

0.13

G-xG

+0.12

-0.14

Shot-Creating Actions

2.31

3.06

Aerial Duels Won

1.92

0.79

Stats taken from FBref

When comparing Delap’s underlying metrics to Jackson’s, you can see how their two profiles differ, with the former offering a higher level of clinical finishing and box presence, winning 1.92 aerial duels per 90.

Both players have the ability to progress via their carrying quality and run the channels, but Jackson has shown a higher level to link and provide for his teammates so far, making more progressive passes and creating more shots.

However, rather than splashing the cash, perhaps Maresca could look towards Cobham to unleash their own Delap.

Chelsea's Cobham "jewel"

Looking back down the ranks at Chelsea and you will quickly notice a cracking young striker coming through the academy by the name of Shumaira Mhueka, often shortened to “Shim”.

Mheuka came over from Brighton’s academy in 2022, spending two years at Cobham before making his first senior breakthrough this season.

The 17-year-old possesses an innate ability to create his own shooting angles, having excellent agility and ball manipulation in and around the box. He has the ball-striking qualities to match and is already showing signs of utilising his body mass to protect the ball and unsettle defenders.

Mheuka has been described as “Cobham’s finest” by Jacek Kulig, who also labelled the young striker an “amazing talent” and it’s clear to see why.

The teenager has made 16 appearances for the U21 side in Premier League 2 this season, scoring four goals and providing two assists. In total he has scored ten goals in 21 appearances at youth level throughout 2024/25.

Last term he was on fire, however, bagging ten in 17 fixtures. His form in the youth ranks has already earned Mheuka four senior appearances, racking up 73 minutes across those four games.

Given the chance, Mheuka could prove to be the striker Chelsea need in years to come, saving the club a lot of money and fixing their goal-scoring woes all in one go. How long that takes and which development path is taken is another story.

Related A better signing than Huijsen: Chelsea preparing bid for £50m defender

Chelsea are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Premier League defender this summer.

Posts ByDan Emery Apr 14, 2025

Capitals were a bowler short while defending 174 as Ishant Sharma injured his ankle and had to go off after bowling just two overs

Hemant Brar23-Mar-2024

Sam Curran top-scored for Punjab Kings with a quickfire 63•BCCI

Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone spoiled Rishabh Pant’s comeback as Punjab Kings started their IPL 2024 campaign with a four-wicket win at their new home ground in Mullanpur.After being sent in, Delhi Capitals were 137 for 7 in the 18th over when they decided to bring in Abishek Porel as the Impact Player. Porel smashed 32 off just ten balls to lift them to 174 for 9.But that also meant Capitals were going to be a bowler light during the chase. Ishant Sharma’s injury – he hurt his ankle after bowling just two overs – set them back further.Related

Pant on his comeback to cricket: 'I was pretty nervous'

Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow started the Kings’ chase positively but both fell in the fourth over. Kuldeep Yadav then dismissed Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma to keep Capitals in the game.But Curran and Livingstone took over after that and added 67 off 42 balls for the fifth wicket. Curran was out in the 19th over, for 63 off 47, but Livingstone stayed till the end and finished the game with a muscular six with four balls to spare.Warner, Marsh give Capitals a breezy startWith Prithvi Shaw left out, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh opened the innings for Capitals and gave them a fast start. Marsh got going by hitting two fours off the first two balls he faced, from Curran. Warner joined in by carting Arshdeep Singh for a six and a four in the next over.Marsh then hit a six each off Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep. He fell for 20 off 12 when he drove Arshdeep to cover-point where Rahul Chahar took a sharp, overhead catch.Warner kept batting aggressively and even flick-scooped Rabada for a six as Capitals finished the powerplay on 54 for 1. In the seventh over, Shai Hope, on IPL debut, danced down the track and lofted Chahar for a straight six.It was all Capitals at that stage till Harshal Patel came to Kings’ rescue, having Warner caught behind with a slower bouncer.Pant’s first outing after the accidentWarner’s wicket brought Pant to the crease, and the Mullanpur crowd welcomed him with a standing ovation. Playing his first competitive game in 15 months, Pant looked a bit rusty. He was given a life on 4 when Harshal lost the ball in the sun at deep midwicket and ended up gifting a four.As if to rub it in, Pant then drove Harshal for his second boundary. Two balls later, though, Harshal bowled a slower bouncer; Pant failed to spot it and ended up popping it to backward point. His first outing with bat on comeback ended on 18 off 13 balls.3:06

