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Liverpool have postponed the return of players for pre-season training following the tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car crash. The 28-year-old forward, along with his brother Andre Silva, died in Spain early on Thursday morning after a burst tyre caused their vehicle to veer off the highway. The Premier League champions continue to mourn the loss of a cherished team-mate and beloved figure.

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Liverpool delay training return after Jota's deathForward and brother killed in Spain ahead of pre-seasonClub opens condolence book as fans pay tribute at AnfieldFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Jota died in a car crash alongside his 25-year-old brother while returning to Liverpool for pre-season. The 28-year-old had undergone minor surgery and was advised not to fly, opting instead to travel back to England by car and ferry before his fatal clash. Liverpool players were scheduled to return for pre-season medical at the AXA Training Centre on Friday, July 4, but will now report on Monday, July 7.

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The news has shaken the Liverpool community, with the club postponing activities and providing full support to Jota’s grieving family. Head coach Arne Slot emphasised the deep emotional toll the tragedy has taken on the squad. Liverpool’s facilities remain closed, and tributes have flooded in from fans and clubs across the world.

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A physical book of condolence has been set up at Anfield, while fans have turned the stadium into a shrine with shirts, scarves, and messages. Meanwhile, Wolves fans also gathered outside Molineux to honour their former player. Mourners also assembled at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning to pay tribute to the brothers.

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The Reds will resume pre-season preparations on Monday, beginning with physical testing at the AXA Training Centre. The club will continue to support Jota’s family and honour his legacy in the weeks ahead. Slot’s side are set to play Preston North End on July 13 in their first pre-season friendly.

The pitch deteriorated a bit faster than expected, the England captain said

S Sudarshanan16-Dec-2023England captain Heather Knight called the conditions for the one-off women’s Test against India “extreme” and said she “would be surprised” if they get those in the T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh and the ODI World Cup 2025 in India.”These conditions were really extreme; we have never seen that sort of spin before, that sort of dryness in the pitch,” Knight said after England’s record 347-run loss at the DY Patil Stadium. “In the main formats we play – T20 and 50 overs – we are not going to get as much [turn] as that.”Previously our issues against spin have been more [around] the ball not spinning. You’d look at the wickets Ash Gardner took in the Ashes, there weren’t many that spun. My dismissal that spun but a lot was outside edge and balls that didn’t spin.Related

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“These conditions were extreme, and I’d be surprised if we face those again unless we play another Test in India in the near future, which I am not sure is in the plan. We want to get better in conditions we might face in Bangladesh. Spin does dominate in the women’s game, and if we can improve that it will give us a big advantage.”Opting to bat first, India posted 428 – they were 410 for 7 on day one scoring at more than four an over – with four batters scoring half-centuries. But when England batted in the afternoon, they lost 7 for 28 with offspinner Deepti Sharma picking up 5 for 7 in just 5.3 overs. England were bowled out for 136 and 131.”[The pitch] probably deteriorated a bit faster than we expected,” she said. “[It was] reasonably good in the first innings to bat on. The spin was quite extreme. We bowled pretty well on the first day with two wickets. A few nicks that did not carry, that can be soul-destroying for some of those fast bowlers when your best ball doesn’t carry to slips.”We identified that the wobble ball was really effective and tried to get as much out of that as we can. It seamed a little bit more because the pitch deteriorated and when it spins it does seam a little bit as well.”Deepti picked up nine wickets in the match – her four-for following her five-wicket haul in the first innings – to go with her half-century. On the contrary, England’s prime spinner Sophie Ecclestone had an off game and picked up only five wickets across the innings.England were bowled out for 136 and 131 in their two innings•BCCIKnight said that the rough patch outside the right-handers’ off made it a tad easier for offspinners – England’s Charlie Dean picked up four wickets in the second innings – which was not the case for left-arm spinners to right-handers. India’s Rajeshwari Gayakwad also returned only two wickets and bowled just 11.3 overs in the match.”The way Deepti bowled, she was very threatening,” she said. “The offspinners for both teams felt more threatening because there was a lot more deterioration of the pitch. The left-armers to right handers had to bowl more in the less trafficked areas, so it was harder to get sharp spin. She bowled well and a very attacking line and made it very attacking line and made it tricky for us.”Sophie is coming back from a surgery and the expectation on her is so high. She is so brilliant, she is the best spinner in the world. The expectation from our side and also from herself – she puts a lot of expectation on herself – which is why she is so good. It was hard for her.”When she was bowling to the right-handers, she was bowling on the best part of the pitch that hasn’t had a lot of traffic on. The threat was more to the left-arm spinners to the left-handers, which she bowled very well to.”Happy with how the T20 side is shaping, says KnightEngland had won the T20I series 2-1 before a two-day turnaround for the Test match. They won the first and second matches before being undone by spin in the final T20I. Knight said the exposure young batters in the side got would keep them in good stead ahead of the T20 World Cup next year in Bangladesh.”The T20 World Cup in Bangladesh is the big focus for us,” she said. “The way we played the first two T20Is, the first in particular, was brilliant for us. The T20 side is coming together for us very well. The last T20I we exposed some young players to those conditions, having won the series and with the Test match coming up.”For the younger players to play in these conditions, but also being in India, it is a different place to tour. You have more time in hotels. The humidity [can get to you]. It’s a good place to learn. T20 World Cup in Bangladesh is the next time we get a chance to play in these conditions.”

