Alexis Mac Allister has expressed his desire for Liverpool to sign a Tottenham star, who he claims to be the "best in the world" in his position.

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Mac Allister lavished praise on Romero Shares the same dressing room on Argentina dutyWants Liverpool to bid for the Tottenham defenderFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mac Allister has made a passionate case for his club to pursue a transfer for fellow Argentine international Cristian Romero, praising the defender as one of the finest in the world. When asked by to name a player he would want to join him at Anfield, Mac Allister instantly responded with Romero’s name. His reasoning went beyond national camaraderie, pointing instead to Romero’s quality on the pitch and the trust he inspires during matches.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT MAC ALLISTER SAID

“Oh, Cuti [Romero]. He’s a player I love,” said the World Cup winner. "The way he speaks and plays, sometimes you feel like he’s too much because he makes everything so easy. He gives me confidence. For me, he’s been the best centre-back in the world for several years."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Mac Allister and Romero have built a strong partnership on the international stage, featuring prominently in Argentina’s recent success. Both players were part of the squads that lifted the Copa America in 2024 and the 2022 World Cup. The duo’s on-field chemistry and mutual respect are evident, and Mac Allister now appears eager to bring that connection to Merseyside, where Liverpool are looking to strengthen under Arne Slot following a successful Premier League campaign.

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite Mac Allister’s hopeful endorsement, a move to Liverpool for Romero appears improbable in the short term. The Tottenham defender is being pursued by Atletico Madrid, and the defender has done little to silence the speculation, telling reporters: "I'd love to play in La Liga. I'd love to play in La Liga. I like watching a lot of games, and I have a lot of teammates who play there in Spain, and we watch them. It's one of the leagues I'd like to play in."

Manchester United have now joined the race to sign a “superstar in the making”, who has already snubbed a move to rivals Manchester City, according to a report.

Man Utd eyeing move for attacking midfielder

As we approach Ruben Amorim’s first summer transfer window as Man United boss, it is clear the manager will need to strengthen in a number of key areas, if his side are going to be competitive in the upper echelons of the Premier League table next season.

United are 13th in the standings with just nine games left to play, having arguably been overreliant on Bruno Fernandes to provide goals and assists, with the Portugal international leading the way on both metrics.

As such, the Red Devils may want to bring in another attacking midfielder this summer, and Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha is one of the names on the shortlist, although contact is yet to be made to discuss a potential deal.

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Southampton’s Tyler Dibling is also under consideration, with talks being opened over a deal for the 19-year-old, but the Englishman is not the only young attacker Amorim has his eye on.

According to a report from Tuttomercatoweb (via Sport Witness), Man United are now in the race to sign Genk’s Konstantinos Karetsas, who has previously snubbed a move to rivals Man City.

Liverpool, Newcastle United and Napoli are also interested in a move for Karetsas, who has started to attract widespread interest from across Europe, courtesy of his performances this season.

The 17-year-old is said to have established himself as one of the best young talents in the world, and the race for his signature is now hotting up.

Karetsas impressing for club and country

Despite his age, the teenager has already managed to establish himself as a key player for Genk, making 25 league appearances this season, during which time he has amassed two goals and two assists.

Having impressed in the Belgian Pro League, the Greek attacking midfielder recently earned a call-up to his national side, where he has continued to perform very well, breaking the record to become the youngest Greece player to score a competitive goal.

Following the starlet’s magnificent performance to help Greece prevail against Scotland, he also received high praise from freelance scout Ben Mattinson, who tipped him for future success.

As such, it is exciting news that Man United are in the race for Karetsas, and they will be hoping the youngster’s previous snub of Man City will give them a better chance of winning the race for his signature.

MatériaMais Notícias

da imperador bet： Chegou a hora do primeiro teste da Seleção Brasileira após a Copa do Mundo de 2022. Neste sábado, o Brasil encara o Marrocos em amistoso internacional na cidade de Tânger, no país africano. O duelo será disputado às 19h (de Brasília; 22h no horário local), no Estádio Ibn Batouta.