Moody on Porel: That’s how impact subs should be used

The Porel gamble pays offHarpreet Brar and Chahar dented Capitals further. Brar had Ricky Bhui caught down the leg side, and Tristan Stubbs holed out to long-off while trying an inside-out shot against Chahar.When Axar Patel was run out coming back for a second, Capitals were reduced to 137 for 7 with 2.5 overs to go. But, coming in as the Impact Player, Porel slashed hard at a short and wide delivery from Harshal and picked up a boundary to deep third.After 19 overs, Capitals were 149 for 8. With Harshal bowling the last over, Kings would have expected to restrict Capitals under 160. But that’s when Porel decided to have a say in matters, and smashed three fours and two sixes in a 25-run final over.That lifted Capitals to 174 for 9. At the start of the 20th over, ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster had Capitals’ chances of winning at 38.9%. Porel singlehandedly lifted that number to 56.7%.Dhawan, Bairtsow start with a flurry of foursJust like the Capitals openers, Dhawan and Bairstow also started with positive intent. In the first three overs, they hit a combined six fours and looted 34 runs. However, both fell in the fourth over. Dhawan was bowled as he charged down the ground to Ishant, and Bairstow was run-out at the non-striker’s end when a Prabhsimran drive brushed a diving Ishant’s fingers and crashed into the stumps.But, in the sixth over, Prabhsimran tucked one towards midwicket, from where Ishant charged and fielded the ball. But as he was about to throw, he twisted his right ankle and had to be carried off the field.1:47

Has Harshal become too predictable?

Kuldeep keeps Capitals in the gameIn the tenth over, Prabhsimran tried to go big against Kuldeep and holed out to long-on for a 17-ball 26, which included five fours. In the spinner’s next over, Jitesh attempted a reverse sweep, but not only did he miss the ball, he also lost his balance and ended up out of his crease. Pant was alert behind the stumps and broke the wickets.Kuldeep finished with figures of 2 for 21. He could have easily picked up a third, but Tristan Stubbs, running to his right from long-on, put down Curran, who was on 33 at that point.Curran, Livingstone take overKings needed 63 from the last six overs when Curran and Livingstone clubbed Marsh for 18 to calm the nerves.Capitals still had hope when 28 were required from three overs. But with Ishant off the field, Pant had no option but to bowl Marsh again. He conceded another 18 to finish with 52 from his four wicketless overs.In the 19th over, Khaleel dismissed Curran and Shashank Singh off successive deliveries but it was too late by then. Warner dropping Brar on the last ball of the Khaleel over didn’t help either.With just six required from the final over, Sumit Kumar, who was making his IPL debut, had little chance against a set Livingstone. He started with two wides, and after a dot, Livingstone launched him over deep midwicket to seal the win.

Jos Buttler said that England’s performance at the World Cup has been “a huge disappointment” and “a shock to everyone” within their set-up, after an eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in Bengaluru left them on the brink of elimination with four group games remaining.Buttler captained England to the T20 World Cup in Australia last year and arrived in India quietly confident that his side could win a second consecutive 50-over World Cup to back up their 2019 triumph on home soil. But four defeats in their first five games – all four by substantial margins – have left them needing “a few miracles” to qualify for the semi-finals, in Buttler’s words.”It’s not a lack of talent,” Buttler said. “[We have] a lot of experienced guys who are fantastic cricketers. So absolutely, it’s a huge frustration. This tournament’s gone nowhere near the way we wanted to; it’s been a huge disappointment. If there was one golden egg that we were missing, then you’d hope to see that. But there is no secret, I don’t think.Related

• Unbeaten India look to push England further towards elimination

• England's woes weigh heavy on Jos Buttler, the captain

• Peak Sri Lanka too sharp for England on Mathews' magical return

• England's title defence suffers another crushing blow as Sri Lanka coast to victory

• Are defending champions England out of the World Cup?

