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India sealed their 12th successive T20I win over Sri Lanka as Harmanpreet Kaur became their leading T20I run-getter

Vishal Dikshit25-Jun-20222:55

Mandhana: ‘Shafali and I knew which bowlers we wanted to target’

When it started to look like Sri Lanka would post a strong total after their brisk 87-run opening stand and make India work hard to win the second match of the series, the hosts lost six wickets for just 14 runs in the last 3.1 overs of their innings to end with a below-par 125 that didn’t prove to be enough.India were made to work slightly in the chase but their deep batting line-up, led by Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, chased down the target easily to clinch the series 2-0 and help India win their 12th T20I in a row against Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka’s best opening stand in T20Is
Unlike the first T20I in which Sri Lanka struggled to score freely and lost early wickets, Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu gave their team a solid opening stand after a scratchy start. Gunaratne hogged the strike for the first three overs and struck four fours in the first four overs on either side of the pitch.Athapaththu, meanwhile, had faced only three balls at the end of the fourth over and took seven balls to get off the mark after missing plenty of cuts and heaves. But once she hit her first boundary – a straight six off Deepti Sharma followed by a slog sweep for four in the same over – she cut loose. They collected 12 off the last powerplay over to reach 37 and found boundaries against both pace and spin to post 60 at the halfway mark. Athapaththu targeted her favoured leg side and was particularly attacking against Deepti to score 19 off her 10 balls. She also got two lives when she was dropped at cover point on 24 and survived a tough stumping chance on 34, when Renuka sent a wide down the leg side but Yastika Bhatia couldn’t hit the stumps.Sri Lanka slide after opening stand
Soon after Athapaththu collected two fours in an over off Deepti and Renuka Singh each and brought up Sri Lanka’s best opening stand in T20Is, she holed out to deep square leg off Pooja Vastrakar for 43 off 41.Harmanpreet Kaur shepherded India home after a few quick wickets•Sri Lanka CricketWhen Vastrakar and Harmanpreet conceded just 12 runs in the space of four overs, Gunaratne felt the pressure and also fell by handing a return catch to Harmanpreet for 45 off 50. No Sri Lanka batter reached double-figures thereafter as Deepti came back to remove Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshi de Silva in the 18th over, Hasini Perera and Oshadi Ranasinghe fell in the 19th and Renuka removed Dilhari Kavisha in the last to keep the hosts’ tally of the last four overs to just 19 runs for five wickets.Harmanpreet takes India home after a strong start
Mandhana started the chase with an exquisite cover drive, and Shafali Verma helped India put on 31 in four overs with her trademark power and charge down the pitch. She went after Ranasinghe’s offbreaks by hitting her over mid-off in the second over, and when she tried a third consecutive boundary against her in the fourth over, she found mid-off to fall for 17 off 10.S Meghana took on left-arm quick Udeshika Prabodhani with four fours in the fifth over, using dabs behind square on either side, a well-timed cover drive and an outside edge, and India were 47 for 1 with one powerplay over left.India, however, stuttered in between when three of their batters were stumped but they never looked in trouble. Meghana was stumped off Kumari for 17 in the sixth over, before Mandhana continued to pepper the off-side boundary with her drives and dabs. By the time she fell at the end of the 11th over, India needed a comfortable 40 from 54 balls.Jemimah Rodrigues, India’s top scorer in the opening game, handed a catch to backward point for 3 before Bhatia stitched a patient stand of 23 with Harmanpreet. Even though Bhatia was also stumped, for 13 in the 18th over, India needed just 12 more off 16 and Harmanpreet sealed the win with her trademark sweep. En route, she also became the leading T20I runscorer for India, going past Mithali RajIndia won’t be completely pleased with the performance though. They leaked overthrows and gave the hosts nearly three run-out chances in one ball when Harmanpreet swept a ball in the 18th over to deep midwicket and called for two, but Bhatia didn’t want the second. A wayward throw from the deep saved Bhatia, the fielder backing up couldn’t run her out either at the bowler’s end, and another throw reached the keeper’s end slightly late when the batters took the third run.

