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The leader of South Africa’s bowling attack talks about the team’s philosophy, and how he approaches his own bowling

Firdose Moonda04-Nov-2024Kagiso Rabada doesn’t get too excited about being the most lethal bowler in the 300-wickets club, or about his other records, because all he wants to do is play for South Africa.”Every kid dreams of playing for South Africa and that was my dream,” Rabada says from Chattogram, where South Africa won their first series in the subcontinent since the start of his career. “My dream was to represent South Africa and to be the best and to be a part of winning South African cricket teams. Along the way, you don’t really think about stats.”Except one number: 0.That’s how many times South Africa have won a World Cup, and like so many who have gone before him, Rabada says it’s what he most wants to achieve. “I just want to win the World Cup. That’s literally my dream. So, hopefully, I don’t have any other metrics really.”Rabada was part of South Africa’s disastrous 2019 ODI World Cup campaign and the much better 2023 one, in which they reached the semi-finals. He has also played in four T20 World Cups, and experienced exiting after the group stage three times before South Africa pulled off an eight-match unbeaten run to reach this year’s final. He described the current group of players as having found a “sweet spot” between experience and youth without being haunted by the ghosts of greats gone by.Related

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South Africa's batting close to finding the 'sweet spot' again

When Dean Elgar played his final Test earlier this year, he was the last player of a South Africa side that had been ranked No. 1 in Tests. His exit may also have been the last in a steady stream of big-name retirements that began with Mark Boucher in 2012. Back then Rabada was a schoolkid with stars in his eyes. Three years later, he was an international, in the side in place of an injured Morne Morkel, and playing a Test alongside Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander. Three years after that, in March 2018, as the other three struggled with fitness concerns, he found himself the leader of the attack in a home series against Australia, which South Africa won 3-1.Throughout, Rabada has had the opportunity to play alongside a range of bowlers, from the ones he idolised to ones he grew up with. It is with this current generation that he feels the most settled.”Those guys [Steyn, Philander, Morkel] were my heroes growing up and I played with them. And now I’m playing with guys I played with at school, so there’s more familiarity because we grew up together – played against each other at school, played together at the provincial level, at Under-19…”Rabada went to school with Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder, who is three years his junior. He won the 2014 U-19 World Cup under the leadership of Aiden Markram. Lungi Ngidi and Kyle Verreynne were among the top performers in the national schools weeks in 2013 and 2014. All of them now represent the country. “We play for each other,” Rabada says.After he won the Player-of-the-Series award in Bangladesh for his 14 wickets at an average of nine, Rabada first showered praise on the batters for giving the bowlers over 500 runs to work with in Chattogram. And even though their coach, Shukri Conrad, wasn’t convinced about enforcing the follow-on, Markram, the captain, was certain that Rabada, who had taken a five-for in the first innings, was fresh enough to have another go at Bangladesh. As it turned out, South Africa’s spinners did the job the second time round, but the point holds that Markram would likely have batted again if he did not believe the leader of his attack could do the job, which speaks to Rabada’s continued importance to the side and the significance of managing his workload.”Pace is important but you need the skill with the pace. When you combine the two, you can become very lethal. The older you get, the harder you have to work”•Matthew Lewis/ICC/Getty ImagesThis year Rabada was rested from white-ball series in the UAE to focus on Test preparation, and he will similarly sit out the four-match T20I series against India to get ready for the home Test summer.By his own admission, more of that needs to happen to prolong his time at the top level. “I’m not getting any younger, and with the amount of cricket that’s being played, you have to think about it in terms of finding periods when you’re going to rest in order to be the most effective you can be.”But he does not put his success down to that alone. “It speaks to hard work,” he says.Over the last few years Rabada’s work has been less about speed and more about skill. He regularly swings and reverse-swings the ball, and always seems to know when to bowl with the most intensity. He identifies the new ball and periods just before or after a break as being times when he has to be particularly switched on.”Pace is important but you need the skill with the pace. When you combine the two, you can become very lethal. In Test cricket, you have to maintain the pace, but when it’s not there, you obviously have to be a bit crafty because, especially in the subcontinent, it’s hot. Obviously you want to really make an impact with the new ball. It’s about being consistent with it and bowling at a good pace. The older you get, the harder you have to work. You won’t get away with what you got away with when you were younger.”If Rabada sounds older than his 29 years, that’s because in Test cricket terms, he probably is – with 66 caps across nine years, he is the most experienced player in the side. In that time, while he has experienced highs like beating Australia home and away, he has also seen South Africa go from No. 1 to No. 7 on the rankings.”Of course, there were times where I was like, ‘Man, what’s going on here?’ But then in the morning, you wake up and you just have to front up. People go through that on the daily, but as players, we have a spotlight on us. Everyone’s going to comment on whatever we do. There have been times in my career when I’ve been disappointed, but it becomes worth it when you do achieve what you want to achieve.”Some would say being back at No.1 on the ICC’s rankings for Test bowlers, having occupied that spot for most of 2018 and 2019, is one kind of achievement, but it’s not Rabada’s favourite one. “If I was No. 5 or No. 3 and we’re winning, then I’m really happy. If I’m No. 1, I’m even more happy, but as long as we’re winning – that’s the major thing for me. It’s not about being No.1 the world, it’s all about the process and being obsessed with that. I know it sounds so cliché, but cliché is a kind of reality.”He acknowledges that his numbers do have some effect on him in that “they motivate me, but I’m not fixated on them”. Then he goes back to his original mantra: that as long as the team is winning, that means more than anything else, and there are still a few big things he wants them to win. “I’m happy with it [the No. 1 Test bowling ranking], but I’m not going to think about it too much. The work continues.”