“We’re a really good team [who have] done a lot of really good things in the recent past in white-ball cricket, 50-over cricket. We got on the plane with high hopes and a lot of confidence and belief that we can challenge for the title. To be sat here now with the three weeks that have been is a shock – it’s a shock to everyone.”I’ll walk back in the dressing room after this [press conference] and look at the players sat there, and think: ‘How have we found ourselves in this position with the talent and the skill that’s in the room?’ But it is the position we’re in; it’s the reality of what’s happened over the last three weeks and that’s a huge low point.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Buttler has managed 95 runs in five innings in this tournament with only one score above 20. “There’s no-one else who can score your own runs or take your own wickets, and that comes from the start – from the captain at the front,” he said. “I’ve been a long way short of my best. As a leader, you want to lead through your own performance and I’ve not been able to do that.”On his performance as captain, Buttler said: “You’re always questioning, as captain, how you can get the best out of players; how you can get the team moving in the right direction. I certainly have a lot of confidence and belief in myself as a leader and as a captain, and first and foremost, as a player.” Asked if he considered himself the right man to lead England in the future, he said: “Yes.”England’s preparation for this World Cup has been markedly different to four years ago: they played 88 ODIs between the 2015 and 2019 World Cups compared to just 42 in the 2019-23 cycle, and have rarely been at full strength in bilateral series. But Buttler insisted: “I don’t think there’s any blame elsewhere apart from ourselves.”He said: “The schedules are the schedules, and we’ve got a lot of things in our favour: we’ve got fantastic support from the coaches within the environment; we get fantastic support from our fans as a country, and we’ve let them all down. It’s been a really tough few weeks, incredibly disappointing – a shock to perform the way we have with the team that we do have.”And Buttler pushed back again the idea that England had been complacent heading into the World Cup, referring back to a comment he made on the eve of the tournament which has proved prescient – though not in the way he intended. “In any sport, you can’t protect anything or rely on the past; you have to go and create something new every time,” he said.”We know that as players, we touch on experience and things – having banked stuff before – but something we spoke about a lot as a team [was] that you have to go and create it again. You can’t rest of your laurels or try and protect something; try and protect an image, or protect something as a team.”That’s why at the very beginning of the tournament, I said we weren’t here to try and defend our title; we’re here to start something new and try and win something. Obviously, we’re falling a long way short of that at the minute, but as players we certainly didn’t take anything for granted or just think it would be alright on the night. You don’t get to this level by thinking like that.”

Neymar congratulated his former club Paris Saint-Germain on winning the Champions League title for the first time in history.

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Neymar congratulated PSG for winning UCLMbappe and Beckham had wished the club earlierPSG beat Inter 5-0 in UCL finalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Brazil star, who spent six years at the French capital, congratulated his former team as they lifted the Champions League in Munich on Saturday for the first time in the club's history. Luis Enrique's men thrashed Inter 5-0 to register the biggest margin of victory in a final of the tournament.

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Neymar shared a video of PSG lifting the Champions League title on his Instagram story and wrote: "Congratulations @PSG."

IG:@neymarjr

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Before Neymar, two other former PSG stars wished the French giants for their triumph. Kylian Mbappe, who left the club last summer for Real Madrid, wrote: "The big day has finally arrived. Victory, and in club style. Congratulations, PSG." Beckham was in attendance at Allianz Arena to see his ex-club create history.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

The 33-year-old remains undecided on his future. His current Santos contract is due to expire at the end of June, and he is yet to sign a new deal and commit his future to his boyhood club.

da apostebet： Sport Republic have set a £20 million price tag on a Southampton player who is expected to leave the club this summer, according to a new report.

Southampton set to target Danny Rohl

da bet7： The decision to sack Russell Martin and replace him with experienced manager Ivan Juric has not worked at all for the Premier League side. The Saints are on course for one of the worst seasons in top-flight history and they have won just one game since Juric’s arrival.

Related Southampton chiefs now taking first key steps to undo "disastrous" decision

They’ve got plenty of work to do.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Feb 27, 2025

Southampton are 13 points adrift of 17th-place Wolves, and with only 11 games to go, their relegation to the Championship could soon be confirmed. Therefore, plans for next season will have already been discussed, and despite Juric signing an 18-month deal, he is not expected to be in charge for next season.

According to The Sun, Southampton are planning on let Juric go and replacing him with Danny Rohl of Sheffield Wednesday. The Saints wanted the German when they replaced Martin, but talks stalled over compensation demands. Given Southampton are going to be relegated, compensation may not be a problem now, as they won’t have to pay the £4 million.

