Gianluigi Donnarumma's agent claims the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper wants to play in the Premier League, but has denied talk of a move to Manchester City.
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Crystal Palace have contacted the Metropolitan Police to ask for additional resources ahead of a potentially fiery clash with Nottingham Forest.
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Mic'd Up: The Soccer Hall of Famer discussed Colorado's move for Paxten Aaronson, why Pulisic was right to stand up for himself
Marcelo Balboa had his No. 17 retired in a fitting ceremony by the Colorado Rapids, and with good reason. The former U.S. defender, who starred in three World Cups, is often seen as a foundational piece for both the national team and Major League Soccer.
Balboa kicked off his career at a time when there were no domestic leagues in America, and professional-level talent had to play for scraps in local semi-pro competitions to keep the dream alive.Â
"Together, [we] were fighting and scratching to get what we had to get," Balboa told GOAL. "We didn't get to play at AC Milan, we didn't get a door open to play at Juventus or at Dortmund. Most of us were playing in local leagues. We didn't get to really experience Europe or South America until after 1994, that's when the doors finally opened up for us."Â
After a 1994 World Cup run that defied all expectations, the National Soccer Hall of Fame member was one of the many American stars who helped launch MLS as the face of the franchise for the Colorado Rapids. Son of Argentine parents, Balboa acknowledged that playing in the U.S. made them proud.
"Never played this game for trying to make the Hall of Fame. I didn't play this game to have my number retired. I played it because I saw the smile I put on my mom and dad's face when they watched the Argentine national team play [when I was growing up]," Balboa said. "Now my son was there. He saw the ceremony. Maybe one day, my grandkids and great-grandkids will see that. And they'll think that grandpa did something pretty special."
Balboa, now an analyst for Apple TV, discussed the Rapids' addition of Paxten Aaronson, the impact of Son Hueng-Min's at LAFC and the ongoing criticism of the USMNT in the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.
AC Milan are exploring a late move for Andreas Christensen as Barcelona weigh selling the ex-Chelsea defender before the transfer deadline.
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Manchester United’s search for a new No.9 reportedly led to them exploring a Danny Welbeck homecoming transfer for the second year in a row.
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Frenkie de Jong has voiced his frustration after Netherlands surrendered a lead to draw 1-1 with Poland in World Cup qualifying on Thursday.
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Andrew Miller considers the audacious career of a cricketing genius
Andrew Miller18-Mar-2018Ostensibly thick-skinned, yet strangely vulnerable. Thunderously powerful, but prone to myopic weaknesses. And when witnessed in full majestic flow in his natural environment, he could stop even the most casual of observers dead in their tracks.It’s little wonder that Kevin Pietersen has such an affinity with the rhino, the beast that is self-evidently his spirit animal, and which now looks set to absorb, through his conservation efforts, the passions which propelled his extraordinary career.Pietersen’s retirement at the age of 37 comes as no surprise. He’s been hinting at it all winter long, first at the Big Bash, and again before his departure for the PSL, and in both competitions, the sightings of his best form were as scarce as a watering hole in the Serengeti.A rumbustious 74 from 46 balls here, a 34-ball 52 there – and precious little in between. Prized snapshots for the lucky few who happened to be present on those days, but mere echoes of the truest glories which built up his legend.And now, finally, his career is no more – a fact that has drawn a generous smattering of eulogies from those who played with and, not least, against him, but understandably has not resonated quite as loudly as it would have done four years ago, prior to his excommunication from the very highest level of the game. His retirement came in several stages.This day, of all days, let’s not delve too deeply into the circumstances of that bleak and rancorous divorce – except to say that on Saturday the ECB’s Twitter feed found