West Ham have been handed a huge relief as Marko Arnautovic will be able to feature against Chelsea this weekend, according to Claret & Hugh.
The Austria international scored his third goal in five matches as West Ham secured a vital 3-1 victory over Everton on Sunday, ending a run of four consecutive defeats under Manuel Pellegrini, but was substituted after 64 minutes.
Arnautovic, who also assisted one of Andriy Yarmolenko’s goals in the victory, claimed he felt pain during the win over the Toffees and that raised concern that the Hammers could be without their star-man for a stern challenge against London rivals Chelsea.
However, a source told Claret & Hugh that the 29-year-old is likely to be available for selection.
“You can never be 100 per cent on these things but he was in good form after the game and fingers crossed he’ll be fine.”
Arnautovic was one of few shining lights in a disappointing season for West Ham last term, scoring 11 goals in his debut season at the London Stadium, and has continued that fine form into this campaign.
Arsenal failed to recover from going down 2-0 in the early stages in their 3-1 defeat against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening, and Gunners fans weren’t impressed with Laurent Koscielny’s performance.
The France international has been one of the north London outfit’s most consistent performers at centre-back over the course of the last few seasons, but he didn’t have his best day at the office against Jose Mourinho’s men.
The 32-year-old gave the ball away cheaply before Antonio Valencia gave United the lead in the fourth minute, and it was he and his fellow defenders’ poor start to the match that ultimately cost the hosts in a game they dominated.
Arsenal supporters were quick to have their say on the Frenchman’s display via social media, and while one said “Koscielny is shot to bits”, another said he “needs to be replaced in the summer transfer window”.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Celtic striker Moussa Dembele is again the subject of significant interest from Europe’s biggest clubs with AC Milan joining the race to sign him this summer.
After scoring a fantastic 32 goals and helping the Hoops to not just a domestic treble but also an unbeaten domestic season, his stock is high and it could be a long summer for the Hoops fans who are hoping to get at least one more season out of the young Frenchman.
Dembele burst onto the European scene earlier this season with a wonderful double against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League and ever since speculation has been almost constant regarding his future.
There’s are argument that say the Hoops should hold on to their man despite heavy bidding with his value unlikely to go down and the chances of him helping them again in Europe high.
The counter to that would be that the money they could potentially receive for the 20-year old is massive by Scottish football standards and they should cash in immediately.
Supporters are taking a rather philosophical view on things with some wanting him to stay but others wanting the club to take the money. Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on AC Milan’s interest…
Southampton’s start to the season can be described as positive. However, a lack of cutting edge in front of goal has proved the downfall of Claude Puel’s side.
Ahead of the winter transfer window, the club must target someone to end their poor return of goals. Southampton have averaged just one goal per game in the Premier League this season, a rather unwelcome statistic.
The loss of Sadio Mané has proved a major blow for the Saints, with their attacking strengths diminishing since the Senegal forward departed for Liverpool.
Nonetheless, Puel has defied the odds to ensure the south coast club challenge for European places once more. The defensive displays cannot be faulted, but their attacking options remain limited and flat.
Charlie Austin hit a hot streak earlier in the season but has scored just once in his last six appearances across all competitions and Puel’s options beyond the former QPR star are bleak.
With that in mind, Football FanCast have taken a look at five strikers Southampton should target when the transfer window reopens in January.
Solomon Rondon
The Venezuelan should remain high on the priority list for Puel as his style of play is well suited to that on the south coast.
At West Brom, Rondon will not be able to compete for European football, and his return of goals in the black country is nothing to be sniffed at.
His physical style and goal-scoring ability suggest Rondon is more than capable of leading the line at Southampton. A £20million transfer bid is something West Brom would consider seriously.
Troy Deeney
Britain Football Soccer – Liverpool v Watford – Premier League – Anfield – 6/11/16Watford’s Troy Deeney gives his boots to fans at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters / Jason CairnduffLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representativ
Once Deeney finally scores his 100th goal for Watford, what can the English forward realistically achieve with the Hornets?
A move to Southampton would undeniably be a step up for Deeney, who should be aiming for European football.
With Deeney, the Saints would get a goal-scorer and also a real leader in the final third. Deeney would be a step up from the current options at Puel’s disposal.
Daniel Sturridge
Britain Football Soccer – England v Scotland – 2018 World Cup Qualifying European Zone – Group F – Wembley Stadium, London, England – 11/11/16England’s Daniel Sturridge celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters / Carl RecineLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
There’s nothing more important to Daniel Sturridge than feeling wanted and appreciated for his goal-scoring ability.