Rohl has worked at Southampton before as Ralph Hassenhuttl’s assistant, and he’s also worked with Southampton’s new technical director, Johannes Spors, meaning a deal does look likely to happen.

Sport Republic want £20m to sell "aggressive" Southampton star

But while the focus may be on who is in charge for next season, focus could swiftly turn to potential exits as a relegation is on the cards, and according to Football Insider, Southampton have set a £20 million price tag on Taylor Harwood-Bellis ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report states that while Harwood-Bellis has been one of their most impressive performers, the club are willing to let him go and recoup their investment in the defender. They are also happy to keep the defender on board for their expected Championship campaign, but that could be a difficult task as teams such as Crystal Palace and West Ham circle with interest.

In another report from talkSPORT, it has been reported that Harwood-Bellis, who only joined the Saints in the summer, is expected to leave St. Mary’s at the end of the season. The 23-year-old has endured a nightmare campaign with Southampton, but his individual performances did earn him an England call-up earlier this season.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ 24/25 Premier League stats

Apps

24

Starts

22

Goals

2

Passing accuracy per game

58.2 (88%)

Clean sheets

2

Interceptions per game

1.1

Tackles per game

0.9

Clearances per game

3.8

The defender, who was brought in by Martin, left his former boss impressed with his aerial ability earlier this season, calling him “aggressive”. “I think since he’s come in, he’s been really aggressive.

“He wants to head the ball. Of course, it comes a bit down to physical prowess and athleticism. I think the biggest thing is having the mentality that you want to go and score.”

da esoccer bet： Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is now keen on a move for an “unbelievable” Brighton star to play a key role at Stamford Bridge next season, according to a report.

Robert Sanchez struggling at Chelsea

da bet7： Maresca has defended Robert Sanchez at times this season, with the manager insisting he trusts his goalkeeper, despite making yet another error in the 3-1 defeat against Manchester City back in January.

It was not the first time Sanchez has made a costly mistake this season, with the Spanish goalkeeper making five errors leading to goals in the Premier League up to this point, the joint-highest number of any player.

As such, the 27-year-old has recently dropped to the bench, with Filip Jorgensen taking his place in the last three matches, but the Dane has also struggled at times, conceding three goals in a poor performance against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Related Chelsea now in talks for another 16 y/o sensation after Evangelista signing

The Blues are raiding Brazil.

Posts ByBarney Lane Mar 3, 2025

Brighton kept a clean sheet that day, prevailing 3-0 at the American Express Stadium, with Bart Verbruggen putting in a solid display, and now GiveMeSport have revealed Chelsea are considering a summer move for the goalkeeper.

Maresca is named as the driving force behind the potential move, with the manager tempted to raid the Seagulls for yet another player, having identified Verbruggen as a good fit to come in and become the first-choice option between the sticks.

However, a deal will not be cheap, as Brighton are said to be holding out for a fee of at least £50m, amid interest from Manchester United, who are contemplating bringing in a replacement for Andre Onana.

Diogo Costa and Caoimhin Kelleher also remain of interest to the Blues, who are set to sell at least one of Sanchez, Jorgensen, Djordje Petrovic or Mike Penders at the end of the season.

"Unbelievable" Verbruggen impressing Hurzeler at Brighton

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler is clearly enjoying working with the Dutch goalkeeper, having taken the time to praise him earlier this season, saying: “I really enjoy working with him because he is an unbelievable character.

“For his age he is very mature and he sees things very professionally. That is why he is a role model for everything. I think he can play a big part in the future of the club.”

The 22-year-old has been a key player for Brighton this season, making 25 appearances in the Premier League, however, he has also been quite error-prone, having made four mistakes leading to a goal.

The Netherlands international has only made one fewer major error than Sanchez, and Chelsea’s current shot-stopper has the edge on some other key metrics over the past year.

Statistic per 90

Robert Sanchez

Bart Verbruggen

Goals against

1.29 (60th percentile)

1.43 (43rd percentile)

Save percentage

76.3 (87th percentile)

69.9% (42nd percentile)

Touches

43.33 (89th percentile)

40.63 (69th percentile)

Crosses stopped percentage

13.7% (99th percentile)

7.2% (71st percentile)

As such, while it is clear to see why Chelsea want a new goalkeeper this summer, it would probably be wise to steer clear of Verbruggen.

Paris Saint-Germain have now tabled a £112m offer for a “world-class” Arsenal player, according to a report.