Jude Bellingham joined an elite club including Lionel Messi & David Beckham as Adidas dropped a signature Predator boot for the Real Madrid star.

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Adidas revealed "Belligold" bootsBlack and gold combination lends a premium lookSet to debut them against Celta Vigo Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Adidas recently launched Bellingham's first-ever signature Predator boot, solidifying his place among football's biggest names. The newly unveiled boots, named 'Belligold', showcase a sleek black and gold design, complete with Bellingham's signature on the side. The luxurious colour scheme not only speaks to his growing influence on and off the pitch but also adds a modern touch to the long-standing Adidas Predator legacy. Bellingham’s new boots place him alongside fellow global stars such as Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min, who also boast their own signature Adidas boots.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPWHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

"Growing up as a kid I could never have imagined a day where I'd have my own signature Predator," Bellingham said.

"It really is a dream come true. The boot really reflects who I am as a player while also capturing my style away from the pitch. I can't wait to wear it for the first time and see how it performs. It makes it even more special to see my very own Gazelle sneaker and second Originals clothing drop launching alongside it."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

To make the boots even more personal, Adidas has incorporated Bellingham’s trademark goal celebration – his arms outstretched – into the insole of the Predator boots. Earlier, reported that his decision to trademark his name and secure his image rights has already earned him around £2.5 million. This new signature boot deal with Adidas, combined with his growing brand, is expected to add even more to his ever-expanding global portfolio.

Chelsea are already making their presence known ahead of the January transfer window and could now be set to enact a blockbuster move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, under certain conditions.

The Blues have enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign under Enzo Maresca, despite having to find their way a little at Stamford Bridge, leaving them third in the Premier League standings as the international break unfolds.

With a notably young squad after a summer transfer spend of nearly £300 million, it was never going to be easy for them to adapt, albeit they have managed to create a sense of stability on the pitch and could stake a claim for the title if their current form persists.

Half the battle is being able to sell a vision to new recruits. In the case of Estevao, the young Brazilian has revealed that he had a private conversation with former Chelsea star Thiago Silva before opting to put pen to paper in West London.

He said via Sky Sports: “That’s right, after the last Brazilian Serie A game in 2024. We had a brief conversation, he came and spoke to me, and told me (I would like the club a lot), that the club had an incredible structure. For sure, we are seeing that now that the club has everything I need and an incredible set up, incredible people that work there.

“So yeah, I spoke to him after the game. I was really happy because Thiago Silva is an idol of this club, it was an incredible opportunity. So for the rest of that year I was anticipating it. I watched a lot of Chelsea games so I could see who I would be working with here, and thanks to God it’s all going well here.”

In truth, BlueCo have shown a real penchant for snapping up some of world football’s most elite young talent, and that extends far beyond Estevao.

While Chelsea are frontrunners to sign Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, they are also reportedly becoming a genuine contender to acquire one of his competitors for a slot in the England starting line-up.