Ainda sem um técnico definido depois da saída de Tite, a equipe brasileira será comandada interinamente por Ramon Menezes, que é o treinador da Seleção Brasileira sub-20. A expectativa é que o presidente da CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, anuncie um novo nome até o meio do ano.

+ Veja a tabela e os jogos da Champions League

RelacionadasSeleção BrasileiraSeleção Brasileira: Casemiro comenta especulações com Ancelotti e elogia Ramon MenezesSeleção Brasileira24/03/2023Seleção BrasileiraNovo ciclo escancara disputa mais acirrada por posição na Seleção Brasileira: as lateraisSeleção Brasileira24/03/2023Lance! BizMarrocos x Brasil: CBF vende novo pacote e define transmissão na TV fechadaLance! Biz23/03/2023

da jogodeouro：
MARROCOS
Semifinalista no Mundial do Qatar, o Marrocos fez história e atingiu o posto de melhor classificação de uma seleção africana em Copas do Mundo ao ficar com o quarto lugar. A equipe deWalid Regragui, que foi muito festejada após o torneio, jogará com o apoio de seu torcedor, que deve lotar o estádio com capacidade para mais de 60 mil pessoas.

+ Confira as movimentações do mercado da bola no Vaivém do L!

BRASIL
Em início de ciclo visando a Copa do Mundo do Canadá, Estados Unidos e México, o Brasil terá novidades na equipe. Serão poucos os nomes que foram titulares no Qatar que começarão jogando neste sábado com Ramon Menezes.

+Amistoso dará chances: saiba há quanto tempo um jogador do seu clube não é titular na Seleção Brasileira

FICHA TÉCNICA

Marrocos x Brasil
Amistoso internacional
​
Data e horário: 25/03/2023, às 19h (de Brasília; 22h no horário local)
Local: Estádio Ibn Batouta, em Tânger (MAR)
Onde assistir: TV Bandeirantes, ESPN, Star+ e Canal GB (Youtube). O LANCE! acompanha o duelo em tempo real

PROVÁVEIS TIMES

MARROCOS (Técnico: Walid Regragui)
​
Bounou; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saïss, El Yamiq e Mazraoui; Ziyech, Ounahi, Amrabat e Boufal; En-Nesyri.

BRASIL (Técnico: Ramon Menezes)
​
Ederson; Emerson Royal, Éder Militão, Ibañez e Alex Telles; Casemiro, Andrey Santos e Lucas Paquetá; Rodrygo, Vitor Roque (Antony ou Rony) e Vini Jr.

Cricket Australia will consult BBL clubs over potential changes to contracting rules in a bid to try and keep overseas stars for future finals series.The BBL celebrated a return to life this summer with the shorter home-and-away season coinciding with a 27 per cent increase in average crowds. There were crowds of beyond 40,000 in five matches for the first time since 2017-18, while the Melbourne Renegades saw their average increase by 63 per cent.But officials know challenges still loom. Six overseas players will miss the finals having jetted out for the UAE’s lucrative ILT20 after the last round-robin week of competition. Perth Scorchers’ Laurie Evans, Brisbane Heat’s Sam Billings and Colin Munro, Sydney Sixers’ James Vince and Adelaide Strikers’ Jamie Overton and Adam Hose will all be absent.Related

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Clubs were aware of the player availability when they were picked in the draft, with the huge money on offer in the UAE from clubs often owned by players’ IPL franchises hard to resist. Officials hope to find an answer for future seasons and finals series, with an overwhelming message from players that they would like to stay.It is understood that contractual discussions are likely to feature in end-of-season talks when the embargo period ends after Wednesday’s final. One suggestion, floated by Billings, is more security for overseas players out of the draft, with multi-year deals one idea to offer more certainty when negotiating arrival dates with rival leagues.”We have seen this year the role overseas players continue to play in the BBL,” BBL boss Alistair Dobson told AAP. “They have been great performers on the field, they are fan favourites and the broadcasters love them.Laurie Evans has left the BBL for the ILT20•Getty Images