The striker has spent his career playing second fiddle at whatever club he has represented. Should the England forward consider a move to Southampton, he would instantly become the leading player at St. Mary’s – everything he’s wanted during his career.
A £25million bid would likely see Liverpool contemplate his future and the significance of such a signing could not be underestimated.
Jermain Defoe
Britain Football Soccer – Sunderland v Crystal Palace – Premier League – Stadium of Light – 24/9/16Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe gesturesAction Images via Reuters / Ed SykesLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
If you want goals, Defoe is surely the answer. Whether his arrival would be welcomed on the south coast remains to be seen due to his previous ties with Bournemouth and Portsmouth.
Were it not for Defoe, Sunderland would now be playing Championship football as his goals proved invaluable for the Black Cats last season. Against Hull last Saturday, Defoe scored his 150th Premier League strike.
Puel could do with Defoe’s expertise and lethal finishing in front of goal to secure European football once more for the Saints.
Quincy Promes
The surprise name on the list no doubt, but the Spartak Moscow forward is desperate to make a move to England after so many impressive displays in Russia.
The Dutch international would be the ideal replacement for Mané and is a similar player to the former Southampton forward.
The 24-year-old is unquestionably the best foreign player in Russia at the moment and is spearheading Spartak’s charge for a first domestic crown since 2001.
U.S. Soccer has announced format changes to the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the sake of stakeholders and congestion with MLS teams.
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U.S. Soccer announces Open Cup changesOnly eight MLS teams to appearSweeping changes arrivingWHAT HAPPENED?
For the first time since 2008 – after 16 years of progress an advancement in the tournament – U.S. Soccer has opted to revert to a format where the First Round of 32 matches will consist exclusively of amateur and professional teams.
In addition, sweeping changes arrived in the form of Major League Soccer's participation. Only eight MLS sides will compete in the 2024 edition of the tournament, with 11 developmental MLS NEXT Pro sides as well.
Sides competing in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup – and their MLS NEXT Pro sides – were excluded from participation, based on results from the 2023 MLS season. D.C. United is the lone MLS side without CCC or USOC participation.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
32 amateur teams will meet 32 division-three teams in Round One, with the winners facing off against each other in the second round of the tournament. Round three will see 16 USL Championship sides enter the tournament and they will be paired with the 16 victorious sides from Round two.
Then, the eight MLS teams – Houston Dynamo, Atlanta United FC, FC Dallas, Sporting Kansas City, LAFC, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders – will enter the fray. For an amateur side to be paired up against an MLS club, they will have to qualify for the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The changes arrive much to the dismay of players and managers around the league. New York Red Bulls defender John Tolkin blasted MLS over the rule changes prior to the announcement, while D.C. United is the lone club across MLS with ZERO representation in the tournament. Their developmental side does not play in MLS NEXT Pro, therefore they will have no participation at any level.
Houston won the 2023 final against Inter Miami.
WHAT U.S. SOCCER SAID
"First and foremost, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all our members for their invaluable input over the past couple of months— sharing with us of the reasons the U.S. Open Cup is so great, and what we can do to make it even better,” said U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson. “After extensive discussions, we have put together a competitive format specific to the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, promising exciting matchups from the First Round and through the entire tournament. U.S. Soccer values the tradition and importance of the U.S. Open Cup, and we will continue to have conversations with all our members to explore avenues for enhancing future editions of the tournament and how we all work together to grow soccer in every community in the country”.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THE U.S. OPEN CUP
Round One will begin on Tuesday, March 19 with the final of the 2024 tournament wrapping up on Wednesday, September 25. MLS sides will not enter the tournament until Tuesday, July 9.
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.
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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.”
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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.
The 19-year-old is one of the United States' most exciting young talents and is already on the radar of some top Women's Super League clubs
To go pro or to stay at college? That is the question so many top women’s soccer talents in the United States have pondered in the last few years.
It was back in 2012 that Lindsey Horan, now a world champion with the U.S. women's national team, became the first female soccer player to skip college and turn professional. In the years since, it has become a much more common theme.
After Mallory Pugh became the first player to skip college to sign in the NWSL, the country's top league, in 2017, every top pick in the last four editions of the NWSL Draft has left college early to go pro. Trinity Rodman, the second pick in 2021, never even played for a university.
Now, it’s the turn of Alexis Missimo to think about that conundrum.
Daughter of Derek, the all-time leading goalscorer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she’s already had an eye-catching college career herself, despite the second full year of it having not yet concluded.
Whether she decides to build on that in a professional sense in the coming months or she waits until she graduates college will eventually be trivial, as there are few doubts she has history to make when she gets there.