the good grace (or the brazen front, depending on which side of the schism you stand) to utter, in public, the words “Thank you @KP24!”, alongside a photo of his defining glory – that ludicrously unabashed century at The Oval in 2005, on the final day of the most compelling Ashes contest of all time.Kevin Pietersen in magnicent form in Colombo•Getty ImagesAnd yes, shocking though it may seem to those who still loathe the ego, English cricket owes Pietersen a huge debt of gratitude. Like Brian Lara before him, his outlandish talents are diminished in some people’s eyes by the fact that he wasn’t always the easiest of men to play alongside, but if you try to take an overview of the eras to which each man belonged, your mind is sure to snap back like a bungee cord to specific moments of outrageous glory.Bridgetown 1999 or Mumbai 2012; Sydney 1993 or Adelaide 2010. Lara’s guillotine-crack through the covers or KP’s flamingo-flick through wide mid-on. You simply cannot be a sports fan with a pulse and not be entertained by the audacity that such players brought to their game.Unlike many of the game’s greatest cricketers, neither Pietersen nor Lara appeared to have to sacrifice any style in producing careers of incredible substance. Sure, both could be guilty of playing one shot too many on more than a few occasions, and even KP was prone to go into his shell when needs must. However, each rightly calculated that the rewards of giving their genius full rein amply compensated for the sort of risks that, say, Steve Waugh or even Sachin Tendulkar could never have countenanced, or Alastair Cook or Allan Border – for all their granite-willed attributes – could never have pulled from their lockers in the first place.And for Pietersen, never was that more apparent than during that first, and still unequivocally greatest Test century. September 12, 2005 was Judgment Day for English cricket. Australia’s champions were down but not out, and even KP himself was briefly caught in two minds early in his innings, as the Aussies clawed with savage intensity for their urn, and would surely have reclaimed it had Warne at first slip not spilled a fateful edge.But never mind that… chances come, chances go at all levels of cricket. How Pietersen responded to that moment of luck, on 15, would define both his own career, and those of an entire generation of English cricketers. Legend has it he asked his captain, Michael Vaughan, how to play it, as England, paralysed by anxiety, resumed after lunch on an extremely sickly 127 for 5, with more than 60 overs of the series still to come.
Pietersen’s natural game was revealed, gloriously, to be ego-fuelled Ninjutsu
“Play your natural game,” were Vaughan’s orders. And there and then, Pietersen’s natural game was revealed, gloriously, to be ego-fuelled Ninjutsu – 96mph bouncers from Brett Lee were there to be uppercut over fine leg; Glenn McGrath length balls were there to be flambeed back through the torso of the umpire. Within six overs the game had changed beyond recognition, and though it took several more hours for England to dare to believe, Pietersen’s onslaught – 158 from 187 balls all told – had proven a paradoxically subtle point. Though volume of runs are a batsman’s ultimate aim, sometimes the “how” is every bit as important as “how many”.Which leads directly onto the second fundamental reason for English cricket to be grateful for Pietersen’s career. Sometimes, inevitably, his hubristic talents set him up for a pratfall – at Sabina Park in 2008-09, for instance, where he lined up a whip through midwicket but lost his off stump to Jerome Taylor, as England crumbled to a humbling 51 all out. Or at Cardiff five months later, when a hideous hoicked sweep against Nathan Hauritz opened the door to what, until a miraculous final-session escape, looked like being an Ashes-defining defeat.But the strength of mind he showed to shrug off the catcalls and keep the shots coming was remarkable. “It’s just the way I play,” became Pietersen’s stock retort on such occasions, and though he did temper his game to a degree during a mid-career lull, there’s no questioning the influence that his natural attacking mindset had on two more of England’s defining triumphs of the era.Kevin Pietersen was centre stage in England’s 2005 Ashes triumph•Getty ImagesThe World T20 win in the Caribbean in 2010 remains England’s only global one-day trophy and one that Pietersen’s Man-of-the-Tournament performance put beyond the reach of all comers. And, for the