“However, we need to continue to evolve our competition and make our competition appealing to the players to come and play in the BBL. And ideally, [to] have them play as many games as possible has been and will continue to be a clear focus for us.”A more compressed schedule next season with no break for the Perth Test is also expected to aid in luring overseas talent for more matches.In a big summer for the BBL, first-placed Brisbane had average crowds increase by 45 per cent before Friday night’s grand-final qualifier against Sydney Sixers on the Gold Coast. Perth were also up 35 per cent, while attendances in Melbourne grew by 39 per cent.The rise comes despite five abandoned matches included in the figures, with numbers close to what they were in 2018-19 before the competition’s slide.The reduction from 56 regular season games to 40 is part of that, allowing organisers and broadcasters to return to the every-game-is-an-event mantra that the BBL thrived on its early years.”This year it has only got stronger and gives us a bigger platform for next year and beyond,” Dobson said. “Fewer games adds scarcity, but it also provides capacity and oxygen to our schedule and ensures every game is promoted in a bigger and better fashion.”

After a whirlwind introduction to Test cricket in 2018, Dom Bess has had to bide his time. But, he knows that a good showing on the Lions tour is an investment in his England future

Sruthi Ravindranath in Wayanad14-Feb-2019A youngster, coming from a family of cricketers, chooses cricket for a career over the other sport he equally loves. He goes on to make his Test debut on the hallowed turf at Lord’s just two years later.Sounds like the plot of a feel-good film, doesn’t it? Well, it also happens to be Dom Bess’ real-life story. A keen rugby player, all it took for the England allrounder to pick cricket was just one winter at the Darren Lehmann Academy in Adelaide.”I think I’ve really kicked on the late development bit, though I’m just 21 now,” Bess tells ESPNcricinfo. “When I was about 18, I didn’t get a contract so I went to Australia for a winter after school. My game hadn’t really kicked on until then. I loved rugby but I was never good enough to play it professionally. But if cricket hadn’t worked for me, I’d be playing rugby now.”That’s when I went to the Lehmann Academy. After that, once I came back, I started playing continuously for the next one and a half years. Living by yourself when you’re 18 … I matured that way as well. As I went on, I performed in the second team at Somerset, playing games in the end. I played in the U-19s. I took two five-fors and it all rolled into one. After that winter in Australia, I knew I wanted to be a cricketer.”An offspinning allrounder? How did that happen?”I have three cousins who are older than me who play cricket.  As a family we play a lot of sport, rugby being one. Especially if I was to be with my grandfather, I always had to pick up the ball. My older cousins would also always want to bat. So that’s why bowling came easier to me, my batting came much later on.”In 2018, Bess made his England debut against Pakistan at Lord’s. An injury to his Somerset team-mate Jack Leach had opened the door for him in the first Test of the summer. He went wicketless on debut, but impressed with a hard-fought 57 in a losing cause, and followed up with three wickets and a 49 as nightwatchman in the win at Leeds.But the big break did not mean it would all be rosy for Bess from then on. With Leach back from injury, he found himself going from the Test team to Somerset’s second XI in a span of four weeks. He did not make the squad against India and Sri Lanka later that year. Since that memorable debut series, he has been travelling with the England Lions, who are currently playing in India.”It’s been unbelievably tough actually,” Bess says. “A lot of that happened very quickly. The dream come true, the rise and until now. It was the quickest three weeks I had in my life and it just flashed by. For me, after it finished, it was all about sitting and taking in that fact.”When he [Leach] came back from the New Zealand tour [in 2017-18], we were fighting for that Somerset spot as well. From then until now, I haven’t played much cricket. Since then I’ve been trying to get myself back into the county side with every opportunity I get. One thing is that I’ve had massive highs and massive lows, so I understand it’s going be a long journey.”After that winter in Australia, Bess had a meteoric rise. He found himself in the limelight on his Championship debut in 2016 where he picked up 6 for 21, the best