All posts by h716a5.icu

David Beckham believes that England can end their international tournament woes by winning the 2024 Euros with their talented squad.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Beckham discusses England's chancesHopes for glory at Euro 2024Praises the depth of the squad(C)GettyImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The former England captain spoke about England's chances at the 2024 Euros as he attended the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final between New Zealand and India in Mumbai in his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. The 48-year-old revealed that he was hopeful of the Three Lions' chances in the coming tournament thanks to the quality in their squad with youthful players like Jude Bellingham helping out experienced veterans such as Harry Kane.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Although England have performed well in recent international tournaments, they have not experienced victory since winning the World Cup on home soil in 1966. They reached the World Cup semi-finals in Russia in 2018, before suffering a heartbreaking loss to Italy in the European Championship final at Wembley on penalties. With two games remaining, Southgate's team has already secured a spot at the Euro 2024 championships.

WHAT BECKHAM SAID

"I really believe in this England team," Beckham told the AFP. "I believe in Gareth Southgate and what he's doing and what he's done for a number of years now. We were unfortunate to lose in the Euros final against Italy, but we were so close. And I've seen that when our national team has some kind of success, the way our country comes together is incredible."

"I don't want to speak too soon, but with the 2024 Euros, I think that we have a real opportunity with young players like Cole Palmer, like Jude Bellingham, and the other players that we have in the team. And of course, you know, we have a captain like Harry Kane who still continues to inspire his team and still continues to score goals. So I think we have a real opportunity."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

England host Malta on Friday before travelling to North Macedonia three days later, despite having already qualified they will want to finish well in order to claim top seeding in next month's group-stage draw.

The French defender headed in the only goal of the game while the debutant goalkeeper made a series of saves to shut out an impressive Wolves side

This was far from the performance Manchester United would have expected after a summer of lavish spending but they somehow got away with it and beat an excellent Wolves side 1-0 to start the season with three points.

Mason Mount had a really disappointing competitive debut but his fellow new arrival Andre Onana made four big saves to keep out Gary O'Neil's rampant visitors, who also hit the woodwork and defied expectations just a week after parting ways with coach Julen Lopetegui.

United went ahead against the run of play when Raphael Varane headed home Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross in the 76th minute. Wolves will be wondering how they did not take more from the game, especially after having a strong penalty shout in added time when Onana collided with two players. GOAL rates Manchester United's players from Old Trafford…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Andre Onana (7/10):

The Cameroonian played with courage on his competitive debut and, unlike in the friendly against Lens, his tendency to roam did not get him into trouble. Made smart saves from Matheus Cunha, Pedro Neto and Fabio Silva (twice) although was fortunate to not be penalised for clashing with two Wolves players in added time.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (8/10):

Attentive to the danger down his side and set up the only goal with a smart cross to Varane. Stayed focused until the end.

Raphael Varane (8/10):

Gave United leadership when they were struggling to hold Wolves off and, most crucially, found the breakthrough goal.

Lisandro Martinez (5/10):

Looked rusty on what was his first competitive game in more than four months. Got an early booking for a sliding tackle on Neto and that conditioned his performance until half-time, when Ten Hag took him off for Victor Lindelof.

Luke Shaw (6/10):

Some of Wolves best chances came down his left side and he was not very effective going forward. Made an excellent block late in the game.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Bruno Fernandes (6/10):

Was far from his dominant self but helped United find the breakthrough with a lovely through ball to Wan-Bissaka.

Casemiro (6/10):

Not as solid as usual defensively but was lively in attack.

Mason Mount (5/10):

An uninspiring full debut. Struggled to create much and his passing was imprecise.

GettyAttack

Antony (7/10):

United's liveliest attacker and a big improvement on many matches from last season.

Marcus Rashford (6/10):

Struggled to get much space as a centre-forward and had more joy when he returned to his favorite position on the left of the attack in the second half. Still created little to shout about.

Alejandro Garnacho (6/10):

Lively but frustrating. Got forward a lot but routinely made the wrong decision. Removed in the 68th minute.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettySubs & Manager

Victor Lindelof (6/10):

Played the entire second half and could do little to prevent Wolves' dominance.