So, who is Missimo and what makes her so highly-rated? NXGN explains…
Angela Kelly
Where it began
Missimo was only little when she was picking up her first trophies – but they weren’t for soccer.
“My sister played and I was actually the mascot for that team,” she tells NXGN, with awards marked ‘mascot’ given her to when they won tournaments. “I would wear a cheerleader outfit and I'd go to every one of her games. I just saw how she was with her team-mates and I just fell in love with the sport.”
Soon after, she would begin playing with Solar Soccer Club, one of the most successful soccer programmes in the States. There, she’d meet her best friend, Trinity Byars, another incredibly exciting American whose talent means she can certainly think about going pro, too. “She’s having a great season,” Missimo adds. “She'll probably be the Offensive Player of the Year.”
A few years later, the pair would commit to the University of Texas when they were still in the eighth grade.
“It would have been a guesstimated risk for more coaches because you're going on the assumption that they're going to continue to develop,” Angela Kelly, coach of the Texas Longhorns tells NXGN. “But with those two, it was like blue chippers. You knew that they were destined to do great things in the game.”
“We're kind of just a package deal,” Missimo adds. “We went together and I just thought, 'If I have her, we'll be a solid team in general'.”
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The big break
There hasn’t been an explosive moment that announced Missimo to the world, but rather a hype that has built steadily while she has posted insane numbers year after year.
In 2019, she scored 62 goals and provided 49 assists in just 32 games for Solar in the U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy. Those kind of stats make people take notice – with her ranking at No.4 in the NXGN lists of both 2021 and 2022.
A regular in the youth national teams from the age of 13, Missimo was ranked as the No.1 recruit in the country upon graduating high school, with the curiosity around how she would do at the next level certainly piquing at that time.
Texas Longhorns
How it’s going
Both Manchester City and Arsenal have told Missimo that they have opportunities for her should she decide to go pro. That’s a good indicator of how it is going for her.
The teenager trained with City twice in 2019, experiences she says were “everything that I thought [they] were going to be”.
“That was the best soccer I've ever played, personally. I was nervous because I wanted to perform, but also it was like playing with likewise players, and I really liked it.”
Earlier this year, she won the CONCACAF Women’s Championship with the U.S. Under-20 national team, named in the tournament’s Best XI after scoring three goals.
“She missed six games this season and she's leading the country in assists, still,” Kelly says, speaking to NXGN during an incredible 2022 season for Missimo.
“She broke the record for assists in a season [at Texas] just in the last match… She's just dynamic. She changes the game whenever she's in it.”
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Texas Longhorns
Biggest strengths
“She's got everything,” says Eddie Pope, a man who can be trusted to spot talent having represented the U.S. men's national team 82 times and played for his country at three World Cups.
Pope is now an agent and has been advising the Missimo family in recent years, having gone to the same university as Derek and become friends with him through those connections.
“You don't typically see someone that has that many different aspects to their game, at her age. She can shoot with both feet really well. She's got great size, great speed, great pace. She's physical and strong. She's good in the air.
“She can play in the middle, but she can also play up top as a striker – a striker that might want to get in behind the defence, a striker that runs off the shoulders of the defenders because she has the pace to do it. But she can also play as a striker that holds the ball up in front of the defenders because she can pass so well.
“Her soccer IQ is really, really high, so she can also play as a withdrawn striker that comes really deep into the midfield to kind of unbalance the defence. She can be in a bunch of different spots. She's good enough to play as a six or an eight.”
“I think I can read the game better than I did before the [national team] camps and also that's just about learning how to grow up,” Missimo adds herself.
“My dad was my coach, who has taught me a lot – he taught me everything I know about soccer – so him and the national team camps have taught me how to be more technical, how to be more aware of the game and how to be professional overall.”
Goal looks at the kits of the teams participating in Euro 2020 this summer, from Germany's classic, updated strip to Spain's unconventional home kit
Euro 2020 (now taking place in 2021) will feature the top international sides from across Europe and they will all be wearing unique attire at the tournament.
Football kits are generally updated every season and, when it comes to international football, almost inevitably before each major competition.
Goal takes a look at what the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin De Bruyne, Harry Kane and more will be wearing at this summer's European Championship.
GettyAustria – Home kit
Puma is the manufacturer of Austria's kit for Euro 2020 and it has received a number of outings already. Red on the torso with white sleeves and a round collar, the jersey is imbued with a classic Alpine design graphic, which is inspired by the Vienna Secession art nouveau style.
AdvertisementAustriaAustria – Away kit
The Austria away kit was unveiled by Puma in November 2019, featuring a sleek black and teal design with a feather pattern. The OFB crest appears on the left side, with the graphic and colours inspired, like the home kit, by Austria's art nouveau style from the 19th and 20th century.