Gloucestershire bowlers chip away but left facing sizeable first-innings deficit

David Hopps15-Apr-2022

News of Joe Root’s resignation as Test captain had caused regret to descend momentarily upon Yorkshire’s band of travelling supporters as they gathered in little clutches around the Bristol ground before start of play, but by the time that stumps were drawn they were able to applaud their latest champion. Root should have many thousands of Test runs in his locker before retirement and the odds are that when all is said and done Harry Brook will be alongside him as an established, battle-hardened member of England’s middle order.Brook averaged 38 in the Championship last season, making more of an impact in the shorter formats, but he remains ambitious to be an all-format cricketer and his hundred against Gloucestershire at the first time of asking, on a magical spring day, indicated that he is a player of growing resilience. “I regard Test cricket as the pinnacle,” he said.Such an assertion will delight many, but maintaining a commitment to all formats is challenging, especially when – as was the case with Brook last winter – it involves T20 stints in both Pakistan and Australia. He was strikingly self-critical when he offered up the thought that he had not taken full advantage of his England Lions opportunity in the winter, consumed by too many thoughts about the impending Big Bash. “Training and things,” he said, and left it there. Perhaps this innings began to put things right.If Root’s resignation had not been viewed as a done deal, Brook suggested that in the Yorkshire dressing room there had been little surprise. “We sort of expected it,” he said. They will now hope that Root’s return to Championship cricket might happen sooner than later as he concentrates on getting his batting in order and, if it does, then Brook will benefit from batting alongside him.Brook’s certainty ultimately dominated the second day, just as the compact figure of Gloucestershire’s opening batter, Marcus Harris, had dominated the first. He saved all his uncertain moments for when he was 99, his touch suddenly deserting him – what’s more against the bower who had met him with the most authority of all. “I was timing it well until I got to 99 – and then I didn’t time one for five overs,” he reflected.A single over from Ben Charlesworth saw Brook dropped low down at second slip by Tom Lace, an excellent delivery this; be dumbfounded by a thigh-high full toss; and then hop around after he was struck on the boot by a yorker. A back-foot steer through point secured his hundred, his second of the year, following a first T20 century for Lahore Qalanders in the Pakistan Super League. He fell in the next over, 101 from 164 balls, dead-batting a delivery from Josh Shaw on to his stumps.Watching Brook was a serious business for many Yorkshire onlookers on the day of Root’s resignation. Broken by the inadequacies of others will be the view from the White Rose. “Morning chaps, how are you doing?” had been the cheery greeting from an unsuspecting Gloucestershire supporter in a Panama hat (not at all Northern apparel) as he collected a couple of foldaway chairs, and organised his partner and dog into approved position. Three pairs of eyes glanced up momentarily and remained determinedly silent. Coming late and chatting like that in the middle of an over, what’s the world coming to? The Man Who Talked Too Much got the message and walked off in search of a coffee.Brook remains a bit of a fidget. There is always a pitch to tap, a glove to fiddle with, a shot to hone. On one occasion, he held up Zafar Gohar in his run-up to clear away an imagined speck of grass. When a stump was broken by a fielder’s throw, he hyperactively helped knock it back in. If you happen to miss a shot, the likelihood is that he will relive it for you seconds later, or at last relive a perfect version of it. But when the ball is bowled, that nervous energy increasingly comes together into certainty of thought and stroke.His blemish on 99 apart, he offered Gloucestershire little hope, although he might have run himself out on 18 when he lackadaisically assumed he could collect a routine single square on the off-side only to find Harry Duke, at the non-striker’s end, wracked with youthful uncertainty. Either might have been run out, neither was.Yorkshire had chipped 37 off Gloucestershire’s 227 on the first evening, but at 135 for 4 the match was in the balance. Adam Lyth and Dawid Malan both promised to go big, but Lyth edged a tempting wide half-volley from Charlesworth to first slip and Malan played on against Ajeet Dale, who tucked him up from slightly back-of-a-length and forced a faint inside edge. The suspicion was that Malan has been vulnerable to this dismissal before, the portcullis not quite falling in time, but it would not be altogether surprising if data analysts were able to pore through hours of footage to prove otherwise.From 135 for 4, with Brook’s innings yet to take shape, the match was in the balance, but Brook found good support from Duke and Dom Bess in stands of 91 and 71; if that continues, a wicketkeeper at No. 6 and a spin-bowling allrounder at No. 7 promises excellent balance. Duke found momentum with three boundaries in an over against Shaw, fortunate perhaps that Charlesworth flinched at backward point as he failed to pick up the flight of the ball.As Brook assumed control, Gohar’s left-arm spin played an important holding role. He made an impact last season with 11 wickets against Durham and was the first signing made under the new head coach, Dale Benkenstein. Brook, having his first sight of him, played him circumspectly, and failed to take a boundary off him. There was a wicket, too, Duke, caught at the wicket trying to dab.Many in the south-west feel that Gloucestershire can finish above Somerset this season, although the way their West Country rivals have started, that assumption may not mean too much. Behind the game here, there is nevertheless a solidity about them that augers well and Gohar can make a vital contribution to that.