Jadon Sancho (6/10):

Gave United a bit more fluidity when he came on.

Christian Eriksen (6/10):

His experience helped United get a win they did not deserve.

Scott McTominay (N/A):

Only introduced for the last 13 minutes.

Facundo Pellistri (N/A):

Only introduced for the final two minutes.

Erik ten Hag (6/10):

No complaints with his team selection and his substitutes helped improve the team and ultimately get the result.

Argentine wonderkid Claudio Echeverri continues to make quite the name for himself, but he claims to be “nowhere near” the level of Lionel Messi.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

South America always produces top talentExciting forward has emerged at River PlateReluctant to be compared with all-time great

WHAT HAPPENED?

For a long time, football in Argentina found itself forever searching for the ‘next Diego Maradona’. Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who savoured World Cup glory with his country in 2022, has now picked up that baton and every emerging superstar in South America is likened to the current Inter Miami talisman.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT THEY SAID

Echeverri falls into that category at just 17 years of age, but the hottest of prospects – who has made his senior debut for River Plate in 2023 – is wary of being compared to an all-time great. He has told when asked which Argentinian player he is most similar to: “I always said that my idol was Messi, but I’m nowhere near Messi! I also really liked Pablo Aimar, who’s part of the national-team staff, and he’s spoken to me many times. He’s a great person, and he gives me useful pointers about what I need to correct in my game. I’d probably say ‘Pablito’, then – he was a talented player and loved to take on defenders like me.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Echeverri is already attracting admiring glances from afar, as European heavyweights begin to notice his obvious potential, and he has all of the qualities that a South American forward would be expected to boast. The talented teenager added on his biggest strengths: “I’m not really sure what my biggest strength is. I think it could be my speed, because I'm very fast; I try to get on the ball quickly and I immediately get forward.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT?

While eager to avoid picking up the ‘next Messi’ tag, Echeverri is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his iconic fellow countryman. He said of his ambition for the immediate and long-term future: “I always said that my dream was to make my debut for River’s first team, and I’ve done that now. Now, it’s probably playing for the senior national team. That’s my dream.”

England’s style of play compared to the World Cup could not be more of a contrast but Steven Finn insisted the aggressive mindset so effective in this series was the plan for World Cup too