figures by a Somerset championship debutant since 1961, on a rank turner in Taunton.He found success bowling alongside Leach in 2017, when Somerset were fighting relegation, taking 36 wickets at 23.42. Somerset beat Middlesex in their last match to stay in the top tier and both Leach and Bess ended up in the Lions side. A whirlwind of a year then followed.Dominic Bess with Saqlain Mushtaq during a practice session•Getty ImagesThe fact that that whirlwind has now blown over hasn’t brought him down though. He knows England’s tour of India is not far away and is well aware of what he can bring to the team in those conditions.”Firstly, Andy Flower [England Lions head coach] is here, who was a key in Ashes wins, and the India win back here [in 2012-13]. He knows the conditions and the set-up in India. The selectors will go to him and he surely knows what we’re doing – especially if we perform here and with the India tour [2020-21] not far away.”This is a key development and learning curve. As soon as you know how to play out here, it’s going to put you in a good stead. If people adapt quicker here, it’s a place to show the coaches and selectors what you can do.”That England’s selectors have been looking at youth over experience is good news for the likes of Bess. He is looking to turn that to his advantage, especially with the senior team’s batting under scrutiny after the series loss in West Indies.”If I think about my batting right now, one thing I need to do is score regularly,” he says.”I’ve got to get those 100s. I’ve got one, and I’ve got one 90. Getting better at batting will only open doors for me. If I’m making runs, I can obviously ask the question why can’t I bat higher, apart from bowling. If you’ve got an early game at home and you need only one spinner, I’m just going to be knocking on the door by scoring runs as well. You might get in the team that way.”While he was not a part of the series against India at home last summer, he trained with the senior side and played in the tour match against India A. That’s when he caught up with the legendary Saqlain Mushtaq, the team’s spin-bowling coach, who he feels has “done wonders” for his spin compatriots. Bess also admits to having learned a few tricks from the former Pakistan offspinner.”When India had come to England I was with the group unofficially, I worked with Saqlain for a little bit. He’s fascinating. He’s a subcontinent spinner, I feel like his bowling style is way different to a traditional English spinner. To get his views and beliefs on spin is fascinating.”He talks more of the spin coming off the finger, which I haven’t thought of before, to add to my technique, so that’s a great understanding for me. That’s one big thing I picked from him. Hopefully, if I find my way back into the Test side I’ll get to interact with him a bit more. He’s done wonders for Mo [Moeen Ali] and Rash [Adil Rashid], and now for Leach as well.”With Bess and Leach vying for the same spot in the England and Somerset line-ups, Bess is looking to use the competition to his benefit.”It’s a fascinating relationship. But at the end of the day we’re betting against each other. We also work together, we try to figure out from each other how we can improve. I think that’s how you can see why we’ve had a rapid rise. Of course, we’re challenging each other at the same county. At times it’s harder when it comes to the England side because we’re fighting for the same spot.”I’ve been on two England tours and Lions tours. I’ve had people like Leachy at my county to compete with, and he’s helped me. It’s made him better as well for him to be one step ahead in preparation. I saw him come back from Sri Lanka, he’s on a different level. He’s found another gear, now I’ll have to keep up with him.”

Something brewing in the Caribbean as Windies win third T20I series under Rovman Powell’s captaincy

Matt Roller21-Dec-2023The final game of England’s tour ended much like the first: with Shai Hope clinching victory for West Indies with a match-winning six. His unbeaten, run-a-ball 43 was the highest score of a tense low-scorer in Tarouba, and his clean strike over cover off Chris Woakes sealed the series decider with four balls remaining.Something is brewing in the Caribbean. Since their ignominious first-round exit at last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia, West Indies have won three T20I series out of three under Rovman Powell’s captaincy. In August, they beat India 3-2 in Daren Sammy’s first T20I series as white-ball coach; in December, they beat the defending world champions by the same margin.Related

