
Najmul to lead Bangladesh in New Zealand ODIs, T20Is
Bangladesh on Thursday named batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto as the country's one-day international and Twenty20 international captain for a tour...
2023-11-30 23:22

Wales call on Chris Coleman in bid to boost Women’s Nations League hopes
Wales have enlisted the support of former manager Chris Coleman to help them avoid relegation from the Women’s Nations League. Coleman memorably led Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and spoke to boss Gemma Grainger and her squad before Friday’s relegation decider against Iceland in Cardiff. Wales need to probably win by a two-goal margin to stay in League A, as well as boost their Euro 2025 qualifying hopes, and Coleman gave the lowdown on his time as men’s team manager between 2012 and 2017 during a 20-minute Zoom call on Wednesday. “One of the things we have done in terms of the mindset and mentality is being fortunate enough to spend some time with Chris Coleman,” Grainger said at her pre-match press conference. “We spoke to Chris around some of the work he did with the men’s team because that journey is so similar to us. “We are two years into a journey that was similar to the one Chris had with our men’s team. It was great for him to speak to the girls about that. “It was interesting to hear him talk about when the team suffered and what that allowed them to do in terms of ‘Together Stronger’ (the national team’s motto) – the real togetherness of the team and what it takes. “He talked about the criticism that team had, and to me that’s a natural part of when a team is successful. “It was a pleasure to speak to him for me as a coach and also for the players.” Wales remain without a point after four games and are bottom of Nations League Group A3 heading into their final two fixtures. Grainger’s side finish their campaign against two-time World Cup winners Germany in Swansea on Tuesday. So overcoming Iceland, who beat them 1-0 in September, represents Wales’ best chance of securing the third spot they need to avoid dropping into League B and head into the relegation play-offs instead. If Wales win by a one-goal margin, bottom spot could end up being determined by goal difference – and Iceland currently have a superior advantage of four in that department. Grainger said: “We are focused on winning. If we win by one goal then we know what we’ve got to do in the second game. “Two goals would mean that we would likely go through on head-to-head. “It’s an ideal game for us because when we qualify for the Euros we’ll go through stages where one-off games will matter. So it’s a great rehearsal against a top team in Europe.” Wales have lost to Denmark twice and Germany away since losing their opening game in Iceland. But Grainger was encouraged by the narrow 2-1 defeat in Denmark last time out, saying: “We finished that game stronger than they did. We scored in the 72nd minute and we really pushed for the equaliser. “The first game against Iceland was one of our best performances since I’ve been here. “The challenge now is to replicate that because the plan is to stay in League A.” Read More Shameful and not right – Saracens boss condemns Owen Farrell treatment The key talking points ahead of England’s Women’s Nations League double-header Kevin Sinfield vows to keep raising funds to combat MND ahead of new challenge Andre Onana – Do the numbers back up the criticism? On This Day in 2004 – Sir Matthew Pinsent announces retirement from rowing Arsenal through to last 16 as Manchester United squander lead again
2023-11-30 23:20