With eight of their players on tour, the team coach says putting a decent XI on the field will be a struggle

Mohammad Isam14-Mar-2022

Mohammad Mithun and Rejaur Rahman Raja have been sent to South Africa to spent time and train with the main Bangladesh touring party, and that has left Prime Bank with barely enough players to field an XI for their Dhaka Premier League (DPL) opening match against City Club on March 15.Prime Bank had already lost Tamim Iqbal, Shoriful Islam, Yasir Ali, Mustafizur Rahman, Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam to the national side, which will play ODIs and Tests while in South Africa. Mohammedan Sporting and Abahani Limited have six and five men in the national sides, respectively, but Prime Bank are now eight short, and Mithun and Raja are not even part of any of the squads. The ODI-only players will be back for the DPL after the last ODI on March 23. But the Test players will be back only after April 11. They have been sent to Cape Town in advance to train, and will now miss most of the league phase of the DPL.”Every club built their team knowing that Test players are also going to South Africa early,” Mohammad Salahuddin, the Prime Bank coach who recently won his third BPL title with Comilla Victorians, said of the situation. “But unfortunately, two players from our club, who are not part of the ODI or Test squad, Mithun and Raja, are also in South Africa. We were already without six players, and with these two, we will not have eight players. It will be difficult to put together a team.”While Mithun, a Bangladesh international in all three formats but not considered since July last year, has been sent to South Africa, Abahani’s Mohammad Naim, a centrally contracted player and part of Bangladesh’s Test squad in New Zealand earlier this year, has not been picked to travel, and that has irked Salahuddin.”Mithun hasn’t been part of the national setup for the last nine months. If they [Mithun and Raja] were going to play [in South Africa], I wouldn’t have a problem, but they are going only for training,” Salahuddin said. “They are not in the squads. There were players from other clubs like Naim but they took players from Prime Bank. It is going to hurt us. I didn’t really like it.”Jalal Yunus, the BCB’s cricket operations chairman, explained that the decision to send the two Prime Bank players to South Africa was made by the team management.”The coach [Russell Domingo] said that since Naim isn’t among the runs, he should continue playing domestic cricket,” Yunus was quoted as saying by . “The coach and selectors recommended that we send extra players. This is the first time I am hearing that the problem is that they play for Prime Bank.”The coach wanted to see Raja, who is a promising player, while Mithun will get confidence training with the national team. They will return before the Test series, so they will only miss two or three (DPL) matches.”

Paul Scholes has criticised Alejandro Garnacho for 'sulking' after being substituted during Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad.

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• Scholes criticises Garnacho for 'sulking'
• Subbed off for Eriksen against Real Sociedad
• Man Utd draw 1-1 against the Basque side

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Manchester United's disappointing form has continued to haunt them as Ruben Amorim saw his side draw 1-1 against an out-of-form Real Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium despite taking the lead via Joshua Zirkzee. However, after Mikel Oyarzabal converted his penalty to bring the Basque side level, Garnacho was taken off in place of Christian Eriksen, and the Argentine has been accused of 'sulking' by Red Devils legend Scholes after his substitution.