Gunners' title hopes take hit

The Gunners’ hopes of winning the Premier League title took a significant hit on Saturday afternoon, succumbing to a surprise 1-0 defeat at home against West Ham United, their third league loss of the season.

After being unable to score against a struggling side, the decision not to bring in a new striker in January is beginning to look even more questionable, with Mikel Arteta saying his team lacked precision and quality.

The manager also added: “It’s my responsibility for the team to play much better than it did today. We have to play much better, with much more quality, much more interaction. It’s not good enough, that’s on me.”

Striker is a problem position for Arteta, but one area which has looked solid this season is midfield, with Thomas Partey and Declan Rice among the most consistent performers in the Premier League.

Arteta’s 4/10 Arsenal man is fast becoming the new Xhaka

Arsenal fell to a shock defeat against West Ham in a big dent to their PL title aspirations.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Feb 23, 2025

As such, one of Europe’s top clubs are believed to have taken an interest in Rice, with a report from Spain claiming PSG have now submitted a €135m (£112m) offer for the midfielder.

However, the Gunners are unwilling to sanction the Englishman’s departure for less than €160m (£133m), given his importance to the team, playing a key role ever since arriving at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta has no desire to let the 26-year-old leave, and he is believed to be happy in north London, so it does not seem like a move will be on the cards anytime soon.

Rice departure seems very unlikely

In truth, the idea that PSG have submitted an offer seems highly questionable, but if there is any concrete interest in the central midfielder, the Gunners should rebuff it.

Lauded as “world-class” by members of the media, the former West Ham man has been a mainstay in the Arsenal starting XI since his switch to north London, and he is among their best-performing players this season.

The best may still be yet to come, too, with the midfielder of the belief that he has been improving as the season has gone on.

Saturday’s performance was not the England international’s best, being withdrawn early in the second half with the Gunners chasing the game, but the whole team underperformed, with the lack of an out-and-out striker proving to be a major issue.

The report suggests Arsenal could be willing to sanction a departure for a fee of around £133m, but even in the scenario of receiving a bid in that ballpark, the offer should be rejected, as Rice would be almost impossible to replace.

MatériaMais Notícias

da betano casino： A Seleção Brasileira está se preparando para a Copa do Mundo do Qatar, mas outro assunto que ronda a Amarelinha é a sucessão de Tite, que já avisou que não fica no cargo de técnico independentemente do resultado no Mundial. Vários nomes apareceram como possíveis candidatos, mas um deles parece ganhar força na CBF além de Pep Guardiola: Abel Ferreira, do Palmeiras.

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da imperador bet：
>Chuteira de Neymar para a Copa do Mundo 2022; veja fotos
> Veja a tabela da Copa do Mundo-2022 clicando aqui

Pelo menos foi isso que deu a entender Francisco Noveletto, vice-presidente da entidade, em entrevista para a Rádio Grenal, na manhã desta quinta-feira. Segundo o dirigente, o nome de Abel não seria considerado como um estrangeiro pelo tempo que tem no Brasil.

-(Abel Ferreira) Por ser português e estar há muito tempo no Brasil, ele não entraria como estrangeiro, é “abrasileirado”. Não daria o choque de trazer um espanhol, um italiano, um argentino. Pesa muito – declarou Noveletto enquanto debatia com Argel Fucks, que também participava do programa na Rádio Grenal.

> AO VIVO: acompanhe em tempo real os passos da Seleção Brasileira na Copa do Mundo

O treinador gaúcho é partidário da contratação de Abel Ferreira como sucessor de Tite na Seleção, tanto pelo trabalho quanto pelos títulos conquistados. Apesar de enxergar Mano Menezes e Dorival Jr. como fortes candidatos, ele entende que o palmeirense está na frente. Noveletto concordou com a opinião e deu a entender que nomes como Renato Gaúcho e Cuca não fazem parte dos planos da CBF.

-Há uma porta para todo mundo, mas neste momento eu vejo Mano Menezes, Dorival, Renato Gaúcho (Noveletto faz sinal reprovando). Cuca também já teve seu momento, e ele reconhece isso (Noveletto faz sinal reprovando).Mas neste momento o Mano tem uma condição melhor do que Renato e Cuca. Agora o Dorival é a cara da CBF – comentou Argel.

– Uma bola da vez – disse Noveletto sobre Dorival.