The key talking points ahead of England’s Women’s Nations League double-header
England complete their group games in the inaugural Women’s Nations League over the next few days, playing the Netherlands at Wembley on Friday and then Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday. Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the talking points ahead of the double-header. Must-win This competition provides England with the chance to secure Paris 2024 Olympic qualification for Great Britain, should they first finish top of Group A1 – something they are in considerable danger of failing to do. Lying third with six points from four games, three points behind the Dutch and one behind Belgium, they have to win on Friday to stay in contention. They lost 2-1 in the Netherlands in September, and were also beaten in their most recent outing, 3-2 away against Belgium. Relegation threat If England are defeated again by Wiegman’s old side, and Belgium beat Scotland at home the same night, as well as the Olympic bid being over, the Lionesses will be confirmed as entering the Nations League relegation play-offs. After the highs of the last two years under her management, that scenario would represent some come down for the European champions and World Cup runners-up. The Scotland situation While it remains to be seen what the state of play is come Tuesday, a talking point from the word go as England headed into this competition as the one home nation able to claim Olympic qualification for GB has been that their group includes a Scotland outfit with players also holding Paris hopes. England midfielder Keira Walsh has described the situation as “a little bit strange”, but said of Tuesday: “If I’m putting myself in their shoes, it’s a big game against England. They’re going to want to win.” Wiegman’s team beat Scotland 2-1 in Sunderland in their group opener in September. No Bright England, already without Leah Williamson, also for these two games have the player who has skippered the team in her absence, fellow defender Millie Bright, out injured due to a knee issue. Wiegman has confirmed goalkeeper Mary Earps will wear the armband. Mead’s return England also have a big-name player back in the fold, with the fit-again Beth Mead – like Williamson, absent from the summer’s World Cup as she recovered from an ACL injury – having been recalled. Wiegman said it was as if Mead “hasn’t been away” without confirming whether the forward would start or not on Friday. Any appearance would be her first at international level in just over a year for the Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner. Read More Wales call on Chris Coleman in bid to boost Women’s Nations League hopes Shameful and not right – Saracens boss condemns Owen Farrell treatment Kevin Sinfield vows to keep raising funds to combat MND ahead of new challenge Andre Onana – Do the numbers back up the criticism? On This Day in 2004 – Sir Matthew Pinsent announces retirement from rowing Arsenal through to last 16 as Manchester United squander lead again
2023-11-30 23:17

EuroLeague Week 8 Winners and Losers: Quantifying Panathinaikos and Baskonia's good form and more
EuroLeague Week 8 Power Rankings: Quantifying Panathinaikos and Baskonia's good form in EuroLeague, Virtus Bologna's ability to remain victorious in EuroLeague, Olympiacos' great depth in EuroLeague, and the EuroLeague era of scoring forwards.
2023-11-30 22:59

Craig Carton Had Some Weird Thoughts on Dak Prescott Becoming a Father
Craig Carton's takes on Dak Prescott's future child are bizarre.
2023-11-30 22:56

Sanders wins Sportsperson of Year award from Sports Illustrated for starting turnaround at Colorado
Deion Sanders reinvigorated a fanbase and put a downtrodden football program back on the map in his first season at Colorado
2023-11-30 22:48

Newcastle United vs. Manchester United live stream, schedule, preview: Watch Premier League online
Newcastle United and Manchester United both drew in the Champions League this week and they face off in the Premier League on Saturday. Here's everything you need to know to watch.
2023-11-30 22:25

NWSL news: Mewis departs KC, Dorsey to Royals, Stengel not ruling out LFC return
Big moves in the NWSL: Sam Mewis parts ways with Kansas City Current amidst recovery, Imani Dorsey joins Utah Royals FC for two seasons, and Katie Stengel doesn't rule out a Liverpool comeback.
2023-11-30 22:25

Napoli vs. Inter Milan live stream, schedule, preview: Watch Serie A online
The defending champions take on the current league leaders in Serie A this weekend with Napoli facing Inter Milan. Here's everything you need to know to watch.
2023-11-30 22:21

Arsenal vs. Wolves live stream, schedule, preview: Watch Premier League online
The Premier League leaders Arsenal take on Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend. Here's everything you need to know to watch.
2023-11-30 22:18