Chelsea keen on Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson

According to Mark Brus in his Daily Briefing via CaughtOffside, Chelsea have laid some groundwork over signing Forest’s Anderson through extensive scouting missions, and could look to act after his excellent start to the top-flight campaign.

Lauded by Thomas Tuchel as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”, the 23-year-old has notched a solitary goal and an assist apiece in 14 appearances this term, but his performances at the City Ground have earned rave reviews.

However, they may not be able to complete any move for the Whitley Bay-born star until they sell a player to clear expenditure, and it is unlikely that Enzo Fernández will be sacrificed to make way for the ex-Newcastle United man.

Manchester United are also in pursuit and may be one to watch in the race for his signature, albeit Kobbie Mainoo is an alternative name that could fill any vacant midfield berths at Stamford Bridge.

Conceivably, there could be a few moving parts to this story, but Chelsea's strong interest in Anderson could pave the way for another big-money incoming if Maresca's side feel he is worth the risk. Chelsea are also ready to perform a last-minute hijack to land a Real Madrid star

Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque, meanwhile, admits “we have never faced such a situation,” as they fight to level the series

Mohammad Isam10-Feb-2021The mood is quite different in both the Bangladesh as well as the West Indies camps ahead of the second Test in Dhaka, especially after the visitors hunted down 395 in Chattogram. But visiting captain Kraigg Brathwaite has warned his team against complacency, knowing fully well how the hosts can hit back on another slow and dry pitch.Bangladesh have won four of the last five Tests at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, and Brathwaite believes West Indies will need to fight hard to get the job done in the next five days.”The biggest thing is not to get carried away,” Brathwaite said. “We are happy with the win, but we know we start from zero. It is one of the things that the coach has stressed on in the practice sessions. Guys are working hard. For me, [the message] to them is to stay disciplined and stick to your plans both as a bowling and a batting unit.Related

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Selection puzzles for Bangladesh as they look to strike back after Chattogram battering

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Simmons: 'Have to make sure we don't go backwards again'

“We as a team don’t want to get too far ahead. We have five days of Test cricket to play. We are very happy to have won the first Test. We want to buckle down. Victory has meant a lot for us. The guys are very proud of winning the first Test, but we look forward to the next five days.”The story is slightly different, however, for Brathwaite’s counterpart Mominul Haque, who faces his first big challenge as Bangladesh’s Test captain. Not only does he have to win the match to level the series, but also has to do it without Shakib Al Hasan in his bowling attack; this, after having lost the first Test with the opposition needing 285 runs on a slow fifth-day pitch.”We have never faced such a situation,” Haque said. “We have a lot to learn from this – especially how to face pressure situation, how to bowl and set a field in these situations. It will help us for the future.”Brathwaite, meanwhile, is focussing on the areas where West Indies need improvement. “We can improve on our first innings score to help us set the game up better,” he said. “We did well in the second innings. We have to be a little sharper in the field in periods when there’s probably been a partnership. We can be a little tighter.”Brathwaite expects the Shere Bangla National Stadium to produce a typical subcontinent surface. “The pitch is quite similar to the first Test in terms of dryness,” he said. “There are some cracks as well, so I think it will be quite similar. It will probably be slower even than the first Test.”As much as the Test will hinge on how the spinners from either side do, West Indies’ fast bowlers might be called upon to use their extra pace even on a largely dead surface. Brathwaite thus said that Shannon Gabriel’s third-day burst of pace in Chattogram greatly inspired him, particularly as it came so deep in the Test match.”That spell was very inspirational for me to even watch,” he said. “We fielded 150 overs in the first innings. Shannon was then asked to be slightly aggressive, give his 100% and even go for two extra overs. He led the way. It was a very bright spot in the game for me.”Fast bowling in the sub-continent is never easy. Fast bowlers like Kemar Roach and even Kyle Mayers for a couple of overs, they gave it their all. Kudos to them. It is never easy. They have to try different things, sometimes cross-seam and slower balls.”

The baseball postseason—and specifically the World Series—has a habit of creating heroes from the most unlikely sources. This time, unlikely hero Addison Barger navigated some extenuating circumstances to help power the Blue Jays to an 11–4 win over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.