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  WHAT SCHOLES SAID

  Speaking on TNT Sports, Scholes said: "He looked like he was sulking a little bit to me. I am not having fatigue. I think they are alright. I don't think there are great legs in this Manchester United team.

  "Garnacho's biggest strength is running through. Sometimes he makes the wrong decisions but he had a lack of energy and a little bit of sulkiness. He will need to get better as they don’t really have anything else to call on."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Garnacho was also criticized last week for his 'unacceptable' behavior against Ipswich Town after the Argentine winger refused to return to the bench after he was subbed off for Noussair Mazraoui before half-time after Patrick Dorgu's red card. Amorim had then announced that he would hold conversations with the starlet about his behaviour.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR GARNACHO?

  Manchester United will take on Arsenal next up in the Premier League when the two sides meet at Old Trafford on Sunday, March 9, Garnacho is likely to be a starter yet again for Amorim.

Joe Root says that he will not be considering his position as Test captain until the end of England’s tour of Australia, and instead pledged to “put some pride back into the badge” in the final two matches at Sydney and Hobart, after a humiliating conclusion to the decisive third Test at Melbourne.England’s Ashes challenge ended with their third defeat inside 12 days of action, in little more than an hour’s play at the MCG, as Australia’s debutant quick Scott Boland finished with figures of 6 for 7 in four overs to rout England for 68 – their 13th score of 200 or less in 29 completed Test innings in 2021.England’s innings-and-14-run defeat was their ninth of the calendar year, equalling a record set by Bangladesh in 2003, while two more scores of 0 on the final morning earned the team a share of another unwanted record, as they finished with 54 ducks for the year, equal with the England side of 1998.Root once again top-scored for England with 28 on the final morning, to finish 2021 with 1708 runs at 61.00 – the third-highest tally in a single year, behind Mohammad Yousuf (1788 in 2006) and Viv Richards (1710 in 1976). However, no one else in the side managed more than Rory Burns’ haul of 530, and even Extras (412) contributed more than the third-most prolific batter in the squad, Jonny Bairstow (391).”Everyone in that dressing room is gutted,” Root said after the match. “That’s not a good enough performance. We all know that. We need to put some pride back into the badge and make sure we come away from this tour with something. It’s as simple as that.”Related

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• Scott Boland six-for leads humiliation as Australia romp to Ashes glory

Despite the speed of England’s demise on the third morning, Root insisted that all had not been lost when play resumed with England on a sickly 31 for 4, in the wake of a pulsating new-ball burst from Australia’s quicks on Monday evening. “You turn up today and you walk out with Ben Stokes and you feel like anything’s possible,” Root said. “We’re bitterly disappointed to find ourselves in this position.”Stokes, however, fell in the fifth over of the morning, bowled by Mitchell Starc for 11, whereupon Boland added to his two wickets in his solitary over on the second evening to claim four more in his next 15 balls. Cameron Green then applied the finishing touch by bowling James Anderson for 2 to condemn England to their 12th defeat in their last 13 Tests in Australia.Root himself has played in 11 of those losses, and acknowledged that the standards of England’s domestic red-ball cricket were not currently good enough to prepare county batters for the challenge of competing on equal terms in Australian conditions, let alone elsewhere in the world.”I’d say that the best 18 players from the county game are definitely on this tour,” Root said. “There’s some very talented players within this squad and we have to find ways of upskilling ourselves and each other, and managing pressure points within the game better.”Unfortunately, where the game is at in our country right now, the only place you can really learn that is in the hardest environment,” he added. “For what is quite a young batting group, they’re having to learn out here. The environment that they’re coming from, it’s not readying them well enough for Test cricket.”It’s a very difficult place, with everything that surrounds Test matches and the different conditions and environments. If you’re not ready going into it, it makes it very difficult to improve in that environment.”Cameron Green claimed the Ashes-clinching wicket•Getty Images