Leandro Trossard is set to link up with the Special One after agreeing a shock move to Turkish side Fenerbahce, with Arsenal reshaping their attack.

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Trossard agrees move to FenerbahceBelgian keen to begin a new chapterArsenal planning overhaul in attackFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Trossard is all set to begin the next chapter of his career, as report the Arsenal winger has agreed a shock move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce. The Gunners are determined to bolster their attack ahead of the 2025-26 season, which could push Trossard further down the pecking order.

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According to the report, the ex-Brighton man held talks with Fenerbahce manager Mourinho, who was able to convince the player to join him in Turkey after explaining his vision and project. Despite earlier reports that Trossard was happy at the Emirates Stadium, he is ready to begin a new chapter after talks over a renewal with the north London outfit reached an impasse. Arsenal will accept an offer worth €20 million (£17m/$23.5m), with just one year left on Trossard's contract.

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Trossard's potential exit from the Emirates Stadium coincides with Arsenal's plan to oversee a major overhaul in attack. They are set to open talks with Crystal Palace to sign Eberechi Eze, while a successful acquisition of Sporting CP marksman Viktor Gyokeres could be on the cards, too. What's more, they have already secured a deal for Noni Madueke from Chelsea, with a medical scheduled in the coming days, per David Ornstein.

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Mikel Arteta's side are moving seriously in the transfer market. They have already announced three signings: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard. They will soon begin preparations for the next season, with their first summer friendly scheduled for July 23 against AC Milan.

There are five Pakistan players with ILT20 contracts whose availability for the final stages is likely to be compromised as a result

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2024The Pakistan Super League’s 2024 season opener will coincide with the final of the UAE’s ILT20, a scheduling clash which will provide complications for franchises in both leagues.The ninth edition of the PSL will launch on February 17 with a fixture between the league’s two most successful teams, defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. The ILT20 final is due to take place in Dubai at the same time.There are five Pakistan players with ILT20 contracts whose availability for the final stages of the tournament is likely to be compromised as a result. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Mohammad Amir are all due to play for Desert Vipers, while Imad Wasim was recently unveiled as a new signing by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.Related