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-2015Steven Finn suffered more than any England bowler at the World Cup but he, like the team, has shown a remarkable turn of form in the ODI series against New Zealand, which heads to the final match on Saturday level at 2-2. England’s style of play compared to the World Cup could not be more of a contrast but Finn insisted the aggressive mindset so effective in this series was the plan for that tournament too.The removal of Peter Moores as coach has been highlighted as the primary cause of England’s change of attitude but Finn insisted Moores was also trying to instill the type of cricket they have produced in this series.”We talked about what we wanted to do in the World Cup,” Finn said. “We sat in front of the media and said we wanted to play with freedom and smiles on our faces. We didn’t do it. I’ve been involved in both series and I can’t put my finger on why but it seems there has been a huge change in attitude here.”There’s been some personnel changes and those guys have come in and done really well. Everyone is playing with a smile on their face. Even when we walked off the field after going for 350, we felt as though we were in the game. When you are 100 for 0 off 11 overs, everyone is sitting there in the dressing room and there’s a real camaraderie with the guys that I’ve rarely experienced in a dressing room before. It is really exciting.”All the credit for England’s turnaround has gone to their batsmen but Finn has played a crucial, and largely unheralded, role in the series, staging his own comeback having been their most expensive bowler at the World Cup, and then left out of the tour to West Indies. Finn is the joint-top wicket-taker in the series and is the most economical of those to have played in three or more matches, conceding 5.67-an-over, which before this series would have been considered expensive. Finn recognised how much the game has changed.”It is about accepting that the game has changed. [Brendon] McCullum hit me over wide long-off for six and I thought, ‘that was probably hitting the top of off stump’. So you have to walk back and think, ‘fair play, that was a good shot’. It’s that sort of attitude that bowlers are having to take into games.”It’s like playing a long Twenty20. You almost have to accept that you’re going to be hit for boundaries, you have to accept that people will play good shots. It’s just trying to make sure they are playing good shots to get their boundaries and they are not hitting bad balls. It has changed big time since the World Cup. To come into this series and for there to be scores regularly of around 350, as a bowler you have to change your mindset and go about things slightly differently.”It’s been tricky so far but it’s been really exciting. We have a good, young, very talented group of players at the moment. We’ve talked a lot about playing with a carefree attitude and playing with freedom – we talked a lot about it in the winter but never did it – so it’s great that four games in a row now, win or lose, we’ve played with that attitude. It has stood us in good stead so far.”Finn might have feared his England career was over when left out of the West Indies tour but he has staged a second return to international cricket, following his initial resurgence having been dubbed “unselectable” during the Ashes tour of 2013-14.”When I came back from that Australia tour, we stripped everything back and went right back to basics,” Finn said. “It’s been a case of grooving that over the last 18 months. To be now feeling in control of what I’m doing when I’m at the end of my mark is a nice feeling and something I want to keep doing. I learned a lot about my bowling and my action in that time and I feel as though I have a really good understanding of it now. I don’t feel as though I’ve ever bowled this consistent in terms of where I’m bowling it. I’d love to get that high-end pace back 100 per cent all the time that I had when I was taking wickets a lot a few years ago. That’s something I’m working towards but I’m happy where I am at the moment.”My mantra is very much to keep it as simple as I can. When I’ve done alright in T20s and one-dayers, it is about keeping it as simple as you can. If you’re clouded at the end of your mark or clouded when you’re running up, that generally leads to you bowling a poor ball. So it is about having a clear plan and saying, ‘if you hit me while I’m bowling to this plan, then you’ve got the better of me and are too good for me today’. It’s about finding plans for each batsman and you try not to bowl to their strengths.”Finn was named in the 14-man training squad that will travel to Spain ahead of the Ashes and now has his sights set on a return to the Test arena.”Well my last Test match was in the last Ashes over here nearly two years ago. I’d love to be involved. I’m going to have to keep bowling well and taking wickets for Middlesex. I dream and hope and wish I can play in this Ashes series but I can’t change what I’m doing in order to do that. I can just keep plugging away, keep trying to get better, keep feeling that rhythm, keep feeling as if I’m getting better. If that gets me in the Ashes squad, then great.”

Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid on Sunday but controversy soon followed, as they complained about the assistant referee spying on them after the match.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Barca celebrate narrow win over AtleticoNumber of controversial decisions Assistant caught eavesdropping outside dressing roomWHAT HAPPENED?

Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez was in charge of the match and the Montjuic home crowd felt that Barcelona had been given the short end of the stick on several occasions, particularly about Joao Felix's penalty appeal, Memphis Depay's two fouls, and his block of Ilkay Gundogan during the German's forward play. Linesman Raul Cabanero was allegedly discovered outside the Barcelona locker room following the game, according to [via ]. They claim he was listening in on the players throughout both half-time and full-time. Press officer Edu Polo instructed Cabanero to leave the premises of the locker room at full-time; however, the linesman summoned Sanchez over his radio, who subsequently inquired about Polo's identity. When Xavi Hernandez showed up, he verified Polo's identification.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

According to Diario AS [Football Espana], Sanchez urged composure, and a discussion was able to fix the matter. They do, however, support Sport's accusations, asserting that Cabanero entered the locker room at half-time to perform the routine player kit check, which is typically done outside the locker room.

DID YOU KNOW?

This season, the Catalans and referees have had a tense relationship that president Joan Laporta brought up last weekend when he insisted his club should have received a penalty for a foul on Raphinha in the LaLiga match against Rayo Vallecano.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Although there isn't likely to be any official process for this type of action, Barcelona will undoubtedly be tempted to vent their displeasure even more in a period when the big two have been eager to fuel the embers of refereeing controversy. All things considered, in recent seasons, officiating in Spain has far too frequently been a topic of discussion.