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This finale was played on the same strip at Trinidad’s Brian Lara Cricket Academy as the one used in England’s 75-run win 48 hours previously, but the games could hardly have been more different: after 459 runs in 35.3 overs on Tuesday evening, Thursday’s game saw just 265 in 38.5, culminating in a scrap for the finish line.In pursuit of 133, Hope soaked up 31 balls for his first 23 runs before finally shifting up a gear when he squeezed Rehan Ahmed away for his first boundary. West Indies made things difficult for themselves, but England’s late collapse after being sent in – they lost their last six wickets for just 22 runs – proved decisive. They will fly home empty-handed on Friday, after losing both the ODI and T20I legs of this tour.A pinch of Salt
Phil Salt hit centuries in both the third and fourth games of this series, and looked in pristine touch in the Powerplay. Oshane Thomas, who replaced Matthew Forde for West Indies, saw his first ball of the night crunched through the covers, then conceded back-to-back boundaries in his second over: the first through point, the second straight back down the ground.Jos Buttler fell early, scooping Jason Holder to short fine leg for 11 in the fourth over, while Will Jacks’ innings summed up his series: a glimmer of promise, crunching Akeal Hosein over long-on for a straight six, then brought back down to earth when cramped for room by an arm ball which scuttled into his stumps.By the time Salt launched Gudakesh Motie over long-off for six to take England to 60 for 2 after three balls of the seventh over, he had broken Mohammad Rizwan’s record for the most runs in a men’s bilateral T20I series. But he fell to the next one he faced, which angled in then spun past his outside edge – a sign of what was to come through the middle overs.Spin smothers England
Buttler bemoaned the time it took England to realise that this was not the belter of two nights previously, which allowed Motie and Hosein to thrive. Harry Brook fell to his sixth ball, gloving Motie behind as he shaped to scoop; only once more, when Moeen Ali dragged one over midwicket, did he concede a boundary.Moeen fell for 23 to an excellent relay catch between Andre Russell and Powell at long-on and long-off, having added 40 in 6.2 overs for the fifth wicket. Liam Livingstone hit two towering leg-side sixes – one off Thomas, the other off Holder – but chipped a catch back to Motie to give him his third wicket.England’s lower order offered little resistance: Russell cleaned Chris Woakes up with an inch-perfect yorker, then reacted quickly to take a fine catch off his own bowling when Rehan hit a full toss back at him. Adil Rashid ran himself out while getting Curran back on strike, but Curran could only pick out long-on. From 267 for 3, England were bowled out for just 132.Hope drops anchor
Johnson Charles, replacing Kyle Mayers at the top of the order, made an early dent in the target, swinging Woakes over square leg for six before steering him away through point. But England’s bowlers picked up the early wickets they craved: Brandon King swung Reece Topley straight to mid-on, and Nicholas Pooran chopped Woakes onto his own stumps.England tried to replicate West Indies’ spin squeeze, and Rashid – celebrating his ascent to the top of the ICC’s rankings in this format – struck in his first over. The breakthrough came thanks to the worst ball he bowled, a loopy full toss outside off stump that Charles slapped straight to short cover.Sherfane Rutherford provided a vital cameo of 30 off 21 balls, slugging Rashid down the ground for six and pulling Curran over long leg, as Hope steadied the ship from the other end. They added 41 off 38 balls for the fourth wicket before Rutherford crunched Rashid’s googly to Curran at short extra cover, breaking the game back open.As the game went deep, the chase became frantic. Powell dumped Rehan down the ground for six to take the required rate below six but then steered Topley to short third, and Russell swung like a rusty gate before heaving Curran’s full toss down long-on’s throat as West Indies managed one run off the first five balls of the 19th over.Holder was nearly run out off the final ball of the over, but Curran’s close-range attempt to deflect Rashid’s throw onto the stumps went wide. When Holder’s inside-edge off Woakes’ first ball of the 20th left six required off five balls, Hope decided to finish it with a single blow: he crashed Woakes over the off side, prompting celebrations that would continue long into the night.