– (Dorival) É a bola da vez, digamos assim, mas na minha opinião eu levaria o Abel Ferreira e a sua comissão técnica – completou Argel.

– Fecho contigo – corroborou Noveletto.

+Tite faz testes e esboça times em treino da Seleção em Turim

Em determinado momento da conversa, Francisco Noveletto chegou a citar o salário da comissão técnica de Abel Ferreira no Palmeiras, que, segundo ele, é na casa dos R$ 2,8 milhões, informação que o LANCE! confirmou em conversas com fontes nos bastidores do clube.

TENTATIVA POR GUARDIOLA

Em meio às especulações sobre o próximo técnico da Seleção Brasileira após a saída de Tite, a CBF chegou a procurar Pep Guardiola, do Manchester City, há cerca de três anos para um projeto de assumir a Amarelinha depois da Copa do Mundo do Qatar. No entanto, as conversas travaram com a sinalização dos salários.

Foi o que contou Francisco Noveletto, sem revelar quem teria sido o vice-presidente que intermediou a procura pelo treinador espanhol, que seria o grande sonho da entidade para ocupar esse cargo.

-Há três anos, um colega meu que foi vice-presidente na CBF chegou a ter um contato com o Guardiola. A resposta do empresário foi: “Tudo bem, quem não gostaria de treinar a Seleção Brasileira? Ele aceita, mas ganha 24 milhões de euros aqui”. A pessoa que foi atrás dessa informação, na possibilidade de o Tite sair, quase enfartou… Fez uma continha: dois milhões de euros por mês e viria por mais, porque teria que dar um “plus” para ele sair de lá.

TITE PODERIA FICAR?

Apesar da indefinição sobre o sucessor de Tite e de negar que a CBF esteja tratando disso em meio a uma Copa do Mundo, Francisco Noveletto não descarta tentar manter o atual treinador no cargo em caso de conquistar o hexacampeonato no Qatar. Segundo o dirigente, seria esse o seu desejo pessoal para a Seleção. Ele também descartou, por ora, a informação da contratação de Mano Menezes.

-Foi o que eu disse nessa situação de que já estava contratado o Mano Menezes, eu disse que jamais a CBF iria se envolver em um momento como esse, arrumar tumulto, porque realmente o Tite falou em que coletiva que, ganhando ou não a Copa, encerraria o ciclo na Seleção. Agora, duvido que, se ele ganhar a Copa, ele saia ou nós o deixemos sair. Já estou preparado com um laço para laçar ele e não soltar. Isso (Mano Menezes) não partiu da CBF, para deixar bem claro, CBF está muito focada na Copa – garantiu o cartola gaúcho.

+Você sabe tudo das cinco conquistas do Brasil? Faça o teste!

FOCO NA COPA DO MUNDO

Enquanto esse tema ronda os bastidores da CBF e boa parte do noticiário, a Seleção Brasileira segue treinando em Turim-ITA, onde faz sua preparação para a Copa do Mundo no CT da Juventus. Neste sábado, a delegação embarca em voo fretado para o Qatar. A estreia do Brasil será no dia 24, diante da Sérvia, às 16h (de Brasília).

Two 25-year-olds come to watch an MLC game to just knock off a bucket list item, only to return home as cricket fans

Peter Della Penna17-Jul-2023The national anthem had just finished playing at the Grand Prairie Stadium, and night three of Major League Cricket in Texas was moments away from the first ball. As the players took the field, a pair of 25-year-olds with a Jacob deGrom Texas Rangers jersey and a Ronald Acuna Jr. Atlanta Braves jersey walked with cups of beer in their hands toward their seats on the north side of the stadium.”Never been [to a cricket match and we’re] sports guys so I was like we might as well go watch it one time, go watch some ball and stick,” Parker Janse, who played shortstop and second base for the Stephen F Austin University college baseball team in Nacogdoches – known as the Lumberjacks – said. “I live in Dallas, it’s on the way home. We’ll stop by for the cricket for a little bit.”Janse, along with his dad Kevin – a Dallas police officer – and friend Jeremy Rodriguez, a former team-mate at Stephen F. Austin who is now on the coaching staff for the baseball team as the director of analytics and player development, were along for the ride. Earlier in the day, Janse paid US $325 for seats in the fourth row behind home plate as a birthday gift for his dad to watch the Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-0. The game ended at 5.35pm, plenty of time to drive seven miles towards Dallas and stop off to buy a $30 ticket at the Grand Prairie Stadium to see San Francisco Unicorns take on Seattle Orcas.Related