As a member of the England team that was humiliated at the 2015 World Cup, also in Australia, Root acknowledged that this defeat may well need to be viewed in a similar light, given that England’s group-stage exit from that campaign was the single biggest factor in the ECB’s subsequent white-ball focus that culminated in their 2019 victory.”You look back at 2015 and the reset that happened in white-ball cricket, maybe that’s something that needs to be had in our red-ball game as well,” Root said. “But that is a long conversation that I should probably have with you guys another time.”More than anything, we have to stay very mentally resilient,” he added. “Just keep working very hard at our games, keep looking at ways to get better. And we have to make sure that when we get our opportunities to get ahead of the game, we take them.”It’s bitterly disappointing to be 3-0 down but there are still two Test matches to go. We have to try and make sure we come away from this tour with a couple of wins.”In leading England for the 59th time in this Test, Root drew level with his predecessor, Alastair Cook, as England’s most-capped captain. But his 24th defeat is two more than Cook oversaw, and though he also holds the record for victories as England captain (27), he is also the first man to oversee two losing tours of Australia in more than 100 years.However, when asked if he felt the time had come to hand over the leadership to someone else – potentially his deputy Ben Stokes – Root insisted that with the series not yet over, it would be “wrong to look past that”.”As a player, you talk about the next hour, or the next session, or the very next ball and managing that to the best of your abilities,” he said. “That applies to me as well, as captain of this team.”I’m in the middle of a very important series. My energy has to be all about trying to win the next game. I can’t be selfish and start thinking about myself.”That’s a big part of captaincy. You’ve got to ready the players, and try to instil that belief in every single one of your team and your squad. More than ever now, going into the last two games.”

Harmanpreet Kaur is hopeful a women’s IPL can be established sooner rather than later, after she created history becoming the first Indian to be named WBBL player of the tournament following a stunning season for Melbourne Renegades.The India T20I captain made 399 runs for the tournament at an average of 66.50 and strike-rate of 135.25, including three match-winning half-centuries. In addition to being Renegades’ leading run-scorer, she was also their leading wicket-taker bagging 15 wickets at an economy rate of 7.46, bowling a lot of vital powerplay and death overs.She was Player of the Match three times and polled 31 votes, under a 3-2-1 voting system that is voted on by the standing umpires after each match. She finished three votes clear of Perth Scorchers duo Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine.Harmanpreet becomes the third overseas player to be named the WBBL’s player of the tournament after New Zealand duo Devine (twice) and Amy Satterthwaite. She hoped it was another stepping stone towards the establishment of the women’s IPL in the short-term future.”I think we have been looking at this for a long time and I hope, you know, sooner this women’s IPL will also start and we will also invite overseas players over there so that they can also share their experience with our domestic players,” Harmanpreet said. “I think this is something we are really waiting for and I hope, you know, this will start.”Performance is something which is in our hands and that’s what we have been doing and the rest of the things are totally dependent on BCCI and the cricket board.”We can’t do something extra on that but we can only request and that’s what we have done, you know, for many years.”They know better than us. They know when to do it and how to start and they are also thinking about that and I’m sure, you know, they will definitely come up with something for women’s cricket.”Harmanpreet Kaur was involved in a team hat-trick in the 20th over of Melbourne Stars’ innings•Mark Brake/Getty Images

