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Leeds United are back in Premier League action later this afternoon as they make the trip to the capital to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Jesse Marsch’s men head into kick-off only two points clear of Everton, who play Leicester City at the same time, and the relegation zone but the Yorkshire outfit can be buoyed by the fact that they have only lost to league leaders Manchester City across their last six outings.

That was last time out, where the Whites were thrashed 4-0 at Elland Road, though the Gunners will be no easy task as they are fighting it out with their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a place inside the top four.

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A victory for the visitors would also see them move three points clear of relegation rivals Burnley and that would seriously bolster their chances of survival with just five games to go after this weekend.

Marsch could also boost their safety bid by unleashing young striker Joe Gelhardt from the off down in north London today.

Leeds have rued the absence of last season’s top goalscorer Patrick Bamford (17) for the majority of the campaign but it’s been evident that the likes of Rodrigo and club-record signing Daniel James are not up to scratch as out-and-out central strikers.

The 20-year-old, however, could be a big threat against a side that hasn’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last six outings – and he has already proven himself against some of the best teams in this division.

For example, against Wednesday’s opposition – Chelsea – he scored his first professional goal for the club as he bullied his way past their backline in the game’s dying stages. He then scored the crucial winner in injury time against rock-bottom Norwich City.

Gelhardt has certainly caught the eye already, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp describing him as a “human wrecking ball,” he said:

“He’s like a human wrecking ball. I like him, he’s really exciting. He’s fast, he’s aggressive, he gets on the ball, he takes people on. Once he gets into the box, he loves it. That’s where he can do most of his damage.”

Meanwhile, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, he has been “banging on the door”, whilst LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross believes he looks “absolutely outrageous” and is a big talent indeed.

Arsenal have struggled to keep out the opposition since March 19th, conceding three goals to Crystal Palace, two to Brighton & Hove Albion and two to Chelsea in the last six games.

It’s clear that Gelhardt possesses the sort of skill set and ability to do serious damage to Mikel Arteta’s men, but it’s on Marsch to unleash him down in the capital this afternoon.

Forget James or Rodrigo, it’s the young striking sensation who must feature in the starting XI today. As a result, his presence could seriously bolster their survival bid.

AND in other news, Marsch dealt another setback ahead of Arsenal clash…

Aston Villa struggled to recruit efficiently during the summer amid PSR concerns, though they could now be about to make a controversial move for a star who is at Monchi’s former club.

Aston Villa move on after goalless stalemate with Everton

Four Premier League matches have passed this season and Aston Villa are yet to score a goal, which is something Unai Emery will be desperate to see change over their coming run of fixtures.

Stagnation is a trap that can be hard to evade, and even with the Villans’ late deals to sign Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliot adding some impetus, it is quite clear the Villans are a mile off where they need to be from an offensive standpoint.

Echoing these sentiments, Emery claimed in his post-match press conference that more needs to be done for his side to start regularly putting themselves on the scoresheet.

He told Match of the Day: “Tactically we have to try to help offensively to try to get better positions. Offensively we need more. We need to try to help out strikers, wingers and midfielders, but I’m happy because we competed and this is the first step forward. We are going to work and we know inside the problem we have.”

With a quick turnaround leading his side into their EFL Cup Third Round tie away to Brentford on Tuesday evening, pressure is growing as the Villans look to secure their first victory of the campaign in London.

Clearly, Ollie Watkins could use some help as the focal point in attack, and Aston Villa are reportedly planning to sign Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta if they can fend off competition from elsewhere.

January is a notoriously difficult window to push deals over the line, but Monchi may have a crucial part to play in helping the Villans secure another target from his former club.

Aston Villa eyeing controversial move for Rubén Vargas

According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa are looking to make a controversial move for Sevilla winger Ruben Vargas, who plies his trade at Monchi’s former club.

In a swoop that could spark feelings of “betrayal” from the La Liga outfit, there is a realisation from his current employers that the Villans could put up an offer that may be too good to refuse from a financial perspective.

Emery can unleash his own Grealish in “outrageous" £35m Aston Villa star

Unai Emery could now unleash his very own Jack Grealish at Aston Villa when travelling to Everton.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 13, 2025

Deemed as a similar player to Anthony Elanga, per FBRef, the Switzerland international has made an impressive start to the campaign with three assists in as many appearances across all competitions.

Capable of playing on the right flank or as an attacking midfielder, Vargas has also created five chances and delivered four successful crosses in the Spanish top-flight, via Fotmob, coming under the microscope as a player who could help Aston Villa’s mission to create more in the final third.

For now, Emery’s men appear to be leading the race for his signature, though it remains to be seen whether they can force a deal over the line in January.

Mahmudullah has recovered from the calf injury he picked up against Afghanistan, and is expected to play on Tuesday

The Preview by Karthik Krishnaswamy01-Jul-20193:00

Nafees: If Mahmudullah not fit, bring in Sabbir

Big pictureThey’ve beaten South Africa, they’ve brushed aside West Indies, and they’ve looked impressive even in defeat. They are still in contention for a semi-final spot, just about, and they might have had an even more realistic chance had rain not kept them from playing Sri Lanka in Bristol.Rather than ruminate over what could have been, however, Bangladesh will want to focus on what can still be: they win their two remaining matches. First up are India, fearsome opponents in many ways but also one with weaknesses in key areas, namely the middle and lower order.Those weaknesses, exacerbated by injury, give Bangladesh a clear target: get early wickets, and somehow get past Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. It’s easier said than done. And we haven’t even mentioned India’s bowling.Still, Bangladesh couldn’t be meeting India at a better time. Their vulnerabilities have been plain to see in their last three games, they are no longer unbeaten, and they’re playing their second game in three days. Most of Bangladesh’s batsmen, on the other hand, have been in solid form, their superstar is having one of the great World Cups for an allrounder, their bowling is more than useful on slow pitches – Edgbaston fits that description – and they are playing after an eight-day gap.But India are experts at shrugging off setbacks and putting up calm and professional displays against teams they are expected to beat. Bangladesh know this well: they’ve pushed India hard in each of their last three meetings at ICC tournaments. But whether in Melbourne, Bengaluru or, indeed, Birmingham, India have found a way to win. Will Birmingham 2019 be any different?Form guideBangladesh WLWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India LWWWWIn the spotlightHe’s a hero for what he puts his knees through every time he plays, and an inspirational captain, but Mashrafe Mortaza’s primary skill is his fast bowling, and he won’t be pleased with his returns at this World Cup: one wicket in six games, an average of 279.00, and an economy rate of 6.34. Can he summon up the spirit of Trinidad 2007 and produce a big performance in a must-win game?Against well-directed bowling and smart fields on a slow pitch, with India’s required rate climbing into absurd territory, and with only a long tail to come, MS Dhoni did the sensible thing against England, and played for net run rate. The widespread censure that came in that innings’ wake will not bother him overly, but one thing should worry him ahead of the game against Bangladesh. He has struggled to score quickly against spin for quite a while now, and particularly so at this World Cup – 41 off 87 balls, one four, zero sixes. What plans does he have to combat all the overs of Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain he is likely to face in the middle overs?MS Dhoni plays a shot•IDI via Getty ImagesTeam newsMahmudullah was Bangladesh’s one big injury worry ahead of this game, with the batsman having picked up a grade 1 tear in his calf during the match against Afghanistan. But the eight-day gap between that game and this one has given him enough time to recover, and he is likely to feature on Tuesday.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Liton Das, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 11 Mustafizur RahmanIndia’s wristspinners struggled to come to terms with the flat pitch and asymmetric ground dimensions against England, and went for a combined 160 from their 20 overs, while picking up just the one wicket. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar back to full fitness after suffering a hamstring injury against Pakistan, India could leave out one of the wristspinners and play three fast bowlers. Alternately, if they choose to retain faith in Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal but want to strengthen their lower order, Bhuvneshwar could replace Mohammed Shami, who picked up five wickets against England but was expensive at the death.India (probable): 1 KL Rahul, 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Rishabh Pant, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Jasprit BumrahPitch and conditionsThe same Edgbaston strip that hosted the England-India game on Sunday will be in use once more. If it plays similarly, it should be flat but slow down as the match progresses, which will favour the team batting first. The position of the pitch on the square will also mean one square boundary is significantly shorter than the other. Kohli wasn’t too pleased with this, and his side did not match England’s know-how, with ball or bat, in exploiting this quirk, but now that they’ve played one game here, they might be better prepared for the challenge.4:08

Agarkar: Couldn’t see any intent to hit the big shots from Dhoni, Jadhav

Strategy puntRather than a like-for-like replacement for the injured Vijay Shankar, India have called in Mayank Agarwal, an opening batsman who is yet to make his ODI debut. With KL Rahul not quite coming off at the top of the order, and with Rishabh Pant not yet seeming to possess the middle gears of a top-notch No. 4, India could be looking to return to a combination similar to the one they played before Shikhar Dhawan left the tournament with a broken finger.The game against Bangladesh may come too early for Agarwal, but India could still think of moving Rahul back down to No. 4 and pushing Pant up to open. This could have two positive effects on their team composition.It will give them an aggressive left-hand option to partner Rohit Sharma and allow him to take his time settling down, and it could also allow Rahul to face more spin. At this World Cup, he has averaged 21.25 against pace, with a strike rate of 56.29, as against 87.00 and 88.78 against spin. Rahul’s ability to play the reverse-sweep – a shot most of India’s middle order doesn’t play that much – and target the shorter boundary could also come in handy.Stats that matter Soumya Sarkar is one of only six batsmen in ODI history to score more than 1000 runs as opener at a 30-plus average and a strike rate of over 100. If he scores 53, Mahmudullah will become the fourth Bangladesh batsman to score 4000 ODI runs. Jasprit Bumrah is five wickets short – and Kuldeep Yadav eight wickets short – of 100 in ODIs.Quotes”We have to be 100 per cent in every area. Good thing that we still in the tournament but we have to play a lot better than what we played in our previous games.”
, wants still more from his team.”It does because when you have not major combinations coming from the lower order a Bhuvneshwar Kumar becomes vital or anybody who is handy at No. 8, maybe, could be [Ravindra] Jadeja. What it does is it gives a bit of a freedom to somebody batting at 6 and 7 so that they could start going at the bowling maybe, if you are batting first, a little earlier rather than leaving it for the last three or four overs. It is a tactic we have been debating about [while discussing] the team combination. We will have to reassess those combinations.”
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Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee opened up about his future with the club amid interest from Arsenal and Juventus.