Addison Barger makes World Series history

Barger went from a pull-out couch, to the Blue Jays bench to the plate, where he belted the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, blowing the game open and extending Toronto's lead to 9-2 in its eventual win.

"His family is coming in, came in tonight," Blue Jays outfielder Davis Schneider said after the game. "He needed someone. He was staying with Myles [Straw] and then stayed with me last night. My girlfriend is here so like, he’s like, ‘Can I sleep in the bed with you guys.' "

According to , it is not uncommon for Blue Jays players to stay at teammates' houses during the season, and some have looked to stay closer to Rogers Centre to beat World Series-related traffic.

So Schneider offered to have Barger sleep on his pull-out couch, though it may not have been the best night's sleep for the 25-year-old Barger.

"So I was like ‘No,’ sleep on my couch. Sleep on the pullout.' It’s a pullout, yeah. But it was squeaking all night. Yeah, it was so funny. I looked over and I just see him sleeping there in the middle of the night. He’s a headcase, but he’s fun."

Barger slept on the couch again?

Barger, as Schneider's sister Madeline pointed out on X, slept on the couch once again following the World Series victory. At this point, it's either that Barger genuinely likes sleeping on the squeaky pull-out couch, or he and the Blue Jays aren't messing with what could be good superstition.

Game 2 of the World Series begins at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday night.

Berhalter, who coached the national team for six years, will take over for the MLS side starting at the end of the season

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Berhalter to oversee all first team operations for the FireRelieved of USMNT duties after Copa America exitPreviously coached Crew, made MLS Cup Final in 2015Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After extensive speculation, Gregg Berhalter finally has a new job.

The former U.S. men's national team boss has accepted an offer to take over as the Chicago Fire's head coach and sporting director at the end of the season, the club announced Tuesday.

Current head coach Frank Klopas will leave the position as head coach and assume the role as Vice President of Football following the conclusion of the season. Berhalter had also been linked with multiple vacancies in MLS following his firing as U.S. head coach this summer.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Berhalter will now undergo his second stint in MLS as a manager. He coached the Crew from 2013-2018, leading them to the playoffs in four of his five years at the helm. The manager achieved a 74-49-70 record during his time there.

His reputation with the USMNT was admittedly mixed. He achieved success at the World Cup, and won the Nations League twice. But his failure to get out of the group at Copa America cost him his job in July.

WHAT BERHALTER SAID

Berlater expressed his excitement to take on the role in an official statement: “I’m honored to be named Director of Football and Head Coach of the Chicago Fire, and I would like to thank Joe Mansueto for his trust," said Berhalter. “Chicago is an incredible city, built on communities of hard-working and passionate people who truly love soccer. I look forward to working alongside our staff and players to transform the Fire into a world-class organization that all our fans and the city can be proud of and will support.”

WHAT THE FIRE OWNER JOE MANSUETO SAID

“His previous success in MLS, where he thrived in a dual role, and his experience leading the U.S. Men’s National Team over the last six years make him an ideal fit for our vision for the Club moving forward.”

“I’m confident that under his guidance, we will build on the foundation that has been laid over the past five years and be an organization that Chicago will be proud of and reflects the values of our city. I expect that Gregg will create a competitive culture and return our Club to its winning ways,” added Mansueto. “I also want to sincerely thank Frank Klopas for all his hard work this season. His love for this Club and city is unparalleled, and he played a key role in helping to recruit Gregg to become our new Director of Football and Head Coach.”

A bowler of Sinhalese origin playing for a Tamil Nadu franchise to raucous applause at the Chepauk: things are changing, for the better

Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Apr-2024At the cricketing heart of it, Matheesha Pathirana is Chennai Super Kings’ sweet revenge.No bowler had wrecked CSK batting orders on the scale Lasith Malinga managed. With 37 wickets against CSK in 23 games, he is by a distance their biggest destroyer.But, oh, what’s that? There’s a young slinger that CSK have had eyes on first? Someone who has an even lower arm action than Malinga and more explosive pace? Okay, less control, less swing, not nearly as much general mastery… but still, CSK’s own ? It sounds almost too good to be true, right?Snap him up. Get him in as a net bowler. Have your legendary captain slap eyes on him. Promote him to the main team. Follow him as he becomes one of the best death bowlers in the league. Then on 14 April 2024, watch him rip Mumbai Indians to shreds, taking 4 for 28, while Malinga, in Mumbai Indians colours, watches on.Related