Adidas/Goal compositeBelgium – Home kit
Belgium's home kit, made by Adidas, features a bold brushstroke graphic that forms the letter "B" on the front. The Belgian flag makes up the red, yellow and black colourway, with yellow hints also across the cuffs and collar.
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AdidasBelgium – Away kit
Belgium's away kit is a grey-white number but with red and black embellishments. Adidas' trademark three stripes (in red) adorn the shoulders.
A tetchy Darren Sammy said West Indies’ batsmen did not take the responsibility to chase down a rather small target – 124 – against Afghanistan
Karthik Krishnaswamy in Nagpur27-Mar-2016It was Afghanistan’s first win in the Super 10s, it was their first win in any format against a Full Member side other than Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and they had done rather well to beat West Indies, but the West Indies captain was in no mood to praise his opponents. An uncharacteristically tetchy Darren Sammy instead said his team should have had the match in the bag, that they should have easily chased 124, and failed to do so only because none of their batsmen took the responsibility of anchoring the chase.”[I] don’t think it was difficult,” he said, when asked about the challenge of batting against Afghanistan’s spinners on a slow, grippy pitch. “At the end of the day, we just didn’t play smart enough. We backed ourselves. The games we have won, every match somebody took responsibility to bat through. Chris [Gayle] did it in the first game, [Andre] Fletcher did it in the second game, Marlon [Samuels] did it in the third.”This time nobody did it. Nobody took responsibility, just left it for the next man to come. Like I said to the guys tonight, we just leave this game here in Nagpur. It’s a new focus now, which is the semi-final which is the first step and we just have to be ready to face whoever it is in Mumbai.”In a closely fought match decided by a six-run margin, Afghanistan ran 11 twos, while West Indies only managed five. Sammy didn’t think this had been a key difference between the two sides in the game, and repeated his belief that West Indies should have won the game comfortably.”This ground is probably one of the biggest grounds in India,” he said. “Plenty [of] twos were on display, especially when you are trying to save the boundary. Batsmen, depending on how quickly the ball is coming to you, always [have] two on offer particularly if you run the first one hard. Yeah, look, at the end of the day, we were really happy chasing 124. We should have gotten it. We lost the game, they didn’t win it.”While disappointed that West Indies had lost, Sammy was happy they had won their first three games and to be among the final four teams left standing in the World T20.”They [Afghanistan] are a side we were supposed to beat, and we just didn’t do that today. But the main objective of the Super 10 was to qualify for the semis and that we did.”Fletcher retired hurt after the sixth over of West Indies’ innings, while batting on 10. He returned to the crease in the final over, with West Indies needing 10 off the last three balls, but looked in clear discomfort, hobbling the last run of his innings. Philip Spooner, the West Indies media manager, said he had injured his right hamstring.”We will assess him tomorrow early and a decision would be made,” he said. “At this stage, as you could see, he is struggling, but a full assessment will be made tomorrow.”
Eighty-six runs short of the record for most runs by a West Indian, Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been left out of the first Test against Australia on June 3
ESPNcricinfo staff30-May-2015
Shivnarine Chanderpaul has had a recent dip in form•AFP
Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been left out of West Indies’ 14-member squad to face Australia in the first of two Tests starting June 3. He is 87 runs short of breaking the record for most Test runs by a West Indian, but has hit a trough of poor form and both chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd and coach Phil Simmons had felt he did not have a place in their best XI.Chanderpaul made only 92 runs at an average of 15.33 in the three Tests against England in April and May. He has had six single-digit scores and only one fifty in his last 10 innings.Meanwhile, the uncapped duo of Shane Dowrich, who scored twin fifties against the touring Australians, and Rajindra Chandrika find a place in the team.Changes to WI squad from the England series
In: Shane Dowrich and Rajindra Chandrika Out:Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Devon Smith and Carlos Brathwaite
Dowrich, the 23-year old wicketkeeper batsman, peaked over the last two years in first-class cricket, averaging 50.18 against his overall figure of 37.46. He struck three centuries and seven fifties in that period, including a career-best unbeaten 131. Chandrika, the 25-year old batsman, averages 25 as well in first-class cricket. But his selection into the national squad comes on the back of better recent form. Apart from the 74 he hit against the Australians, he’s struck four fifties this year in the Regional four-day tournament.Opening batsman Shai Hope, who made his debut against England, retains his spot. Spinners Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, who played only one of the three Tests of that series, have kept their places as well. The fast bowling will be headed by Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach, Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel.West Indies squad for the first Test Denesh Ramdin (capt), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Rajindra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor