Tag Futebol

In the absence of Rohit, Hardik and Jadeja, India’s long-standing problems were amplified in South Africa

Hemant Brar24-Jan-20224:15

What went wrong for India against South Africa?

India went into the ODI series against South Africa with the mindset of starting to build the team for the 2023 World Cup. But not only did they lose the series 3-0, they are also probably no closer to finding solutions for what ails them in the format.Over the last couple of years, India haven’t had a wicket-taking threat in their bowling, their middle order hasn’t come to the fore when needed, and they haven’t had a regular sixth bowling option. All these issues haunted them in South Africa as well.The wicket-taking threat issue is worth looking into a little deeper since it’s an aspect that helped their ODI game between 2017-2019. Since the 2019 World Cup, though, they have the worst average and the worst economy in the powerplay.One possible reason for that is Bhuvneshwar Kumar blowing hot and blowing cold in his appearances between injuries. The teams, meanwhile, have also found ways to negotiate Jasprit Bumrah without giving him wickets upfront.Related

• India need a white-ball philosophy that doesn't revolve around their best batters

• 'We didn't play smart cricket' – Dravid admits India given 'eye-opener'

• SA overcome Chahar scare to sweep India 3-0

• New-ball and allrounder issues haunting India

The knock-on effect of not striking in the powerplay is that when the spinners come into the attack, there are usually two set batters in the middle. With Kuldeep Yadav losing his form and place, and Yuzvendra Chahal losing his novelty, India have struggled to pick up wickets in the middle overs as well.R Ashwin made an ODI comeback in South Africa, after more than four years, but he didn’t present the point of difference India might have been after.India, however, did seem to show some awareness of the need to hit the wicket harder – something England and Australia tend to do for wickets in the middle overs – and went for the tallest bowler in Prasidh Krishna when it came to experimenting. They fared slightly better in the third ODI with change of personnel and strategy.Deepak Chahar came in for Bhuvneshwar and struck early with the new ball. In the middle overs, the Indian seamers bowled much shorter lengths as compared to the first two ODIs. With the ball holding into the pitch, they picked two wickets with the short ball. It will be interesting to see in the coming ODIs if India are going to implement this strategy more consistently.In the batting department, KL Rahul opened the innings in the absence of Rohit Sharma despite having achieved great success at No. 4 and 5 in the last two years. The move, though, opened up a middle-order slot and India tried Shreyas Iyer there.Shreyas Iyer made scores of 17, 11 and 26 in the three ODIs•AFP/Getty ImagesShreyas batted at No. 5 in all three ODIs and on each occasion had the time to build his innings. India would have hoped for better than the scores of 17, 11 and 26, especially in the first and the third match when they needed him to steer the chase. Dravid said after the series that if the players were being given an extended run, he expected “really big performances” from them. Shreyas failed in that aspect.As far as Rishabh Pant is concerned, his 85 off 71 balls in the second ODI was arguably the best knock by an Indian in the series. With India having lost Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli in quick succession, Pant presented a rare case of rebuilding an innings at a strike rate of almost 120.Once Rohit returns, Rahul can move down the order, lending the middle order a bit more experience and stability. Once he and Pant get together there, they promise a solution.Another long-standing issue is that India’s batters don’t bowl, and their bowlers cannot be relied on for runs. During this series, Shardul Thakur and Chahar showed promise with the bat, but is Thakur a first-choice bowler or does he get in because he bats? Also, the first problem remains unsolved, and Hardik Pandya’s lack of bowling fitness has a part to play in that.In Pandya’s absence, India tried Venkatesh Iyer as their sixth bowing option but didn’t give him a single over in the first ODI. He bowled five in the second before being left out for the third.India tried Shreyas as their sixth bowling option in the final ODI. He bowled legspin to right-handers and offspin to left-handers but lacked control. Still, it’s an option that hasn’t been explored so far and if Shreyas can work on his bowling, it could provide India some relief. But India will also be hoping for Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja to regain their fitness and form by the time the World Cup arrives.So while you wouldn’t want to read too much into one series where the team went in with the intention of trying out a few things and also had a couple of key players missing, Rohit and Dravid will know there is still quite a bit of work to do.

Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies will start their postseason on Saturday with Game 1 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Harper has made quite a few runs through the playoffs since joining the Phillies, but is still chasing his first World Series win. If he’s going to get it this year, he and the Phillies will have to go through the reigning champions.

While taking on the Dodgers is always a tall task, Harper will have one extra, and extra special fan cheering him on through the run, as he and his wife Kayla announced the birth of their fourth child, Hayes Three Harper, just hours before first pitch on Saturday.

As some astute Phillies observers noted, Harper has had a tendency to hit homers in his first game back from the birth of a child.

Harper and his newly unlocked Level 4 Dad Strength will look to add another home run to that tally against the Dodgers.

The question now remains: can they follow up this success with any consistency? All eyes on the ODIs that begin this weekend in St Kitts then

Mohammad Isam06-Dec-2024Shortly after lunch on the third day in Jamaica, Bangladesh seemed to be in deep trouble with the bat once again. Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy had edged to the slips in the first over, a duck to go with his scores of 5, 6, 3 in the Test series. Bangladesh had scored 164 and 132 in their two previous innings. The batting had hardly come together at all in 2024. And now it seemed, another batting debacle awaited the visitors.West Indies were all over Bangladesh too. Their fast bowlers had something to say to the batters almost every ball. The slip fielders were loud. Substitute Kevin Sinclair ran up to the batters from gully every other ball. Umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Asif Yaqoob gave out a few warnings, but the chirping continued. Bangladesh’s batting looked meek. The TV commentators offered sympathy on air.Besides, this was the first time in 19 years that Bangladesh didn’t have any of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Mashrafe Mortaza in the XI. One of these five would often have been the player to intervene in such circumstances, whether with bat, ball or verbals.Related

• Give it up for 2024: Test cricket has had few better years

• Simmons praises Bangladesh's 'positive attitude' in bouncing back from first Test defeat

But then Shahadat Hossain offered some resistance. He cracked Alzarri Joseph through point, before swiping Shamar Joseph through midwicket. Kraigg Brathwaite dropped a stinging drive from him in the covers but that didn’t stop Shahadat from playing his shots. He smacked Alzarri down the ground next over.After Shahadat’s cameo, Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz showed further intent, going in to bat at No. 4 for the first time in his career. Mehidy and Shadman Islam went on a boundary-hitting spree in their 70-run third-wicket stand. When these batters got out and it was clear that Mominul Haque was too ill to bat, Jaker Ali hustled West Indies. After getting hit on the top of his helmet, he blitzed their fast bowlers on the fourth morning. Bangladesh finished with 268, meaning the hosts needed 287 for the win.The fightback continued with the ball. Taijul Islam and the fast bowlers dismissed the home side for 185 in the fourth innings, well short of their target. This was the quintessential Bangladesh win. Several performers, but, this time, none of them from the Big Five. A bunch of unlikely heroes had given Bangladesh their first Test win in West Indies in 15 years. This was another chapter in a wonderful year for Test cricket.

****

Bangladesh have not had a great 2024 going by the numbers. They beat Pakistan 2-0 but then lost five successive Tests. Of particular disappointment was losing two Tests against a relatively inexperienced South Africa at home in October. The shift in mentality in Jamaica from survival mode to a positive attitude was therefore a welcome change.Jaker Ali went on the attack once he started running out of partners•Athelstan BellamyOne of those who led that recovery was Jaker Ali. A batter who has a fair amount of work left to do on his batting technique, but his approach has been spot on. He has now scored fifties in each of his first three Tests. In the second innings in Jamaica, Jaker held the Bangladesh batting together. He manipulated the field while batting with the tail-enders. His sudden attacking spree on the fourth morning was thrilling but it was also evidence that Jaker understands his limitations.Then there was Taijul. The left-arm spinner has often been overshadowed in the past, but Shakib’s retirement means he now has the senior bowler’s role. Taijul often merely looked like a steady foil for Shakib, bowling a defensive outside-off-stump line. In Jamaica, he bowled closer to the stumps. It is another subtle shift in roles in the absence of the big stars.

****

Bangladesh’s leadership too has undergone a change in the last 12 months. Najmul Hossain Shanto became captain in bits and pieces last year before the BCB appointed him the full-time captain in February this year. Shanto has looked like a good leader, especially reflected in their Rawalpindi wins. His batting form has suffered with the extra responsibility though and he offered to resign last month, but it seems the BCB talked him out of it.Here, Shanto’s injury gave Bangladesh a glimpse of Mehidy the captain. A player who always seems to put his whole heart into it, he led by example, often coming on to bowl in difficult moments. When the West Indies pace attack tested his batting with bouncer barrages in Antigua and Jamaica, Mehidy’s positive approach was quite encouraging.Mehidy Hasan Miraz stepped into the captain’s role•BCBShanto and Mehidy are the future of Bangladesh cricket. They have played together since their age-group cricket days. They praise each other often. Splitting the captaincy could be an option given Shanto has voiced some reluctance to lead while Mehidy has showed he can lead in a crisis. The BCB wouldn’t want the captaincy to become a race between the two though, so some deft handling of this situation is needed.

****

Bangladesh’s pace attack remains their most improved and consistent department. This year has been significantly better than any other. Taskin Ahmed was already a white-ball leader, but now he has shown that he can step up in Tests too. Hasan Mahmud has made the best start by any Bangladeshi fast bowler in Tests. Shoriful Islam seems to be improving steadily. Then there is Nahid Rana.The tearaway from Chapainawabganj has wowed folks in Rawalpindi, Sharjah and Jamaica. He is Bangladesh’s fastest bowler ever, but he has also shown discipline with his lines and lengths. His pace has proven a problem for batters, especially since he can still hit the mid-140s at the end of the day.Taijul Islam starred with five wickets in the fourth innings in Jamaica•Athelstan Bellamy

****

Bangladesh’s win in Jamaica was also extra special when you realise they essentially played with ten players. Mominul Haque was ill for most of the game, as he finished with a pair.Glorifying any Bangladesh Test wins however always comes with a caveat. They rarely follow up good results with consistency in performance. When they beat Pakistan twice in Rawalpindi, many hoped that the team had turned a corner. Then India, South Africa and Afghanistan (the last of these in white-ball cricket) beat them convincingly. West Indies won the first Test in Antigua by 201 runs. Then came the fightback.Is this another false dawn? All eyes on Bangladesh in the ODI series that starts in St Kitts on Sunday then. They will once again be without Shanto, Mushfiqur and Mustafizur Rahman among their regulars. Mehidy will lead the new-look side. Unheralded cricketers will once again be asked to step up. Jamaica should provide all the inspiration they need.

A relatively routine infield batted ball became the source of much confusion and debate on Wednesday night in a game between the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers.

Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford hit the ball, which was picked up off a chop by Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck. Houck fired the ball over to first, but his throw was off target, toward the home plate side of the bag and low. First baseman Romy Gonzalez fumbled the catch and stood in the way of the bag as he corralled it. Meantime, Langford ran down the line but missed the bag, jumping over Gonzalez along the way to avoid a potentially dangerous collision.

The play was reviewed, and the safe call was confirmed. Fans, in response to an MLB social media post on the call, were completely split:

At first glance, it looks simple. Gonzalez fumbles the ball, and therefore, Langford should be safe. But further, slower angles show that Langford, as he jumped around Gonzalez, failed to touch the bag. Before Langford was able to return to first base after overrunning it, Gonzalez picked up the ball and stepped on the bag. A logical person may assume that means Langford is legally out.

Umpires reviewed the play, and the on-field call of safe was confirmed. No explanation was given on the public address system. Boston manager Alex Cora came out to dispute after the review and appeared to leave satisfied with what the umpires told him.

The Red Sox did not appeal the safe call in real time. Such an action could have prompted a change from "safe" to "out" on the field. Appeals are an inherent part of the game and are frequently referenced in the MLB rulebook for "missed base" situations.

Another possible interpretation is that González was interfering Langford's path to first base. Section 5.05(b)(3) of the 2025 MLB rulebook says a runner shall be safe if, "the catcher or any fielder interferes with him," and specifically says, "if the batter-runner missed first base… he shall be considered as having reached the base," if interfered with. He certainly impedes the first base path as he reaches to grab the errant throw.

So, in all, not an easy or straightforward call to make or review. And while Sox fans may not like the outcome, it does appear to be grounded in rulebook logic, assuming one agrees that Gonzalez committed interference.

Interestingly, an almost identical play happened a few years back, then benefiting the Red Sox.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank privately doesn’t rate two of his Spurs players and a January exit could be on the cards for at least one of them, according to a new report.

Spurs played out a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at lunchtime on Saturday, and the match brought with it a reoccurring theme of their season.

The Lilywhites seriously lacked creativity for large portions of the 90 minutes and were even booed off at half-time after United star Bryan Mbeumo handed the visitors a pretty deserved lead. Djed Spence’s “lackadaisical” defending in the build up to their opener, and Pape Sarr’s questionable decision not to clear, were key in handing Ruben Amorim’s side the early advantage.

Frank’s side had chances, testing Senne Lammens after the restart, particularly Cristian Romero from close range, but it looked more than likely the Red Devils would see out a fairly comfortable 1-0 win in the capital at one stage.

However, Frank’s substitutions were on hand to very nearly clinch a last-gasp three points and turn the game on its head.

Mathys Tel fed off Destiny Udogie’s sharp pass into the box to swivel and blast a deflected effort past Lammens, levelling the score and sparking real hope they could actually win the game.

Just minutes later, fellow sub Wilson Odobert set up Richarlison, who guided a deft header into the bottom corner to make it 2-1, with the Brazilian taking his shirt off and celebrating in raptures as the stadium went wild.

Spurs were suddenly on the verge of what looked like a very unlikely win and their first at home since the opening Premier League weekend, but their hearts were broken deep into added time when United defender Matthijs de Ligt equalised from a set piece.

For Frank, their home woes continue, having won just four of their last 20 league games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It doesn’t get any easier for them either, with a North London derby scheduled immediately after the international break and European champions PSG awaiting them in the Champions League just days later.

Off the field, Frank is now getting a good idea of which players he wants to stick with going forward as he continues his slow Tottenham rebuild.

While Richarlison put Spurs 2-1 ahead, you can make a serious case that he was largely ineffective against United, while Dominic Solanke is continuing his slow return to fitness.

Thomas Frank sees Solanke and Richarlison as "expendable" Tottenham players

In the build up to January, Tottenham have reportedly been exploring the possibility of signing a more impactful striker, and Al-Ahli star Ivan Toney is Frank’s “preferred” option.

That is according to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, who also reports that Frank views both Solanke and Richarlison as “expendable” Tottenham players.

Veysey adds that one of the duo could be sold to raise funds and make room for Toney, and it’ll likely be the latter.

Richarlison, whose contract expires in 2027, has been repeatedly linked with a Spurs exit in recent months and his form has been criticised — meaning that the 28-year-old may well be sacrificed as Frank eyes a reunion with Toney at N17.

Toney has been free scoring in Saudi Arabia since joining Al-Ahli last year, bagging 41 strikes in 59 total appearances, but his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad is far from certain.

The former Brentford star, bar one call-up last summer, has been excluded from the Three Lions set up and a loan move back to the Premier League could be the answer ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

Frank, meanwhile, has made no secret of his admiration for the number nine, once joking that he’s worth ‘£100 million-plus’.

The expanded squad of 18 will be trimmed closer to the start of the first Test

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2025

Three uncapped players – spin-bowling allrounder Asif Afridi, left-arm wristspinner Faisal Akram, and wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir – have been included in an expanded 18-man Pakistan squad for the two-Test series at home against South Africa. The squad, though, which will be trimmed closer to the start of the first Test, which begins on October 12 in Lahore.As reported earlier, Shan Masood will continue as captain, and the squad – minus the players who are returning from the Asia Cup – will take part in a training camp in Lahore starting this evening and running till October 8. Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Salman Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi, the players at the Asia Cup, will join the camp on October 4.The camp will be overseen by red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood and NCA coaches.Pakistan vs South Africa fixtures

Oct 12-16: 1st Test, Lahore
Oct 20-24: 2nd Test, Rawalpindi
Oct 28: 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
Oct 31: 2nd T20I, Lahore
Nov 1: 3rd T20I, Lahore
Nov 4: 1st ODI, Faisalabad
Nov 6: 2nd ODI, Faisalabad
Nov 8: 3rd OD, Faisalabad

Of the newcomers, 38-year-old Afridi is very experienced with 57 first-class appearances, in which he has taken 198 wickets at an average of 25.49.Twenty-two year old Akram, meanwhile, is almost at the other end of the age spectrum. He made his first-class debut only in December 2023, and has played nine games in the format for 44 wickets at an average of 30.95. Akram has also played three ODIs, in which he has five wickets.The two of them will add to Pakistan’s spin options, which also has regulars Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Abrar.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Nazir, the third of the new faces, is a 23-year-old who is thought of highly in the domestic circles in Pakistan. He has already made his T20I debut, at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, and has played 43 first-class matches since making his debut in the 2018-19 season, averaging 34.45 with the bat.The fast-bowling options, meanwhile, for Pakistan are the tried-and-tested Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Aamir Jamal, while the batting department wears an experienced and solid look, with Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel and other regulars joining captain Masood.The second Test will be played in Rawalpindi from October 20, and will be followed by a three-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series.Pakistan squad for two-Test series vs South AfricaShan Masood (capt), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi

The three wickets Rashid Khan took in the chase took him to No. 1 on the wicket-taker’s list in men’s T20Is

Danyal Rasool01-Sep-2025Afghanistan survived a brief scare from Muhammad Waseem to ultimately secure a comfortable 38-run victory, their first of the competition, on Monday. As so often, it was Rashid Khan who led the way for them, his 3 for 21 derailing the UAE at a critical juncture midway through their innings just when they looked to have made a fist of chasing 189. He also became the highest wicket-taker in men’s T20Is in the process.That target was set thanks to half-centuries from Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal, whose 84-run partnership put their side on course after the early loss of Rahmanullah Gurbaz. UAE turned in a better bowling performance than they did against Pakistan, with their seam bowlers keeping Afghanistan quiet for the most part through the powerplay and then in phases during the middle overs, but paid the price for losing their discipline at the death. A priceless cameo from Karim Janat in the penultimate over meant 22 runs were added, and helped Afghanistan finish above par.UAE rely so often on Waseem for a realistic shot, and that’s exactly what he provided as he flew out of the blocks. They suffered none of the early difficulties Afghanistan had at the start as they stayed ahead of the asking rate thanks largely to their captain. But it always had the feel of a solo effort, and when he was dismissed, no one could replicate that scoring rate, and Afghanistan had enough on the scoreboard, and with the ball, to make the win look cushier than it once looked.Early jittersThe pressure was squarely on Afghanistan at the start, having lost the toss and beginning the day at the bottom of the table. That pressure was compounded after Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Rohid got through three tight overs that allowed just 16, before Rohid drew an edge from a struggling Gurbaz to send him on his way. Atal and Ibrahim saw through a further couple of overs with the first five overs of the powerplay decisively going the home side’s way.Afghanistan turn it aroundBut UAE introduced seam bowler Saghir Khan for the final over of the powerplay, and the pair saw an opportunity. A slot ball first up was whipped over midwicket, and Saghir’s lengths didn’t improve as the over went on. Afghanistan plundered 18 from it, and it set the partnership on its way.Atal picked his moments through the remainder of the partnership, finding a four or a six just about every over, with Ibrahim cashing in when Dhruv Parashar sent down an errant over. It wasn’t until the Afghanistan 100 was brought up that UAE finally broke the partnership, but with eight overs to go, Afghanistan had the platform they needed to launch.Ibrahim Zadran made 63 in 40 balls•Emirates Cricket BoardDash at the deathAnd launch they did. Throughout much of the innings, UAE had held on to Afghanistan’s coattails, making sure they never pulled too far ahead. That faded in the final four overs, though, as the wheels came off for the hosts and Afghanistan’s lower-middle order plundered 49 off the following three overs.Azmatullah Omarzai – whose cameo was pivotal to his side’s acceleration – triggered the gear change with a six over the on side, with Ibrahim matching him later in the over. Omarzai would go after Saghir too, but it was Janat’s takedown of Rohid – who had given away just 12 in his first three and taken two wickets – that took the game out of the UAE’s hands. Two sixes and two fours saw Rohid bleed 22, and though Siddique would follow with a sensational final over, the damage by now had been done.Rashid triggers implosionTalismanic captain Waseem had put UAE on course with another excellent display that combined power with timing and judiciousness, keeping up with the asking rate without appearing to take too many risks. There were imperious signs that belligerence would continue unabated when he piledrove Rashid for a straight six over the sight screen in his second over; by the end of the ninth over, they required just over nine with eight wickets still in hand.All of that changed in four deliveries. Waseem miscued one off Sharafudin Ashraf and was gone for a 37-ball 67, leaving Asif Khan to try and repeat the heroics that came in vain against Pakistan.The first ball he faced off Rashid, though, Asif misread the turn, and found his off stump rattled. UAE’s two main attacking threats gone and the asking rate climbing, Rashid sliced through the batting, polishing off Ethan D’Souza and Parashar to finish his spell. By now, the asking rate had climbed to nearly 16, and only an unbeaten half-century from Rahul Chopra, achieved with a six off the game’s final ball, reduced Afghanistan’s margin of victory.

Wojciech Szczesny’s journey from retirement to revival at Barcelona continues to be an inspiration for many. Once thought to have hung up his gloves after a decorated stint at Juventus, the Polish veteran was called back in 2024 to fill Barcelona’s goalkeeping void. Now in his second season, Szczesny remains a steady hand and vocal leader, and according to his brother Jan, he still has “a spark in him” that keeps the fire alive beneath the calm exterior.

Szczesny’s second act at Barcelona

When Szczesny announced his retirement in August 2024, few expected to see him in elite football again. But Barcelona’s injury crisis between the posts changed everything. With Marc-Andre ter Stegen sidelined at the start of last season, Barca turned to the 34-year-old Polish veteran and he delivered beyond expectations. As new signing Joan Garcia later underwent meniscus surgery this season, he was signed to a new deal to ensure he remains at the club until at least the summer of 2026.

Since joining, Szczesny has embraced his supporting role with quiet professionalism. In 38 appearances across competitions, he has produced vital saves in the Copa del Rey final and Champions League knockout stages, proving that age and retirement were never barriers to performance. Even now, with Garcia out, he’s stepped up seamlessly as Barcelona’s backup keeper, embodying reliability in crisis.

His brother Jan Szczesny recently spoke about Wojciech’s attitude toward this chapter, revealing the balance between his competitive spirit and mentorship: “He’s always ready, but I think he prefers being a spectator to a participant.”

Jan also pursued a career as a goalkeeper. He played primarily playing in the Polish lower leagues. Unlike Wojciech, Jan retired early from professional play to become a goalkeeping coach, contributing to football from a coaching perspective rather than continuing as a player.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSzczesny 'still has a spark' at Barcelona

In an interview with , Jan came out to share little details about his brother's life at Barcelona. He also opened up about why he thinks Barca are not able to perform at their peak this season.

"I know Wojtek prefers to watch his teammates from the bench and help if necessary. I still see a spark in him after every good save in a match, and I'm happy because I enjoy watching him play," Jan said.

And this is true. The 35-year-old shot stopper was signed by Barca keeping him as good option off the bench but Barca's injury crisis has been such that he has had to play a length of games and for his age, Szczesny has done well. Even this season, he has played in five La Liga and three Champions League matches. Sometimes even saving the team from what could have been a heartbreak defeat.

In Barca's latest Champions League outing, Szczesny was involved in a crucial stoppage-time incident that nearly resulted in defeat for Barca. As Szczesny tried to turn with the ball inside his penalty area, Belgian striker Romeo Vermant dispossessed him and rolled the ball into the net, appearing to secure a late victory for Brugge. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was disallowed for a foul by Vermant on Szczesny, allowing Barcelona to hold on for a 3-3 draw.

Speaking on the same, Szczesny's brother shared his thought on the incident saying, "For me, it was a dubious call. If the referee hadn't called a foul, he would have defended. I'm glad he decided to disallow the goal."

Asked about Szczesny's playing time at Barca, and how long he will continue to enjoy first-team role, Jan replied: "We all know Wojtek is the second-choice goalkeeper. My brother was prepared for this from the start."

Why are Barca dropping points this season?

High line comes with high risk. Barca's defensive model under coach Hansi Flick has invited both admiration and concern. Pressing high and building from the back have been key to their identity, but as Jan pointed out, it also leaves the team vulnerable to counters. This has been a prominent show in Barca's 1-2 defeat against Real Madrid in El Clasico and in their Champions League loss against Paris Saint-Germain and recently Brugge.

"The world is gradually adapting to Barcelona's style of play, which consists of defending very high up the pitch, starting from their own goal. Opponents are starting to figure it out; it no longer surprises them," said Jan.

He further added: "When you play high up the pitch, you're vulnerable to counter-attacks. They're inevitable, whether you're facing Real Madrid or Club Brugge. Barcelona 's style unsettles everyone. They don't play to be winning 1-0, they play to be winning 7-0. And if they concede five goals, tough luck. I like that."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportWhen will Joan Garcia return from his injury?

While Garcia is closing in on a return, the player still has to hit the training ground and regain his fitness before being opted to start in a first-team role under Flick. According to reports, the ex-Espanyol keeper is touted to be back after the November international break.

Speaking on how the goalkeeping situation will change in the upcoming weeks, Jan says: "The change will depend on when García is 100%. I don't know anything. From a coach's point of view, I think the goalkeeper position is so important that it's better to wait two more weeks than to make a change a week before."

The Catalan giants are set to face Celta Vigo in the league on November 9 and this will be their last game before the international break kicks off. This also comes as relief for Flick whose team has been facing injury crisis this season. On the positive side, Raphinha is also close to a return after a lengthy spell out and is supposed to resume group training ahead of the Vigo clash this Sunday.

The touring party includes Jaiswal and Shardul, with Gill and Sai Sudharsan to join ahead of second game

ESPNcricinfo staff16-May-2025Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran will lead India A on their upcoming tour of England, where they are set to play two first-class matches against England A. Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel will be Abhimanyu’s deputy, with the 18-man squad also including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shardul Thakur and Karun Nair.Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan, meanwhile, will join the squad ahead of the second match.Apart from Jurel, Ishan Kishan is the other wicketkeeper-batter in the squad. Both were part of the India A side that played two unofficial Tests in Australia in 2024-25, with Kishan playing the first match and Jurel the second.The squad touring England features plenty of fast-bowling options. Aside from Thakur, it includes Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Tushar Deshpande and allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. The spin-bowling options, meanwhile, are left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, and offspinner Tanush Kotian.India A squad for England tour•ESPNcricinfo LtdThe England A series, meanwhile, provides a chance for Nair, 33, to return to the national side. The last of his six Tests came against Australia back in 2017, but he has been on a blazing run of form in domestic cricket. With 863 runs in nine games, Nair was the second-highest run-getter for Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha in 2024-25. He also represented Northamptonshire in county cricket in 2023 and 2024, scoring 736 runs in ten games at an average of 56.61. That included four half-centuries and two centuries, including 202* against Glamorgan.The first first-class game against England A begins on May 30 in Canterbury, with the second starting on June 6 in Northampton.After playing England A, the India A side will also face the senior India side in a four-day fixture from June 13.India A squadAbhimanyu Easwaran (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (vice-capt & wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (wk), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande and Harsh Dubey.

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has guided the German giants back to the summit of domestic football since taking charge in 2024. The Belgian tactician has combined astute tactical adjustments with excellent man management to spark a remarkable turnaround in the club’s fortunes. His methods have brought out the best in several players, most notably England striker Harry Kane, who has thrived under Kompany’s leadership.

• Bayern going strong with 100 per cent record

  Bayern are the only club among Europe’s top five leagues to maintain a 100 per cent record, winning all nine of their matches so far across the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup. Despite missing out on summer transfer targets such as Nico Williams and Nick Woltemade, and parting ways with key players like Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane, Bayern have looked unstoppable under Kompany. German outlet has revealed the methods and ideas behind Kompany’s impressive start at the helm.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Revealed: Bayern coach's tactical principles and expectations

  Building out from the back, Kompany places strong emphasis on angles and support, encouraging full-backs, centre-backs and midfielders to find space in different areas of the pitch. This positioning allows them to offer passing options to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer when playing out from the back while avoiding being caught in the shadow of opposition players. Full-backs are urged to move into open spaces to receive chipped passes over the heads of opponents, while striker Kane is encouraged to position himself intelligently to receive long goal kicks from Neuer.

  Another key aspect of Kompany’s approach is switches of play, where players are instructed to shift the ball from one flank to the other in the opposition half after drawing defenders toward one side. This tactic aims to catch opponents off guard and create open spaces for Bayern’s forwards to exploit. Kompany also grants his attackers, particularly Kane, the freedom to make runs into open areas and take advantage of deep-defending teams to maximise scoring opportunities.

  Off the ball, Kompany demands constant perseverance and intensity. He encourages his team to defend as a single, compact unit high up the pitch and to press their opponents collectively. He often uses Kane’s goal against Dinamo Zagreb last season, where the striker pressed high, won the ball back, and scored, as a perfect example of his philosophy on persistence and work rate.

  Above all, Kompany insists on complete synergy among his players, believing that only through collective understanding and cohesion can his system function to its fullest potential.

• Kompany's man management skills

  Kompany’s man management has played a crucial role in lifting the team’s morale. The Belgian coach is known for giving his players a longer rope, which has helped him earn their trust and confidence. Despite Serge Gnabry’s poor showing at the Club World Cup, Kompany continued to back him until the winger regained his form. The coach also shows a fine balance between discipline and leniency, choosing the right moments to apply each. For instance, he opted for leniency when players were seen enjoying themselves during Oktoberfest, a decision that further strengthened the bond between him and his squad.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Biggest beneficiaries of Kompany's method: Kane and Laimer

  With Bayern consistently producing strong results, it is clear that the players have fully embraced Kompany’s principles. One of the biggest beneficiaries has been Kane, who has thrived under the Belgian’s guidance. The England striker has scored 103 goals and provided 29 assists in 106 appearances, also securing the first major title of his career as Bayern lifted the 2024–25 Bundesliga trophy.

  The report adds that Kompany's insistence on discipline, punctuality and teamwork has resulted in a sudden improvement in Kane's defensive work and desire to win duels.

  Another standout performer under Kompany has been midfielder Konrad Laimer, who has grown into a key figure in the side. His form has drawn widespread praise, including from Austrian captain David Alaba, who recently described him as a world class player.