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A number of overseas players are also due to feature in both leagues and may miss either the start of the PSL or the final stages of the ILT20, depending on the terms of their contracts and their franchises’ progress.The PCB unveiled fixtures for the PSL on Friday, with the tournament’s final scheduled for March 18. The knockout stages will be played in Karachi for the first time since 2020, which will host a total of 11 games. Lahore (nine games), Rawalpindi (nine) and Multan (five) will also stage fixtures, but neither Quetta nor Peshawar will.Zaka Ashraf, the chair of the PCB’s management committee, said: “The decision to host the marquee event across these cities is a testament to our commitment to bring top-notch cricket to fans across the country. We believe that hosting matches in these venues not only adds to the excitement for fans but also promotes cricket at the grassroots level.”The PCB recently agreed a new broadcast deal for the 2024 and 2025 editions of the PSL and reported a 113% increase in the value of live-streaming rights and a 45% increase in the value of broadcast rights. “It is an unprecedented moment as the prices for both of these rights are unmatched,” Ashraf said. “This is a testament to the growth of the HBL PSL brand.”The board also announced that the National Women’s T20 Tournament will start on Monday, January 15 and will feature six regional teams: Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi. The final will be staged on January 31, with the venue yet to be announced.The 16-player squads were selected by the national women’s selection committee. “The National Women’s T20 Tournament 2024 serves [as] a great opportunity for the players to stake a claim in the national team ahead of the busy international year,” the PCB said in a press release, with both the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup due to take place in September-October.

Ruben Dias’ girlfriend Maya Jama has hatched a plan that would allow her to turn social media “lurkers” into cold, hard cash.

TV presenter is dating Portugal internationalCouple have more eyes on them than everJama joked about launching YouTube channelFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images EntertainmentWHAT HAPPENED?

Jama continues to see her profile soar across several platforms. She is, for now at least, the host of Love Island UK while boasting commercial contracts with a number of leading brands.

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A partnership with Switzerland international Alisha Lehmann brought her into the world of football management at Baller League UK in 2025, with her budding relationship with Dias going public during that event.

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Jama was first linked to Manchester City defender Dias at the turn of the calendar year, and they have since spent plenty of time together holidaying around their day jobs. Both are seeing their celebrity status enjoy a welcome boost as a result.

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THE GOSSIP

It could be that they branch out into the world of video production at some point in the not too distant future, with Jama joking about how she is ready to embrace a different form of social media after seeing her Instagram post viewing figures spike.

Tim Robinson is in line for a T20I debut since nine players are unavailable due to the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Apr-2024Allrounder Michael Bracewell will captain New Zealand on their T20I tour of Pakistan as he makes his return to international cricket after injury while uncapped batter Tim Robinson is in line for a debut.Fast bowler Will O’Rourke, who made his Test and ODI debuts earlier this season, has also been named.Bracewell hasn’t played for New Zealand since March last year after suffering a ruptured right Achillies playing for Worcestershire in the T20 Blast in June and then a broken finger. He recently took a career-best 8 for 41 in the Plunket Shield.He will lead a squad that is missing nine players who are on IPL duty as well as Will Young, who is taking up an overseas deal with Nottinghamshire, Tom Latham, awaiting the birth of his second child, and Tim Southee, who wasn’t considered for selection to give him an extended period of conditioning after the home season.The tour will play an important role in firming up the final spots in New Zealand’s T20 World Cup squad.”Michael has faced a long period on the sideline and it’s exciting to see him back playing cricket again,” selector Sam Wells said. “The fact he’s back playing at a high level after an Achilles rupture is testament to his hard work and application.”He’s a well-respected leader and has captaincy experience for Wellington along with New Zealand A and New Zealand XI teams, which we believe holds him in good stead to lead the group in Pakistan.”Uncapped 21-year-old Robinson has been included after he was the second-leading run-scorer in the Super Smash with 298 runs at 59.60 at a strike rate of 187.42, including 139 off 64 balls against Otago.”Tim is still very early in his domestic career but his natural ability and explosive power was on full display this season,” Wells said. “Combined with his outstanding fielding, we believe he has a skill-set that’s well suited to the format.”We’ve been delighted with Will’s early efforts in international cricket, in both the formats he’s played so far. This tour will be an excellent chance for him to test his skills in foreign conditions.”New Zealand T20I squad vs PakistanMichael Bracewell (capt), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

West Ham have decided not to offer striker Michail Antonio a new contract, bringing his ten-year association with the Premier League side to an end.

Antonio won't play for West Ham againPrevious deal expired in JuneInvolved in car crash last yearFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

West Ham have decided not to offer veteran striker Antonio a new contract, according to . The 35-year-old was involved in a car crash in December last year and had to undergo surgery on a lower limb fracture. He didn't play again in the 2024-25 season and the Hammers revealed in June they would delay their decision on offering a new deal due to the "unique" circumstances of his situation.