Marcus Stoinis does the unthinkable and breaches fortress Chepauk

Stuttering CSK look to make most of home stretch at fortress Chepauk

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Pathirana the point of difference against Malinga's Mumbai

In a more perfect world, Pathirana’s cricketing rise, and the CSK vs Mumbai Indians vengeance arc, would be the only stories. But this is a world in which a 27-year-long civil war was fought in Sri Lanka, where for most of Sri Lanka’s and India’s post-Independence decades, the governments of Tamil Nadu and the Sinhalese-led government of Sri Lanka have been vehemently opposed. A world in which, only 11 years ago, the IPL’s governing council ruled no Sri Lankan players could play in Chennai for any IPL team over security concerns, such was the ferocity of political opposition.Against that history, Pathirana’s rise at CSK, and to a lesser extent that of Maheesh Theekshana, has been almost startlingly smooth. Pathirana showed promise at the end of the 2022 season, when Theekshana was more useful to the franchise. But then, with the onset of the Impact Player rule in 2023, Pathirana has become a go-to death bowler on account of his ultra-specialised skill set, MS Dhoni prodding him forward like a bird its fledgling chick. Pathirana has not merely been accepted, he has been embraced by CSK’s yellow army, and wildly cheered for at Chepauk.It is not certain exactly what political shifts have enabled this, but deductions may be made. Sri Lanka’s colossal protests of 2022, which culminated in the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, are significant in the timeline. The Rajapaksas were understood regionally to be champions of Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalism, and had also overseen the vicious conclusion to the war, which substantially deepened an already profound divide with Tamil Nadu. But that family having been so chastened by a movement produced largely by the southern (mostly Sinhalese) population likely cast Sri Lankan southerners in a mellower light in Tamil Nadu.Around this time, Sinhalese animosity towards Tamil Nadu began to abate too. Through the worst of those crisis months of 2022, when the island was cripplingly short of fuel, power, medicines and food, the government of Tamil Nadu came through with humanitarian aid worth around 3.4 billion Sri Lankan rupees.

It is no surprise that the Chepauk fans who first bellowed for Pathirana are people roughly his age – Gen Z and young millennials, who tend to pack out the C, D and E stands. If you can make it there, Chepauk veterans say, you’re the rubber-stamped next big thing

Where previous decades had been characterised by a vortex of escalating tensions, here was a mutual softening, and in Sri Lanka at least, long-overdue introspection. It was in that year that Theekshana, then Pathirana, made their debuts for CSK, though there were no home games for the side in 2022.Additionally, there is the passage of time. Theekshana was ten when the war ended. Pathirana was seven. While injustices persist in Sri Lanka, and the kind of accountability Tamil Nadu has called for remains barely even a promise, there is also the simmering sense that these many years on, people need to move on.It is no surprise that the Chepauk fans who first bellowed for Pathirana are people roughly his age – Gen Z and young millennials, who tend to pack out the C, D and E stands. If you can make it there, Chepauk veterans say, you’re the rubber-stamped next big thing. Enmity, it turns out, does not have to be passed down through the generations.It’s worth clocking too that part of Pathirana’s rise among the CSK faithful is down to Dhoni’s vocal support of the bowler. When Dhoni struck that 91 not out and sealed one of Sri Lanka’s most painful cricketing memories with a six at the Wankhede, who could have guessed what he’d be capable of in the future? Since then, he has graduated from to in the Tamil imagination. And now he is – however unwittingily – playing a role in a Tamil-Sinhalese connect.Hurtbringer: for years, as Mumbai Indians’ bowling spearhead, Lasith Malinga was a thorn in Chennai Super Kings’ side•BCCIThere is also beautiful history here. Pathirana is far from the first Sri Lankan to feel the love at Chepauk, and in fact, Muthiah Muralidaran, in CSK’s early years, wasn’t either. In the pre-civil war decades, the Tamil Nadu state side was Ceylon’s (as Sri Lanka was then known) biggest regular opponent. In 1947, M Sathasivam – a Ceylonese Tamil, if you’re keeping track – hit a 215 against them that glittered by all accounts with delectable late cuts, fine glances, and spectacular drives. Right into the 21st century, old-timers who watched that innings would swear it was the greatest ever witnessed at Chepauk.There is no more legendary Sri Lankan cricketer of the pre-Test era than Sathasivam, and Chepauk was likely the scene of his crowning triumph. Whether or not Pathirana and Theekshana are aware, this too is a story to which they belong. Where their boots now tread, Sathasivam’s went first.These are victories worth celebrating, because despite what nationalists of any stripe would have you believe, hatred is not intractable. Neither, then, is cohesion. If there are many in the world intent on fanning flames, it is vital that when green shoots emerge from the earth, they are seen as worth protecting too.Right now, one of the brightest fast-bowling prospects Sri Lanka has produced, quite possibly the island’s fastest ever bowler, a man of Sinhalese origin, is being invested in and developed by a franchise side in Tamil Nadu. Across Sri Lanka, families turn their televisions on in the evenings and hear entire stands in a Chennai stadium scream “PA-THI-RA-NA”.You’d be foolish to think a few stump-splaying yorkers and stadium chants can heal grievances collected over decades. But you’d be naïve to think they mean nothing.