Ashes win in Australia in 2010-11, in which Cook’s rock-steady obduracy sapped Australia’s will to live, it was Pietersen’s frenzied double-century at Adelaide that flogged them into submission. In his very best performances, arguably only the inimitable Viv Richards displayed a greater ability to intimidate with a bat in hand.And the lessons of Pietersen’s attitude are apparent in another key aspect of England’s modern-day approach, this time in one-day cricket. Under Eoin Morgan, a man of similarly independent mindset (and who, had he been allowed to do so, would have recalled KP for the disastrous 2015 World Cup), England have turned themselves into serious challengers for the next event in 2019.And, if you listen very carefully to Morgan’s brazen lack of apology on the occasions when his team’s “express-yourselves” mentality has given way to an express-train wreck, you can almost hear his words being delivered in a slightly effete South African lilt.There’s an irony, too, in England’s sudden willingness to embrace the lessons and lifestyles of the Indian Premier League. Though it was never explicitly acknowledged as the reason for the meltdown in relationships between Pietersen and England, the ECB’s intransigence towards the tournament not only alienated their star player – who has always known his worth and knew what he was missing out on – it had ripple effects throughout the whole fabric of the English game.Kevin Pietersen understood the lure of IPL•BCCINow, all of a sudden, England’s players are flocking to the competition, lured by the life-changing sums of money, but also absorbing the extraordinary life lessons that can come from sharing a dressing-room with the world’s very best talents, and performing in front of enraptured crowds on a thrice-weekly basis.And that, fundamentally, was how Pietersen’s agitations retained a credibility that your common-or-garden egomaniac could never have sustained, for he saw the IPL as a career progression rather than just a cash cow. As if to underline the old saw about genius being 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, there was no-one in the course of his ten-year England career who trained harder than he did, and few of his contemporaries spoke about the game with more compelling insight either.
He made himself into a world-class batsman through the force of his own will, by refusing to accept any limitations on his technique, his opportunities, his geography or, ultimately, his modesty
Take his justification, in the summer of 2006, for reversing his stance against Muttiah Muralitharan of all people, and slotting the first of his trademark “switch hits” into the stands at Edgbaston. In his end-of-day press conference, he explained, with patience and passion, how the angle of the delivery, and the lay-out of the field, with two men back for the conventional sweep but none on the ropes at extra cover, had turned an outrageous piece of skill into an obvious percentage option.But of course, it could only be a percentage option due to the insane levels of preparation he was willing to put into his game. On the 2008 tour of New Zealand (to name just one nets sessions in a cast of thousands), thanks to the lay-out of the practice wickets at Hamilton, I was able to watch his entire session as if I was standing at silly point, and it remains to this day the most immersive experience of my career.He was FIGJAM to his closest acquaintances – particularly those standing behind him in the opposition slip cordon – and there were moments throughout his career when even his most ardent apologists would struggle to defend his crassness. But Pietersen’s glories and his failings were the flip side of the very same coin. He made himself into a world-class batsman through the force of his own will, by refusing to accept any limitations on his technique, his opportunities, his geography or, ultimately, his modesty.In time, the gaucheness, the gripes, the potshots and resentments will fade away from the tale of Kevin Pietersen. Like those sightings of his spirit animal, the memories of his glories will mean all the more now that he is gone.
Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman has explained why Georgia Stanway is back in her England squad, despite being absent for Bayern Munich since December.
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Victor Osimhen's Napoli exit is complete, with Galatasaray sealing a deal that blocks any return to Serie A until 2027 through a strict clause.
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Sixers have won their last four, while Heat dominated the league stage and fought back from a dip in form with a stunning win in the Challenger
Tristan Lavalette23-Jan-2024
A year ago, Brisbane Heat succumbed at the death against Perth Scorchers in a pulsating final at the Optus Stadium to fall agonisingly short of ending their decade-long BBL title drought.That painful defeat has lit a fuse under Heat and lifted them to great heights this season. But Heat’s bid for redemption and adding to their lone title from BBL 02 goes on the line against Sydney Sixers in Wednesday’s final at the SCG.Using a similar blueprint to powerhouses Scorchers and Sixers, Heat have built a strong core of local players as they aim to become only the third team in BBL history to win multiple titles.Related
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Heat can also end the Scorchers-Sixers stranglehold, with the two teams having combined to win the last four titles and eight overall. A triumph might well see a power shift, but it won’t be easy with Heat starting as underdogs despite a bounce back against in-form Adelaide Strikers in the Challenger.For further confidence, Heat also knocked Sixers out of last season’s Challenger with a tense victory at the SCG.More recently, however, Heat were thumped by 39 runs in the Qualifier on a two-paced Gold Coast surface similar to the SCG, where Sixers’ brilliant bowling attack continually defend modest totals.Sixers will enter with supreme confidence having peaked at the right time with four straight victories. For much of the season Sixers had appeared to be falling short of an all important top two finish with several of their matches heavily impacted by rain, including both games against Heat earlier in the month.Mustering their experience and trademark resiliency, Sixers turned it around capped by superb wins over Scorchers in Perth then Heat to reach a seventh BBL final.On the cusp of a fourth title and first since 2021, Sixers are closing in on regaining their BBL crown.
Sydney Sixers WWWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Brisbane HeatWLLWWJosh Brown made history in the Challenger•Getty Images
It just has to be opener Josh Brown after his astonishing 140 off 57 balls against Strikers as he produced the third highest score in BBL history. Heat’s revamped batting – following the exit of internationals Colin Munro and Sam Billings – had struggled in losses to Scorchers and Sixers, but Brown stepped up with a remarkable display of power-hitting to smash a record 12 sixes. But he has had to deal with a lot of attention in the aftermath and is also battling a sore hip after pushing his body to the limits.Brown may also have to contend at some stage with retiring left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe, who has enjoyed an outstanding final season. Only teammate Todd Murphy has a better economy than his 6.25 for those who bowled more than 15 overs this season. O’Keefe is particularly masterful on an SCG surface where he utilises the favourable conditions to his advantage and has proven almost impossible to counterattack. He took 3 for 13 against Sydney Thunder in his last appearance on the ground and if he can produce something similar then O’Keefe will likely end his career with a fairytale finish.
Given their strong form and dominance in the Qualifier, Sixers are set to go in unchanged meaning there won’t be room for veteran seamer Jackson Bird.But Heat have a selection headache after legspinner Mitchell Swepson was left out against Strikers with opener Charlie Wakim getting the nod for his season debut. Swepson, however, is almost certain to be recalled given the spin-friendly SCG conditions with Wakim set to make way. It will force a reshuffle to the batting order with Jimmy Peirson or Max Bryant likely to be elevated.Sydney Sixers (probable XI): 1 Jack Edwards, 2 Daniel Hughes, 3 Josh Philippe (wk), 4 Moises Henriques (capt), 5 Jordan Silk, 6 Joel Davies, 7 Hayden Kerr, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Ben Dwarshuis, 10 Todd Murphy, 11 Steve O’KeefeBrisbane Heat (probable XI): 1 Jimmy Peirson (wk), 2 Josh Brown, 3 Nathan McSweeney (capt), 4 Matt Renshaw, 5 Max Bryant, 6 Paul Walter, 7 Michael Neser, 8 Xavier Bartlett, 9 Spencer Johnson, 10 Mitchell Swepson, 11 Matthew KuhnemannSteve O’Keefe is two wickets away from picking up 100 in the BBL•Getty Images and Cricket Australia
There is always anxiety over Sydney’s weather, but there is no threat of rain on Wednesday. Sunny conditions are forecast during the day and it is expected to still be warm and humid when the match starts at night.The SCG surface is expected to again be slow and low to bring spinners into the game with scrappy batting often needed on the ground. Totals of around 150-160 have continually been successfully defended by Sixers in a blueprint they will likely want to replicate if they win the bat flip.