Harmanpreet has been breaking ground for Indian women’s cricket ever since becoming the first Indian to play in both the WBBL and the Super League in England. She is hoping to inspire the next generation of players with her deeds in the WBBL.”Playing any tournament will give you lots of confidence and WBBL is something, you know, it’s a very, very big platform back home,” Harmanpreet said. “Every Indian wants to play in this league and I was the first one who got this opportunity to play and today, you know, winning this player of the tournament definitely gives lots of confidence to Indian girls also. They can also come here and perform and, you know, be part of this and then there are all the chances to achieve a lot in their cricket career.”Harmanpreet paid tribute to Renegades teammate Jemimah Rodrigues and coach Simon Helmet for their support throughout the tournament.”I think that is the reason I was more calm,” Harmanpreet said. “I was enjoying [playing] more because you know I had a teammate from back home and I really, really enjoyed her company.”Simon is a very, very nice human and is a great, great coach. I was lucky, you know, I played under him and I learned a lot from him and I think when I go back, I will definitely share his working skills with our coaches and definitely share this experience with my teammates.”Harmanpreet knows the job is not done as the Renegades wait to face the winner of Tuesday’s Eliminator between Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers in tomorrow night’s Challenger. If they win the Challenger they will fly to Perth to face Scorchers in the final on Saturday. Harmanpreet didn’t bat in the last match against Heat but is fit for the Challenger.”I was not feeling well that day,” Harmanpreet said. “But luckily I’ve got four or five days off now and feeling much better now and I’m ready to go.”I have never [won] any title like this so far. And if we win, that will be a very great achievement for me.”Meanwhile, Phoebe Litchfield was named WBBL ‘Young Gun’ as the best player under the age of 21. The award is selected by Australia’s national selection panel.The 18-year-old Sydney Thunder batter made 263 runs at 21.91, striking at 109.12.”It means a lot to be recognised with this award,” Litchfield said. “It’s a surprise, to be honest. I could think of a number of other young players who would be deserving of this award, which is really exciting for the future.”Batting at No. 3 was a challenge but also a great opportunity. I was very privileged that Trevor Griffin trusted me with that spot and I hope I made the most of it.”

Mikel Arteta revealed Arsenal have been blocked from playing 15-year-old sensation Max Dowman due to the Premier League rules over age group.

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Arsenal going through a serious injury crisis Arteta has just three forwards to his disposal However, rules prevent them from using Dowman Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal are currently facing a major shortage of attacking options, with several key forwards sidelined. The problems began when Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz suffered hamstring injuries in recent weeks, significantly weakening Arteta’s attacking setup. Havertz’s injury is particularly severe, requiring surgery that will keep him out for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, Martinelli is expected to be absent for at least a month, further limiting the team’s firepower. Adding to the Gunners’ woes, Bukayo Saka is also recovering from a hamstring problem, while Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury.

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These setbacks mean Arteta has just three available forwards at his disposal: Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard, and Raheem Sterling. Despite the club’s ongoing injury crisis, league rules prevent players from a lower age category than the Under-16s from being included in a match-day squad. Hence, Dowman, an attacking midfielder, who was registered with Arsenal’s Under-15 team at the beginning of the season, is ineligible for first-team selection.

WHAT ARTETA SAID

With Arsenal’s attacking ranks depleted, there was speculation that Dowman could be fast-tracked into the first team. However, Arteta has dismissed that possibility and said: “We had Max, we had many other kids as well there [in Dubai]. It was a big opportunity for us to see them in our environment. It’s clear the rules on age and restrictions at the moment and very difficult to change that as well.”

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

The timing of Arsenal’s injury crisis could not be worse, with key matches on the horizon. Their next fixture sees them travel to Leicester City on Saturday, where Arteta will need to be creative with his team selection. Following that, Arsenal will host West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, a game that could have significant implications for their title ambitions.

Borussia Dortmund have reportedly held a 'secret meeting' with ex-Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick over their vacant head coach post.

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• Dortmund held a meeting with Rangnick
• Want the German coach to join immediately
• Kovac also on their radar

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Since parting ways with Nuri Sahin last week, Dortmund have been actively hunting for their next permanent manager. They were initially strongly linked with ex-Manchester United bosses Louis van Gaal and Erik ten Hag, but the Dutchmen have ruled out the possibility of joining the German side.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After failing in their pursuit of Ten Hag and Van Gaal, the Bundesliga giants have now turned to another ex-Red Devils head coach. According to Sky Sports' , Dortmund executives Hans-Joachim Watzke and Lars Ricken held a 'secret meeting' with Rangnick in Austria. Dortmund want the German to replace Sahin immediately, but could wait for him until the summer. The 66-year-old still has a valid contract with the Austrian national team until the end of 2025 and is leaning towards rejecting Dortmund, the report added.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Dortmund are also interested in ex-Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac. However, Kovac would ideally only commit to a six-month deal with an option to extend by one or two years.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DORTMUND?