GOAL analyzes the biggest storylines of the Americans playing abroad this weekend

While MLS is pacing towards the postseason, the European seasons – where most of the U.S. men's national team plays – is still in the early phases.

Despite just a few weeks into the European season, there are numerous storylines to follow.

Weston McKennie, after almost leaving Juventus this summer, has done enough to play his way back into Thiago Motta's setup. Antonee Robinson continues to impress for Fulham. Meanwhile, Folarin Balogun might just be finding some form for Monaco after a slow start.

And further down the European leagues, there's plenty to look out for. This feels like a crucial week for some of the top players in the setup, who don't have long left to impress Mauricio Pochettino ahead of his first camp as the USMNT's head coach.

Here is a look at some of the biggest names and the biggest games ahead of what will be another full weekend of action for Americans Abroad.

GettyWhat's next for McKennie?

How confusing must it be to be McKennie? The USMNT midfielder seems to go through the same cycle every year: Manager tries to exile him, he works his way back into the side, and stays there on the back of a string of strong performances.

The same pattern seems to be forming again here, with the American now starting in the last two matches for Thiago Motta's side. He was excellent in his first start of the year against PSV in the Champions League, and solid in the drab draw with Napoli last weekend. This weekend, he figures to have a bit more room to play against a struggling Genoa side that has won just one of their last five.

After tallying 10 assists in all competitions last year, he has shown that he can be the creative influence that an otherwise static need.

AdvertisementGettyCan Antonee Robinson show he's one of the Premier League's best?

It has suddenly become quite a quiet era for left backs. Once a great position of strength in the Premier League, there are fewer and fewer traditional full backs in England's top flight. Robinson, though, is steadily becoming one of the best at that position. After an impressive campaign for Fulham in which he was named the team's player of the season, he has started this one in equally impressive fashion.

He already has two assists to his name and is in the 99th percentile among full backs in interceptions per 90 minutes, according to . A fixture against Nottingham Forest, and the in-form Callum Hudson-Odoi, should be a real challenge. But he's risen to meet every single one so far.

AFPFolarin Balogun to hit his stride?

Two weeks ago, it was all doom and gloom with Balogun. The striker hadn't scored a goal for Monaco before the international break, and a couple of underwhelming showings for the USMNT, and there was already scattered talk about his questionable fit for Monaco.

Well, goals are the currency of success for strikers, and he's finally off the mark. Balogun took his first of the season well, bagging against Le Havre to draw Monaco level on points with PSG and Marseille atop Ligue 1.

That would seem to be enough to earn him another start, as his side take on Montpellier on Saturday evening. He has already developed a good understanding with Nigerian teenage sensation George Ilenikhena. This weekend, Balogun has further opportunities to show how good he can be.

USA Today SportsGaga Slonina faces a tough opponent

Barnsley have quietly negotiated their way to a solid start in League One. The Yorkshire side are third in the table after seven match weeks. And although the duo of Birmingham and Wrexham is already pulling away atop the league, Barnsley seem to be among the glut of teams that will fight for a spot in the playoffs.

And this week could be a busy one for USMNT goalkeeper Gaga Slonina in goal for the promotion hopefuls. He will face Stockport County, paced by the lethal Louie Barry. A player once lauded by Jude Bellingham, the tricky winger has been a menace thus far this season. He is among the league's top goalscorers and is a lethal finisher on his day. It will, of course, be a team effort to limit the winger. But Slonina will need to be as error free as possible against a real dangerman.