Arsenal have wasted no time in drawing up plans for the summer transfer window, looking to finally end their two-decade wait for a Premier League title.

Mikel Arteta has done a superb job of transforming the squad during his near five-year spell in charge, but more work needs to be done to take them to the summit of the division.

Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as a huge target for the upcoming window, with new sporting director Andrea Berta making an immediate impact in pursuing a move for his signature.

Given his goalscoring record, which has seen him score 86 times in his 93 outings in the last two seasons, it’s understandable that the Gunners are pursuing a striker to bolster their forward line.

Should he move to North London in the summer, he could be joined by another player who’s been a constant target, with a new update emerging on his potential move to the club.

Arsenal make contact to land £51m talent

According to Sun Sport, Arsenal’s director Berta has already been in contact with the representatives of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi ahead of a summer move to the Emirates.

It was reported in January that a deal was on the verge of being agreed for this upcoming window, but no news has emerged since – with this the latest update on any transfer.

The Spanish international has made 29 LaLiga appearances this campaign, featuring in all but one of their league outings, showcasing his importance and quality.

The report claims that the hierarchy are still “working hard” on a deal to land the 26-year-old this summer, with the £51m release clause not thought to be an issue.

Any move for Zubimendi could provide added quality to the middle of Arteta’s side, allowing one player to return to his former best after his recent slump in form.

Why Zubimendi could decide Odegaard at Arsenal

Midfielder Martin Odegaard has been a player so often tasked with providing the goods for Arsenal in attacking areas but ultimately has struggled to deliver in recent months.

The Norwegian had a long injury layoff with an ankle issue but hasn’t been the same player since his return – leading to huge amounts of criticism in the process.

He’s also featured in more of a deeper role, taking away his best qualities with his intricate passing able to create chances for attackers within the final third.

Zubimendi, who’s a defensive midfielder, could be able to sit in front of the backline should he move in the coming months, freeing up Odegaard to go and create carnage further up the field.

The Spaniard, who’s been labelled “superb” by the Spanish Football Podcast, has excelled out of possession, having the quality to be the ball-winning talent the side have been crying out for.

He’s won 1.3 tackles per 90 to date, along with 5.4 duels won – coming out on top of the latter on 60% of the occasions he’s entered a battle with an opposition player.

Games played

29

Goals & assists

3

Pass accuracy

85%

Tackles won

1.3

Duels won

5.4

Duel success rate

60%

Dribbles completed

70%

However, he’s also got the passing ability to aid Odegaard in higher areas, registering an 85% pass completion rate, along with a 70% dribble success rate.

Whilst the club would have to fork out a pretty penny to secure his signature this summer, it’s evident that Zubimendi would be a player who could certainly increase the club’s title credentials.

As for Odegaard, he’s been an influential player in various title battles, with Arteta needing him to return to top form if they are to go one better next season – with the Sociedad star having a huge say in his fortunes if a deal is completed.

Better than Trossard: Arsenal ace who won 14 duels is hitting "cult status"

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ByAngus Sinclair Apr 6, 2025

Leeds United have held opening talks over an exit for a £90,000-a-week player to leave this summer, as he’s not set to be in Daniel Farke’s plans.

Leeds racing for Championship promotion with Sheffield United and Burnley

Some may have thought that automatic promotion from the Championship was all but guaranteed for Leeds after late wins over Sunderland and Sheffield United last month.

However, a 1-1 draw at home to West Brom last time out, coupled with both the Blades and Burnley picking up wins at QPR and Cardiff, has seen Leeds’ lead at the top cut.

Both promotion rivals play before Leeds’ trip to Portsmouth on Sunday as well, meaning Farke’s side could be level on points with Sheffield United and just two ahead of the Clarets, should they both secure wins.