  Dortmund will be back in action in the Champions League on Wednesday as they take on Shakhtar Donetsk at home, with Mike Tullberg handling first-team affairs on an interim basis.

أكد ميكيل أرتيتا المدير الفني الإسباني لفريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي آرسنال، أنه لن يستسلم في سباق الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز رغم فارق النقاط مع ليفربول.

ويتخلف آرسنال عن ليفربول صاحب الصدارة بفارق 11 نقطة لصالح الريدز، قبل أن يلتقي الجانرز أمام نوتينجهام فورست، الثالث، غدًا بملعب سيتي جراوند.

وقال أرتيتا في المؤتمر الصحفي للمباراة: “إذا كنت تريد الفوز بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، سيتعين عليك القيام بشيء مميز، ولكن في ظل الظروف التي نواجهها في آرسنال، ربما يتعين علينا القيام بشيء لم يفعله أحد في تاريخ المسابقة”.

“أنا المسؤول والطريق طويل”.. أرتيتا يعلق على سقوط آرسنال المؤلم أمام وست هام 

وأضاف: “لن نتخلى عن مطاردة لقب الدوري هذا الموسم، حتى ولو على جثتي، نعلم أن الفارق كبير لكن لا يزال هناك المزيد من المباريات حتى نهاية المسابقة”.

وأوضح: “من الناحية الحسابية، هذا ممكن، قبل ثلاثة أيام كان بوسعنا تقليص الفارق، ولكن الأمر أصبح أصعب، ومع ذلك نحن ندرك أننا إذا أردنا الفوز بالدوري الإنجليزي، علينا القيام بشيء استثنائي”.

وواصل: “أنظر إلى ما مررنا به في الأشهر الماضية، لقد عانينا من الإصابات ومع ذلك كان الفريق ثابتًا. نجحنا في توليد طاقتنا، وللأسف تعرضنا للهزيمة قبل أن يفوز ليفربول”.

وعن مواجهة نوتينجهام فورست: “سنلاقي مدرباً قام بعمل لا يصدق هذا الموسم، ليس في نوتينجهام فورست فقط وليس هذا الموسم فقط، ولكن مع ولفرهامبتون أيضًا كان رائعًا”.

واختتم: “مارتينيلي وساكا يسيران بشكل جيد على البرنامج العلاجي، ولكن موعد العودة لم يتم تحديده بعد”.

اختتم اليوم الثلاثاء، منتخب مصر للشباب مواليد 2005 لكرة القدم تدريباته استعدادا لمباراة ألو ايجيبت الودية، غدًا الأربعاء، في تمام الساعة الثانية بعد الظهر باستاد المنتخبات الوطنية بمشروع الهدف بمدينة 6 أكتوبر وذلك في ختام التجمع الأول للمعسكر المفتوح الذى انتظم فيه منتخب مصر ضمن استعداداته لنهائيات كأس أمم إفريقيا للشباب المقرر إقامتها فى كوت ديفوار أبريل القادم وهي البطولة المؤهلة لكأس العالم في تشيلي.

طلع | مجموعة منتخب مصر في كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا.. مواجهات نارية

وحرص علاء نبيل المدير الفني لاتحاد الكرة على حضور التدريبات واطمأن من الجهاز الفني بقيادة الكابتن أسامة نبيه المدير الفني على كافة الترتيبات والتجهيزات الخاصة بالمعسكر ومتطلبات المنتخب في المرحلة القادمة.

ويضم جهاز منتخب مصر للشباب كلا من :”أسامة نبيه المدير الفني وحماده أنور المدير الإداري وعلاء عبده المدرب العام ومحمد عمر النور المدرب وأيمن طاهر مدرب الحراس وأحمد عصام محلل الأداء وأحمد ممدوح وأحمد عباس للتدليك وعلاء سعيد مدير المهمات”.