It will be a real test for the goalkeeper, who doesn't have long to impress ahead of the USMNT's first camp with Pochettino.

Australia have been bowled out for 191, 195 and 200 in three of their four innings so far this series

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Dec-2020Australia captain Tim Paine lamented his side’s ongoing batting woes after they sank to an eight-wicket defeat at the MCG against India, which put the series on an even footing at 1-1 with two Tests to go.The home side scraped to 200 – for the first time in the series – in their second innings, but could go no further than that, setting India a target of just 70, which was achieved with ease. That followed first-innings totals of 191 and 195 in the two matches, with Melbourne being the first time since 1988 that Australia have not had an individual half-century in a home Test.Tim Paine congratulates Ajinkya Rahane after India’s win•Getty Images”We are very disappointed, we played pretty poor cricket, pretty sloppy cricket, for the majority of the match,” Paine told the host broadcaster after the match. “That’s to take nothing away from India; they put us under pressure and forced us into making a number of mistakes, especially with the bat, and in the field, and when you do that against good side it makes it very hard to win.”You’ve got to give the Indian attack credit, they’ve bowled beautifully to us, there’s no doubt about that. We haven’t adapted as well as we would have liked. As a batting group, there’s no doubt we are very disappointed with what we’ve put up in the first two Test matches, but there’s still two to go so we’ll work hard and try to rectify it for the next Test.”Related

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Unwanted history brings David Warner, Will Pucovski into the frame for Australia

Tim Paine queries DRS verdict with umpires

The MCG: India's most successful venue away from home

Australia would be desperate for the return of David Warner, who has spent time netting at the MCG during this match while he awaits his return to the bio-secure Test bubble, as he continues his recovery from the groin strain suffered in the ODI series. During the Test, Australia coach Justin Langer said Warner was not certain for the third match but the continued batting problems of the incumbents may force the selectors’ hands.One glimmer for Australia was the performance of Cameron Green in the second innings, as he made a composed 45 in nearly three hours at the crease.”Think he’s started his career really well,” Paine said. “We knew the talent he’s got, we can see the temperament he’s got, and with more and more Test cricket he’s going to blossom into a pretty outstanding player, which is exciting for us as a team and the Australian public to watch.”

Planning a January bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, Manchester United are now “confident” that the City Ground outfit will accept their offer.

Joining from boyhood club Newcastle United in the 2024 summer transfer window, Anderson has become a crucial part of the Forest first team. Last season, he was an ever-present midfield force as Nuno Espirito Santo guided the club to Europa League football.

Anderson has retained his place in the Forest first-team for the new season, even as the club have suffered a poor start to the Premier League 2025/26 campaign. Anderson, who made his international debut for England earlier this year, is unsurprisingly on the radar of many clubs in the top flight.

Signed for £35 million, Anderson was quickly viewed as a brilliant piece of business from Forest. In turn, the Midlands side could be set for an immense profit if rumours about his future materialise into something more serious.

Anderson to join Man United?

As per TEAMtalk, Man United are readying a “giant” bid for Anderson in the upcoming winter transfer window. The Red Devils have long held an interest in the midfielder, with it being reported that the club view him as a “prime and realistic target”.

Since joining the club in November 2024, Man United manager Ruben Amorim has endured a tough time at Old Trafford. Generally, the Portuguese has struggled for consistency, though three wins and a draw in their last four Premier League games suggests that Amorim has, finally, found a balance within his side.

Setting up in his traditional 3-4-2-1 system, Anderson would be a perfect profile for Amorim’s philosophy. Still in his early 20s, the former Scotland youth international could be an ideal successor to Casemiro who, whilst still capable, is getting older.

According to TEAMtalk, Anderson would be “very keen” on a move to Old Trafford. INEOS, who are planning a bid of around £60 million, feel that would be enough to get a deal over the line.

As comfortable in the tackle as he is at playing a ranging pass forward, Anderson’s excellence in the midfield would brilliantly complement Amorim’s current options, as he looks to guide the Red Devils back to a place within the top six, to which they have become so accustomed over the years.

Man United increasing efforts to sign £42 million talent