While the Albiceleste captain is an automatic choice for his nation, there is fierce competition to accompany him in Russia

JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images1Dario BenedettoIf it were not for a cruciate ligament tear suffered back in November, Benedetto would have had a real chance of making Argentina's World Cup list. The Boca striker had netted 12 goals in as many games prior to his injury, and also featured in the Albiceleste's last four qualifiers, albeit without hitting the net. Even if he does beat the odds and make it back to competitive action before June, however, his World Cup dream is effectively over.AdvertisementGetty2Cristian PavonThe Boca Juniors star joins Martinez in the squad as one of Sampaoli's picks from the Argentine Superliga. Pavon made a huge impression in his international debut back in November, laying on two goals for Sergio Aguero in clashes against Russia and Nigeria, and his prowess down the right marks him out as a useful option in Argentina's star-studded attack.Getty3Lautaro MartinezAt just 20, the Racing Club wonderkid's name is on everybody's lips. Sampaoli has already visited the Cilindro on no less than three occasions to watch Martinez, who obliged the Argentina coach with an incredible seven goals to earn his first call up to the senior Argentina side. The World Cup may be arriving just too soon for the striker, but his talent is undeniable and a strong showing in this double-header might just tip the balance and see him make Russia as a wildcard pick.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty4Angel CorreaWhen injury forced Aguero out of March's clashes, Sampaoli turned to an unexpected face in order to fill the gap in his squad. Atletico Madrid's Correa got the nod ahead of both Icardi and Dybala to join the squad, a chance he has richly earned thanks to his excellent performances at the Wanda Metropolitana. The 23 year old offers depth both through the middle and out wide in the Argentina attack and will be eager to add to his collection of seven caps against Italy and Spain.

Inter Miami teenager Tyler Hall admits he was left feeling “like I was in a video game” after being joined in Florida by all-time great Lionel Messi.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

All-time great now in the United StatesImpressing all of those around himCatching the eye on and off the pitchWHAT HAPPENED?

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner linked up with the MLS outfit over the summer, with a remarkable move to the United States being completed after reaching the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. Messi made an immediate impact in Miami, as he helped to deliver a historic Leagues Cup triumph, and still has a number of team-mates pinching themselves.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Hall falls into that category, with the highly-rated defender telling FIFA’s of what it is like to work with Messi on a daily basis: “The first day Messi came, it didn't feel real. It was like I was in a video game or something! It hits me once in a while that he's right next to me. He's a very approachable guy. He is always smiling and always comes over to shake my hand. He is a great guy and is so good with all the young players.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Facing Messi in training is helping Hall to improve his game, even if he admits that the Argentine icon can prove impossible to stop at times. The 17-year-old, who is yet to make his competitive debut for Inter Miami, added on lining up against Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba: “I’ve played 11v11 against them. It’s crazy. They just think faster, they play faster. It's amazing to have them on the field next to you at this young age. Messi actually played on my side [of the pitch] and was up against me. If you watch Messi's games, you see him walking around, scanning the field, then all of a sudden he checks his shoulder and then he's just gone! He moves so quick and it was hard for me to keep up. I was frustrated, even knowing he's one of the best players in the world, because I want to be able to guard him. I want to better myself and be able to defend him really well in the future.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Few defenders have been able to contain the obvious threat that Messi poses down the years, with the 36-year-old superstar having reached 726 goals through 899 appearances at club level while also hitting the target on 106 occasions in 178 outings for his country.

Pep Guardiola has explained how being a “handsome man” helps him to get his message across during short training sessions at Manchester City.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Catalan coach one of the best in the businessDoes not push players hard before gamesIs still able to deliver positive resutlsWHAT HAPPENED?

With so many games being packed into a hectic schedule, the Catalan coach is wary of pushing his players too hard behind the scenes. That means he can spend as little as 25 minutes working on upcoming fixtures, but he is still able to impart wisdom and ensure that his star-studded squad are ready for whatever challenge awaits them.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