Andre Onana is a liability – his Manchester United status exposes Erik ten Hag’s failings
Perhaps there was a nod to Peter Schmeichel, to Edwin van der Sar, to Alex Stepney, to Manchester United’s three European Cup-winning goalkeepers. Erik ten Hag had just bought a successor, fresh from playing in a Champions League final in Istanbul and Andre Onana arrived at Old Trafford seemingly equipped with a knowledge of his new club’s history. “Manchester United has a long history of incredible goalkeepers, and I will now give everything to create my own legacy in the coming years,” the Cameroonian said. Four months later, after his second Champions League tie in Istanbul in 2023, Onana’s legacy may include torching United’s continental campaign. They are not mathematically out of the Champions League but they are reliant on favours, on two results going their way, on Bayern Munich performing sufficiently poorly to lose at Old Trafford while FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw with each other. If a 3-3 draw with Galatasaray was a microcosm of United’s group stage – the capacity to lose leads, to score three goals away from home without winning, the self-destructive streak and the chaotic midfield are all recurring themes – then Onana looks like being the face of failure, the major reason for a probable inability to get through a seemingly friendly pool. Galatasaray, after all, arrived at Old Trafford with two victories in their previous 25 Champions League group-stage games and won. FC Copenhagen had three victories in 21 Champions League group-stage matches before they beat United. And if Onana’s ever-decreasing band of advocates – principally a Dutchman in his fifties – can argue that half of United’s meagre tally of four points stem from his injury-time penalty save from Copenhagen’s Jordan Larsson at Old Trafford, his campaign has featured four major mistakes. There was, after United had started well in Munich, the way he let Leroy Sane’s tame shot squirm under him to set Bayern on their way to a 4-3 win. There was, with United drawing 2-2, the awful, misplaced pass that led to Casemiro’s red card and a penalty in the 3-2 loss to Galatasaray. There were the two Hakim Ziyech free kicks that Onana ought to have held comfortably but which still brought goals on Wednesday. While Ten Hag said he took responsibility for United’s European struggles, Onana should share the blame. Yet if the manager’s transfer policy, and his seeming belief anyone who has played in the Netherlands can excel for United, is backfiring, it is worth noting Ziyech, Onana’s midweek nemesis and a player who scored in the 2019 Champions League semi-finals for Ten Hag’s Ajax, was on the shortlist at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022; instead they spent £86m on the ineffective Antony from – predictably – Ajax. If Onana’s time in Amsterdam felt a huge factor in his move to Manchester, one inexplicable element is that he was available on a free transfer the previous summer. United’s rationale for overlooking him then, that Ten Hag wanted to assess David de Gea, does not fully stack up but allowed Internazionale to make a £43m profit in a year. It also means his troubles are more costly. And in his defence, Onana has the joint most clean sheets in the Premier League, the second-best save percentage; according to post-shot expected goal statistics, only Luton’s Thomas Kaminski has prevented more goals in the division. Yet no one has conceded more in the Champions League. Indeed, Onana has had to retrieve the ball from the back of his net five more times in five Champions League games for United than he did in 13 for Inter. The glaring errors are part of the problem, along with their capacity to prove decisive. Yet so is the sense that shots don’t need to go in the corner of the net to beat Onana: among some agile saves – and a terrific reflex stop early in Turkey was not his first fine intervention in a United shirt – have come a series of goals that another keeper may have prevented. It will be instructive if Ten Hag, whose stubbornness is part of his armoury, decides Altay Bayindir is that other goalkeeper. Another summer signing is yet to make his debut while Onana has played all 20 games this season. But the former Fenerbahce goalkeeper has been on United’s radar for years and is a player they believe they scouted rigorously; he acquitted himself well for Turkey last week against Wales. He may be the pragmatic choice: certainly there are questions if Onana has the conviction or presence required to reassure defenders. But Onana has a symbolic status; he is a flagship Ten Hag signing. Yet, seven years ago, a manager in Manchester brought in a goalkeeper with passing principles from his old club. He proved a liability and Pep Guardiola had to jettison Claudio Bravo. And rather than proving United’s second Schmeichel, the danger is Onana’s legacy is to be remembered as their answer to Bravo. Read More Ten Hag dismisses criticism with insistence that Man Utd team ‘in development’ Manchester United show they have two sides after European stumble – and neither is working Andre Onana – Do the numbers back up the criticism?
2023-11-30 21:56

Crystal Palace FC Seeks £45 Million in Funds for Stadium Upgrade
Premier League team Crystal Palace is looking to raise £45 million ($56.9 million) to fund the redevelopment of
2023-11-30 21:49
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