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Speaking during a press conference, manager Graham Potter simply replied "no" when asked if Antonio would be part of his squad for the upcoming season. The Irons also announced on Saturday the signing of former Newcastle striker Wilson on a free transfer after his departure from St James' Park, further displaying the direction they intend to head in for the 2025-26 season.

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It's a somewhat awkward situation for Antonio and Wilson, who are now faced with one player replacing the other in the West Ham squad having spent years bantering each other on the Footballer's Football Podcast. However, Potter has suggested that Antonio could remain at West Ham in a coaching capacity, adding: "We’re in the process of speaking about what he wants to do in the future, so I wouldn’t want to say too much. If anything, it will be a role, maybe looking at with the 21s, coaching, mentoring, that type of thing. But again, that will be up to him."

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Antonio has returned to the football pitch in recent months, playing for Jamaica during the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June. He is now a free agent and will be targeting his next move after ten years in east London, but he will keep using West Ham's training facilities as he continues his full recovery.

The Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes quick has been a consistent performer when given a chance

Andrew McGlashan30-May-2024Former Australia captain Tim Paine believes Nathan Ellis should be in Australia’s first-choice attack for the T20 World Cup 2024 with a decision then made between Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.Ellis, 29, has struggled to command a regular spot in Australia’s T20 side despite impressive returns in the 14 matches he has played – only one of which has come at home. He was a reserve for the 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE when Australia won the title and did not make the squad on home soil in 2022.Related

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“I think Australia have a great opportunity, and I hope they take it in this World Cup, and that is to pick Nathan Ellis. He would be my third quick,” Paine, who played for Ellis’ state Tasmania, told ESPN’s . “I think he just complements the other guys really well, he’s got a different skillset, comes from a different angle, different height, and think some variety in the attack will be really important to win this World Cup.””I know you are going to ask me straightaway who aren’t you playing…I’m going to go Mitchell Starc, [he] is my out and out number one quick, I’m picking him, obviously going with Adam Zampa, and I’m doing to decide between Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.Nathan Ellis has rarely failed to perform for Australia•Associated Press”I’m going to pick one of them and I’m going to go with Nathan Ellis’ all-round skills, his ability to bowl all through the powerplay, I think his slower balls, he’s clever. His international record for the opportunities that he’s been given is outstanding and I think now is the right time…that’s not to say they [Cummins and Hazlewood] are not the best couple of bowlers in the country, they are outstanding bowlers, and will continue to be, I just think Nathan Ellis complements the rest of that attack really, really well.”Starc finished the IPL in outstanding form with back-to-back player of match awards for champions Kolkata Knight Riders, Cummins was very consistent for Sunrisers Hyderabad who he captained and Hazlewood has put together some outstanding T20 performances when his schedule has allowed, including 3 for 16 in the 2021 final.However, Ellis’ numbers stack up well against them and he has been particularly strong in two tough phases of innings: the powerplay and the death. In all T20s since 2020 (domestic and international), Ellis has the second-best powerplay economy of those selected in the World Cup squad behind Hazlewood while at the death, where he has forged his reputation, he is the best of Australia’s quicks by some margin having bowled far more at that stage than any of the others.Ellis featured just once for Punjab Kings in this season’s IPL and took 1 for 24 in a rare win for the side that finished second bottom. In Australia’s first warm-up match against Namibia he took 1 for 17 from his four overs.There remains a chance that Australia try different combinations of bowling attacks through the group stage where they face Oman, England, Namibia and Scotland. Starc and Cummins only arrive into the Caribbean over the weekend when the squad travels to Barbados.

Marseille are considering signing Amine Adli from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, with the Moroccan international seemingly open to a new challenge.

Marseille eye Leverkusen winger AdliDe Zerbi keen to reinforce attackAdli has expressed desire to try a new challengeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED

reports that Marseille are exploring several attacking options, and among the serious contenders, a well-known name in French football has resurfaced: Adli, a former Toulouse player. As the club look to strengthen in attack, the Leverkusen winger's profile ticks several boxes. And above all, this is not the first time Marseille have considered him.