Quizzed on how he is able to achieve that, former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola has jokingly said: “Because I'm really good. I'm a handsome man and I seduce them and we did it. So, I'm really good. Today we have the TV, the images, and we talk individually, and moving that way. I spoke with Ruben (Dias) with what happened at Chelsea, I spoke with Kyle (Walker) with what happened at Chelsea. I talked about it in this specific was after they made mistakes, they just understand.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Revealing that he has never been one for long practice sessions, Guardiola said of the limited time that he spent with his players prior to a 1-1 Premier League draw with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium: “In seven years, I don’t train. Maximum 35 minutes. We don’t train. They started pre-season 15 days before. Do you know what 15 days is? We played the FA Cup final and then the Champions League final. They had 15 days more with the new players. We didn’t do one day of tactical. It's the same for Jurgen [Klopp], I’m pretty sure. The day before this game, we did 10-15 minutes with the ball and 10 minutes defensively. Before Tuesday it will be 10 minutes on the pitch, moving in that way. We cannot train. If we train, we don’t have players for the next game. We don’t have them. That’s why we have to learn from the past: just understand what you have to do. The press, who jumps. This is what we absolutely rely on.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR GUARDIOLA?

City, who claimed a historic treble triumph last season, will be back in Champions League action on Tuesday when playing host to RB Leipzig. The Premier League title holders are nursing a number of injuries at present, which is further preventing Guardiola from pushing aching limbs towards breaking point.

Minutes after Lalit Modi was declared the president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, the BCCI suspended RCA for allowing a banned individual to be a part of its affairs

Nagraj Gollapudi06-May-201411:27

‘I’m going to show them how cricket is run’ – Modi

Minutes after Lalit Modi was declared the president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, the BCCI suspended RCA for allowing a banned individual to be a part of its affairs. At the same time, the BCCI has said cricketers from Rajasthan won’t suffer since an ad-hoc committee will run cricket in the state till the dispute with the RCA is resolved.”Interim president Shivlal Yadav has suspended RCA as per rule 32 (vii) under the BCCI’s constitution. We will very shortly come out with an ad-hoc committee to take care of cricket in Rajasthan,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel told ESPNcricinfo. “Modi has already been expelled from the BCCI and he has not challenged that ban. Those are known things. So, for us, Modi is a non-existent person.”BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel: ‘The ad-hoc committee will work out how Rajasthan can play in BCCI tournaments’•Mahesh AcharyaModi called the BCCI move “illegal” and said he would challenge it. “They have no powers to form an ad hoc committee,” he said. “They have illegally suspended RCA. They cannot do that.”Immediately after returning as the RCA president, Modi spelt out his plan to revamp cricket in Rajasthan. However, with the BCCI deciding to suspend RCA, the fierce tussle between the former IPL chairman and the BCCI seems to be far from concluded. Patel was in no mood to resolve any dispute. “Where is a question of resolving anything? We have suspended both Modi and the RCA. Those who want to go with them can go,” he said.”But we will see that cricket is not affected and cricketers are not affected across all age groups. The ad-hoc committee will work out how Rajasthan can play in BCCI tournaments. The boys and cricket should not suffer. That is our primary goal. The players do not need to worry. We will see how to make them comfortable.”Patel said last week’s Supreme Court order, which directed the court-appointed observers to announce the results on May 6, had made it clear that the aggrieved parties can challenge the poll results at an appropriate forum. “In the same order on April 30, the honourable Supreme Court has directed that if it is found by BCCI that any person has acted against any rule/regulation/law which is to be enforced by us, it would be open to us to take action against such person. Here it is the RCA that has gone against our rules and we have taken action now.”Sharad Pawar, the former BCCI and ICC president, said the board’s move to suspend the RCA was shocking. “I was shocked to hear about the decision. I think it is a very harsh decision by the BCCI,” Pawar told PTI. “For the sake of one individual to suspend a whole organisation is really shocking. I hope (BCCI interim president) Shivlal Yadav will show some spirit in the organisation and respect the views of the judiciary.”Modi, who was the founding chairman of the IPL, was suspended by the BCCI on April 26, 2010, following various allegations of misconduct. After Modi left the country citing security reasons, a special enquiry panel appointed to conduct an enquiry into the 11 charges against Modi found him guilty on eight counts. As a result, a special general meeting of the BCCI expelled Modi for life on September 25, 2013. According to the BCCI regulations, Modi’s expulsion cannot be revoked for at least three years from the date of issue of the ban.