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Ethan Lamb

Mar 5, 2025

Despite this, those behind the scenes at Elland Road already have one eye on the summer and have agreed a first senior exit for defender Ramus Kristensen, currently on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Denmark international is now set to join the Bundesliga side on a permanent transfer, with Leeds accepting an offer from Frankfurt worth an initial £5m which could rise to £6.5m with add-ons.

Another player who departed the club on loan following Leeds’ relegation was Jack Harrison. The winger has spent over 18 months on loan at Everton, where he is on £90,000-a-week.

The Toffees look unlikely to make a move permanent, though, leaving Leeds with a question of what to do with Harrison in the summer.

Talks held for £90k-p/w Leeds player to leave with Kristensen

According to The Yorkshire Evening Post, there is a chance that Harrison could leave Leeds and return to the MLS, after a spell with New York City FC when he was a youngster. It is claimed that ‘exploratory conversations with club representatives in the United States are understood to have taken place’, however, no official approaches have been made.

Harrison, who is now 28, is under contract with Leeds until 2028 after signing new terms when the Whites were in the Premier League back in 2023.

The YEP also claim that Harrison is unlikely to be in Farke’s Leeds plans ahead of the 2025/26 season, where they are hoping to be playing Premier League football.

Jack Harrison’s career stats	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Leeds	206	34	32
Everton	62	4	3
New York City FC	61	14	10
Middlesbrough	4	0	1

As can be seen, Harrison has not produced much at Goodison Park, contributing just seven goals in more than 60 appearances. He hasn’t registered a goal or an assist in the Premier League during the current campaign, so it’s no surprise that Everton look likely to pass up on their chance to sign the Englishman permanently.

Leeds also have four exciting wingers on their books currently in Dan James, Manor Solomon, Largie Ramazani and Wilfried Gnonto, although Solomon is currently on loan from Tottenham.

Selling Harrison and signing Solomon on a full-time deal could be a wise move from the 49ers, with the Israel international having experience in the Premier League and impressing under Farke this season.

With 202 runs to get and six wickets in hand, the offspinner says there is confidence in the rest of the batting group

Alex Malcolm10-Mar-2024

Steven Smith was the first to go as Australia’s stumbled in their chase of 279 in Christchurch•Getty Images

Nathan Lyon’s words said one thing but his body language and tone said quite another as Australia still have a chance to pull off a great escape in the second Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval.Australia slumped to 34 for 4 in pursuit of the target of 279. Lyon had been padded up as the nightwatcher yet again but was not required after Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh steered Australia to stumps without any further loss. But they still need 202 runs to win with just six wickets in hand and two days of the Test remaining.Lyon said Australia believe they can win from any position.”It would be a great Test match win if we’re able to pick this off,” Lyon said after play. “There’s a lot of belief in that change room and I think that’s credit to Pat [Cummins] and Ron [Andrew McDonald], the way they go about their leadership, instilling a lot of belief that we can win from any position.”And we’ve now found ourselves in this position that our backs are up against the wall. New Zealand were on a roll tonight but I’m sitting here understanding and believing that we can win, that’s for sure.”Related

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Henry and Sears new ball surge gives New Zealand hope of famous win