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In 2021, Adli was shining in Toulouse, to the point of being on Marseille's radar but the deal didn't go through. Four years later, the stars seem to be better aligned. Now 25, the Moroccan international is coming off a successful spell with Leverkusen. And the player himself is not ruling out a new challenge.

WHAT AMINE ADLI HAS SAID

Speaking to in July, Adli said: "Bayer is an exceptional club. But after four years and so many emotions, I think it's normal to ask yourself questions about your future. To know what I want to do. Should I leave or not, discover something else? It's legitimate to ask yourself these questions, especially as we're starting a new cycle. What matters to me is how I'm used on the pitch. I want to play in my position again, whether that's on the right wing or as a second striker. I want freedom, responsibility, rhythm and to feel confident."

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Marseille officials, who are still searching for an attacking player capable of playing on the wings or in the centre, have entered into discussions to explore the feasibility of the deal. Les Olympiens' director of football, Medhi Benatia, knows Adli and his entourage well. He had advised him to choose Morocco when he was hesitating over his sporting nationality.

Ireland defeat prompted reassessment of approach batting first

ESPNcricinfo staff24-May-20241:29

Can Kirsten get the best out of Babar?

A chastening five-wicket loss to Ireland a fortnight ago has, according to Fakhar Zaman, pushed Pakistan to finally adopt a more attacking approach when batting first. Pakistan bounced back to win the series 2-1, but in both their wins chased down targets, a situation they are historically much better at.As such the new mindset is only likely to be unveiled at some point over the next three T20Is against England, reigning T20I world champions and the side that has pushed hardest the limits of attacking white-ball batting over the last decade.Pakistan go into Edgbaston on Saturday – after the first game at Headingley was washed out – on the back of a string of unconvincing performances and enhanced scrutiny on their top order when batting first. They drew a T20I series against a severely depleted New Zealand side at home before the series win against Ireland; in five out of 13 T20Is this year when Pakistan have batted first, they have made 158, 134, 178, 178 and 182.Three of those have ended in defeat and the focus has fallen on the intent of their top order, in particular captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.”After we lost that first game against Ireland, after that the mindset that we made, the body language was very different,” Fakhar said. “Nobody likes to lose, we understand that. But after that first match, the mindset that we have, if we continue that you will see a different side.”We have meetings after every game and the mindset we have now is that our target batting first is to make 200 or 200-plus. I am talking about this mindset, that if we go into the World Cup with it… there’s always talk about our batting, though the bowling is world class. What I’m saying is, our batting, the mindset that we have, and are batting with, you’ll see we will play for 200-plus. You’ll see the intent.”Fakhar Zaman scored 78 in the second T20I against Ireland•Sportsfile via Getty ImagesCentral to that will be Babar, not so much whether he can score the runs but whether, as incoming coach Gary Kirsten said recently, he can be convinced to play with greater freedom.Kirsten joined up with the Pakistan squad ahead of the England series and early impressions have been positive, though with the acknowledgment that it’s too late for a big impact ahead of the T20 World Cup.”Too many new coaches,” Fakhar quipped when asked about Kirsten. “But Gary is such a great guy. He is new but we don’t feel he is new because the day he arrived he gelled with the team. He likes to talk to everyone. He likes to hear our story, how we play cricket and his own culture. We’re very excited to work with him.”He hasn’t had that much time but his mindset, the way he sits and talks with us like we’re friends, I really liked that. The World Cup is so close, so I’m not going to listen to anyone right now [about his own batting]. If you tinker stuff with a tournament so close it’s not easy. So I’m going to keep playing the way I am and then will work with him after that.”Related

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The emergence of Saim Ayub at the top has meant Fakhar batting at No. 4 this year, one spot lower than the position he had played for Pakistan since April 2021. Despite a poor PSL, his international numbers have been impressive: he averages 36 and is striking at nearly 155, as well as being good against spin in the middle overs.”In cricket, if you’re in form then you have to try and stretch that form out,” he said. “Whether I make 10, 15 or 20, I want to make sure it helps the team, that it has impact. In the middle order, you get situations like you’re batting in the 15th over, or the 2nd, so my role is to go hard and make it easier for others.”