Warwickshire were grateful for a ninth-wicket stand between Chris Woakes and Chris Wright for rescuing them from a tough position against Nottinghamshire despite Jonathan Trott’s return to the game

George Dobell at Edgbaston01-Jul-2014
ScorecardChris Woakes claimed the 15th five-wicket haul of his career to keep Warwickshire in the game (file photo)•Getty ImagesChris Woakes may never establish himself as an allrounder in the England Test side but, if he does not, it will be to Warwickshire’s immense gain.Woakes may be the perfect player for a county. Always on the verge of the international side, he remains high achieving and highly motivated. But, crucially, he also remains available for his club.He has underlined his worth in this game. Following his 91 in Warwickshire’s first innings, a contribution that was made with his side under pressure, he claimed five wickets in Nottinghamshire’s second innings to earn an outside chance of an unlikely victory.Woakes’ reputation was built as a swing bowler. But, dangerous as he was in helpful conditions, the suspicion remained that he lacked the ammunition to damage the opposition when the ball did not swing. In short, he has been defined as a fine county bowler, but one lacking the pace to cut it in the conditions prevalent in Test cricket.That is a reputation that may require re-evaluation. Here, in conditions offering him nothing, he claimed a five-wicket haul against a batting line-up containing three of the top four run-scorers in Division One this season (and six of the top 17) to keep his side’s fourth-innings target just within reach. He is now averaging 18.61 with the ball this season.Key to Woakes’ improvement would appear to be increased control and a little extra pace. A combination of better use of his front arm and extra gym sessions has created a bowler with quite an armoury. As Alan Richardson, the Warwickshire bowling coach, said: “He has been able to seam it, swing it and hit good areas all day for a while. But now he can force people on to the back foot, too, he has even more options.”Woakes’ first-class record is exceptional. A bowling average of 24.88 (with 15 five-wicket hauls) and a batting average of 38.50 (with eight centuries) compares favourably with that of Ben Stokes, who has a bowling average of 28.11 (with three five-wicket hauls) and a batting average of 35.17 (with nine centuries). As Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire director of cricket and England selector put it: “Warwickshire have got themselves a proper good cricketer on their hands. He has terrific stats, especially with the ball.”With little help from the conditions, Warwickshire concentrated on bowling straight and full in the hope of exploiting Nottinghamshire’s impatience and just a touch of uneven bounce in the wicket.While Phil Jaques, playing his final game before returning to Australia, and Alex Hales were together, it looked as if Nottinghamshire would stretch their lead well beyond 300. But with Hales bowled by one that kept low and Jaques playing on as he chased one, the innings began to falter. James Taylor was yorked and Andre Adams and Samit Patel were guilty of frustrated slogs. Jeetan Patel found enough turn to have Riki Wessels caught at short leg off bat and pad and beat Peter Siddle with an arm ball. After losing their last five wickets for 10 runs in the first innings, Nottinghamshire lost their last five for 49 in the second. It meant Warwickshire required 289 to win. It could, should, have been far more.Nottinghamshire will curse themselves if they lose this game. They have had several opportunities to shut Warwickshire out of the match, not least when reaching 338 for 4 on the first day or when Warwickshire were 188 for 7 on the second, but now go into the final day with the game finely poised. Nottinghamshire probably retain the stronger position, but their lack of a frontline spinner may yet hurt them.Indeed, it is a day that could define the Championship seasons of both teams. Win and Nottinghamshire stretch their lead at the top of the top or Warwickshire re-enter the title race; lose and Warwickshire are involved in the relegation battle while Notts would be back among the pack.If Warwickshire do win, they will surely need Jonathan Trott to continue his rehabilitation with a major contribution. He looked admirably composed on the third evening, repelling the inevitable barrage – just as in the first innings, his first three balls, all bowled by Siddle, were bouncers – with relative ease and batting through the last hour of the day. It was, by some distance, the most calm innings he has played since his troubles in Australia.”Everyone wants to see him playing again,” Newell said. “It is great for Warwickshire and it’s great for England. He knows he is going to be roughed up. He knows he will always face a higher percentage of short balls than other batsmen. But he looked the same old Jonathan Trott to me.”While Trott looked comfortable, though, two of his partners squandered their wickets with rash strokes. Varun Chopra, having played himself in, top-edged a pull, while William Porterfield attempted to play a straight ball through square leg. An intriguing final day looms.