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“Before this morning, nothing,” Janse said, when asked what he knew about cricket, other than that he also had an ex-girlfriend whose surname was Cricket. “We watched a few YouTube videos to get us ready for it. Kind of like a bucket list thing. We love all sports. We’re all in with the Orcas. Save the Orcas! They were handing these flags out [at the entrance gates] so it just solidified that we were going for them. We didn’t know who was playing until we walked in.””That’s not true,” Rodriguez cut in. “I texted you and said it was the Unicorns and the Orcas.””I thought that was a joke.””I was being dead serious.””I did not realise that it was actually the Unicorns vs the Orcas.””You wanna know something crazy?” Rodriguez, who is originally from Houston but now lives in Nacogdoches, 180 miles southeast of Grand Prairie, asked. “When we played baseball, we played here at the Airhogs Stadium before it became a cricket place. We used to play here a lot, actually. There used to be a swimming pool over there.” Rodriguez pointed to an area behind what used to be the outfield fence where part of the original entertainment zone, including a pool, had been removed to accommodate the renovation of the facility for cricket.A few minutes into play, Quinton de Kock tried to flick over the leg side and was bowled, drawing the first reaction out of Janse.”Ohhhh! A wicket! He’s out!” Janse shouted.”That’s our guy though,” Rodriguez shouted back. “We’re on the Orcas. So that’s not very exciting… We also know how to read the scoreboard now. Nine runs for one out for Seattle right now. The bowlers get six pitches and then they have to rotate.”A few minutes later, Orcas were back on track as Nauman Anwar hit a four back down the ground off Carmi le Roux straight towards Janse and Rodriguez.MLC staffer Christopher White shows a cricket ball for new fans and former college baseball players Jeremy Rodriguez and Parker Janse to get a feel of•Peter Della Penna”Ohhh, that’s gonna bounce over the fence. That’s gonna be four!” Janse shouted as he grabbed his Orcas flag and started waving it vigorously. “That’s four! How do you make an Orca sound? Arrrrr Arrrr Arrrr!!!” As Tajinder Singh Dhillon went to retrieve the ball near the boundary rope, Janse broke out the baseball fan-style trash talk. “Hey Dhillon! Probably wish you were on the Orcas, huh pal!”After a brisk start though, Anwar got out to a short ball he struggled to fend away, popping it up tamely to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. Rodriguez didn’t hold back with his disappointment while looking at the replay on the stadium’s giant video board.”Oh, look at that checked swing, Jesus Christ,” Rodriguez blurted out before screaming towards Anwar walking off, “Hey! If you’re gonna swing the bat, swing it! Let’s go!””He got jammed!” Janse argued.”I don’t care if he got jammed. Get your bat through the zone and let it rip!”In the eighth over, cricket’s two newest fans were busy heckling Unicorns fielder Chaitanya Bishnoi. He was wearing jersey number 10 and was being shuffled around moving from deep fine leg to being asked to come back to field inside the 30-yard circle at short fine leg. “Ohhh… he is lost! Get this guy a map! Get this guy a map!” Janse shouted.But then Janse and Rodriguez saw something they had never come across on a baseball field. Shehan Jayasuriya walked across his stumps to play a ramped flick wide of the wicketkeeper for four. Initially, Janse and Rodriguez were slightly confused as Janse proclaimed, “I thought it was a foul ball to the backstop, but it’s four runs.” Then the replay of the shot was shown from the stump cam angle, eliciting a greater reaction.”Oh, my god. That was electric! That was electric!” Janse shouted before praising Jayasuriya’s shot selection further. “That’s situational hitting. He knew that number 10 was lost. He heard me tell him to get a map, so he knew that it was open out here.”At the end of the eighth over, Marcus Stoinis, wearing jersey number 17 for Unicorns, arrived nearby to field on the long-off boundary. Janse and Rodriguez didn’t hesitate to engage him.