The long-awaited New Zealand uprising against Australia

Australia did chase down 282 at Edgbaston in the first Ashes Test in June last year, with Cummins and Lyon finishing as the heroes, sharing an unbeaten 55-run stand for the ninth wicket. But Australia have only run down 279 or more in the fourth innings on 13 occasions and only twice since 2006.Before Edgbaston, Australia’s last successful chase of that size was in South Africa in 2011, when Cummins was again the hero on Test debut as an 18-year-old while Lyon was nervously padded up as the next and last man in.”We’ve been able to tick off a couple of totals in the past,” Lyon said. “So there’s a lot of the confidence within our batting group and us bowlers with the bat in hand. We pride ourselves on our batting, so we’ll give it our best chance if it comes down to that.”But while Lyon was bullish with his words, his body language and tone told a different story. Just eight days earlier, he had sat bolt upright in the press conference room on the third night of the Wellington Test and declared confidently with a smile that Australia would easily create the seven chances required with the ball to win the game despite New Zealand being 111 for 3 chasing 369.In Christchurch, he was leaning forward and speaking in a quieter tone. He had only just taken the pads off, having admitted he had nervously sat there as the nightwatcher, a job he has had to do twice already in this series, having not done it for two years despite being Australia’s designated man.”Too often I seem to be batting in the top six,” Lyon said. “Happy to do the role but it’s nice that I didn’t have to walk out there tonight.”He stopped short of criticising his batting group, but his tone spoke volumes as to how the team is feeling about their latest batting collapse.”It’s not a frustration. I think it’s a learning curve for us,” Lyon said. “We’re on a path, and on a journey, on a dream to become one of Australia’s great cricket teams.”And I’m not saying that we are that at the moment. It’s a learning experience for us. And if we can try and get better at that, then it’s going to put us in really good stead on our dream to become a great Australian team.”I know that we’ve got a lot of work to do, but that’s our dream and that’s our goal.”They were interesting words from a largely unchanged World Test Championship-winning team. A team with nine of the 11 members over the age of 30 and one other aged 29.Australia could still win at Hagley Oval. But, right now, their actions and words are not in sync.

As the international break slowly comes to an end, managers and supporters will be praying their players return healthy, but that may not be the case for Nottingham Forest after Chris Wood limped off the pitch in the early hours of Monday morning.

How Forest players are getting along on international duty

Given how the season has gone for the Reds so far, it is no surprise to see a lot of their key players away on international duty representing their national teams.

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Forest captain and talisman Morgan Gibbs-White is the only player from the City Ground to be representing England during this break after he was called up to the squad as a replacement for Cole Palmer. Gibbs-White was not named in the 23-man squad for England’s game against Albania on Friday but has been recalled to the squad for their game against Latvia.

Meanwhile, defenders Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic and Ola Aina are away representing Brazil, Serbia and Nigeria respectively. Milenkovic left the Serbian media impressed after his defensive display in a 1-1 draw in Austria, which he followed up with a clean sheet in a 2-0 win in the return leg on Sunday.

“He had his moments of hesitation, especially at the start of the game in the 9th minute when he came forward and left a gap for Strahinja Pavlović, but he did his job very well until the end, showing that he is one of the best stoppers in the Premier League this season for a reason.

“He also tried his head, and it seems that he was very happy when he saw Arnautović as a new task. He successfully stopped him as well as Grilič.”

Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare are both representing the Ivory Coast as they play their final game on Monday evening against Gambia – the defender was an unused substitute in their 1-0 win in Burundi while Sangare got some minutes off the bench.

Neco Williams, Anthony Elanga, Matz Sels, Elliot Anderson and Wood are all away representing their respective countries, and while Williams produced a fabulous display in a 3-1 Wales win over Kazakhstan, there is serious concern for Wood, who limped out of New Zealand’s 3-0 win against New Caledonia on Monday.

Darren Bazeley shares update on Chris Wood injury

New Zealand manager Darren Bazeley spoke to the press on Monday and confirmed Wood has picked up an injury but was hesitant to provide too many details. He did, however, state the issue is “not ideal”.

New Zealand became the second nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after a 3-0 win over New Caledonia, but theirs and Forest’s talisman had to be replaced 54 minutes into the game with what appeared to be a hip injury.

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The 33-year-old, who has 18 goals to his name in the Premier League this season, bagged a hat-trick in New Zealand’s win over Fiji on Friday night, making it back-to-back hat-tricks for his country in the World Cup qualification campaign before blanking against New Caledonia.

Forest and their fans will now be sweating as they await the results of any further tests and scans before they face Brighton in the FA Cup on Saturday, with a huge Premier League game against Manchester United then looming on Tuesday.