“It’s quite a personal stadium in terms of like you can interact with the crowd. The crowd feels close, and you can hear what they’re saying and stuff like that, so it’s good to have a chat.”Marcus Stoinis

“Seventeen, I need your bicep curl routine,” Janse shouted. “That’s a hammer curl guy. You do a lot of hammers, a lotta hammer curls.”Stoinis couldn’t help but crack a smile before making the hammer curl motion while looking at Janse and Rodriguez, prompting the latter to scream, “Yeaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!””I can tell you’re rippin the hammer curls,” Janse shouted out again before turning to Rodriguez with further analysis. “He’s 100% jacked. He’s humongous. He would eat me.”A short while after this exchange, two MLC employees came by to say hello to these passionate and boisterous first-time fans. They were Christopher White, brother of Unicorns squad member David White, and Zubin Surkari. When Janse and Rodriguez were informed that Surkari’s most famous cricket moment was being hit in the box by a 95 mph full toss from Shaun Tait when Canada played Australia in the 2011 World Cup in India, Janse went straight to his phone to look it up on YouTube.Rodriguez: “Oh my god. You look in agony! You’re in so much pain.”Janse: “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh…. Oh my god. I’m so sorry! Ohhhhhhhhh….”Rodriguez: “Are you friends with that guy?”Surkari: “He bought me a beer afterward.”Rodriguez: “How many sixes did you hit off him?”Surkari: “I was out next ball.”

****

A few overs later, new batter Shimron Hetmyer skied a chance over short third where Haris Rauf, wearing jersey number 97 for Unicorns, backpedalled but couldn’t hold on to a chance. As the ball was in the air, Janse could see it was going to be a tough one.”You’re not catching that…. Told you! Ohhhhhhh…. Butterfingers!” Janse shouted. “Lay off the chicken wings there 97!””Ninety-seven in speed, zero in ball skills!” Rodriguez layered on top. “It was a can of corn. All he had to do is lay out.”In the next over, Stoinis was back fielding on the long-off boundary where he ran to his right to make an athletic stop, drawing more praise.”That’s great fielding there, 17,” Janse shouted. “Yes, sir! Way to push through the ball. Yes, sir! Hammer curls! Hammmeerrrrr currrrrrlsssssss!!!”Yo 17! How many sixes you got in you today?! Five, four?””Hopefully a few!” Stoinis shouted back in between a few laughs.”I think that means four in Australian,” Rodriguez said. “He’s gotta be my favorite player. He’s 17. Hammer curls. He’s sick. He’s ripped out of his mind. You know what? I think he just requested a trade to the Orcas. He’ll be on the Orcas by the end of the week. Is there a trade deadline coming up? Don’t worry, he’s gonna be there.”Marcus Stoinis: ‘It’s great that the American crew are getting engaged with cricket’•SportzpicsA quick Google search on the phone revealed that Stoinis was nicknamed “Oil”, allegedly because his Australian team-mates caught him greasing up tanning oil in the mirror. It only endeared him to Janse and Rodriguez even more as they watched him run from long-on to long-off, pulling double-duty fielding on the straight boundary alternating between overs.”I love this guy. I love him so much,” Janse said. “He’s the center fielder, basically. That’s Mike Trout. Their best fielder and hits with some ammo. So, he’s our favourite player. We’re 100% gonna watch his highlights when we get home.”Janse and Rodriguez watched Stoinis bowl the 17th over, cheering on by shouting “Oil! Oilllllll!!” as they got up and walked next to the sightscreen before leaving to go home for the night. After looking to just knock off a bucket list item, they want to come to the stadium and watch more cricket in the future. Stoinis and Unicorns may have lost on the night, but he won two new Texan cricket fans.”It was a few good interactions,” Stoinis told ESPNcricinfo after the game when asked about his particular exchanges with Janse and Rodriguez. “A bit of the usual sort of gym questions, bicep questions and that sort of stuff. So it was good fun, good energy and good supporters. This was much less hostile. This was good banter. Usually, it’s a passionate supporter from the other team in the other country. It’s quite a personal stadium in terms of like you can interact with the crowd. The crowd feels close, and you can hear what they’re saying and stuff like that, so it’s good to have a chat with a few of the fans.”I just think it’s great that the American crew are getting engaged with it, and they obviously understand pretty quickly how the sport is going. Even just talking to a few of the security guys, they were loving it. I asked one of them if their mates would be interested in watching cricket and if they’d come down to these games and they said ‘absolutely’. So it was nice. It feels like it’s being received well. It’s exciting for cricket to be played in the US, so hopefully, more and more people come and check it out.”