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• Arsenal eyeing move for Zirkzee
• Dutch striker opened up about his future at Bologna
• Helped Italian side secure Champions League slot

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners were considered the favourites to sign the Dutch forward, however, the player has now revealed his plans for the upcoming 2024-25 season as he hinted he could consider staying back at Bologna.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 23-year-old enjoyed a stellar run of form in the recently concluded season where Bologna finished fifth in the Serie A and secured a Champions League slot. Zirkzee scored 12 times in 37 matches across all competitions and provided seven assists.

• WHAT JOSHUA ZIRKZEE SAID

  Speaking to (via ) about experiencing Champions League football next season, the forward said, "I have to believe in it, I have to be convinced of it, as a player I have to have faith in my abilities and say: ‘Yes, I can get to that level’. It wouldn’t make sense for me to think otherwise. In Italy, we already play against Champions League teams. Ok, we don’t know the competition, but the level yes, because Serie A is high quality, difficult. It will be a great challenge, very exciting.

  "I dreamed of playing it since I was a child, I won it with Bayern Munich, but now it will be exciting to play it, because with the German club it’s as if I hadn’t done it. Now I’ll be on the pitch living the moment."

  When asked about his future at Rossoblu, the player added, "At the moment my mind is only in Bologna. I want to recover from the injury, have some nice holidays in the United States with my childhood friends and then we’ll see what happens. I’d choose the best for the club. I will only do what makes sense in my heart. It’s clear that for me it would be wonderful to defend this goal achieved together. What we experienced in Piazza Maggiore was unforgettable."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Along with Zirkzee, Mikel Arteta's side are also chasing RB Leipzig attacker Benjamin Sesko and will compete with Manchester United to secure the Slovenia international's signature.

Wrexham star Ollie Palmer has revealed why their League Two promotion feels "different" from their National League triumph.

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• Wrexham earn second straight promotion
• Welsh side preparing for League One
• Palmer contrasts two promotions

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons won the National League title just over a year ago and then backed it up with promotion out of League Two last month. Now, striker Palmer has contrasted this past campaign to the one that preceded it.

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  WHAT OLLIE PALMER SAID

  The 32-year-old told The Leader: “If I am being completely honest, it does feel a little bit different to last season’s promotion. Last season’s promotion, half of it was excitement and the other half was relief. We did it in a record-breaking manner and only one team goes up automatically. This season, what we have achieved is back-to-back promotions; it is tougher competition but three teams get to go up. It is still an incredible achievement, I just feel like they are slightly different feelings but it is an incredible effort and something that I am just as proud of.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Since Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over Wrexham just over three years ago, nearly everything they have touched has turned to gold. Now they are preparing for life in the English third tier, just two divisions away from their long-term goal of the Premier League. However, next season is likely to be their toughest test yet.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After the Wrexham players finish their summer breaks, they will return to pre-season action next month, before heading out to North America for friendly games in July against Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Vancouver Whitecaps.

Future is bright as champions begin their title defence

Alan Gardner at The Oval11-Apr-2019

Surrey 342 for 7 (Jacks 88, Patel 70*, Foakes 69) v Essex
There is little in sport that can compete with the beguiling spectacle of young talent. Surrey are the county champions, and last season were unchallenged as the leading four-day side in the country, but they have also become a prolific finishing school for England prospects. It seemed appropriate, therefore, that the opening day of their title defence should be carried by the brio of two of the youngest men on the pitch.Will Jacks, 20 years and 141 days, set social media aflame last month when he struck a 25-ball hundred – which included hitting six sixes in an over – in a pre-season warm-up game in the UAE, and his first scoring shot on this occasion was also a hearty thump over the ropes. He went to fifty with a crisply driven four off the same bowler, Simon Harmer, and continued to bat with similar elan against the second new ball. Clearly there is no keeping Jacks in the box.He seemed set to dance his way through the evening shadows to a maiden first-class hundred, only for Peter Siddle to finally breach Jacks’ defences, following up a snarling lifter with one that came in to rattle the stumps. Jacks walked off following a sparkling, career-best 88 to generous applause from a good-sized first-day crowd at The Oval, their appetites duly whetted for the season to come.At the other end during their fifth-wicket partnership of 151 – a Surrey record against Essex – was Ryan Patel, the senior man at 21, whose most memorable contribution to last season’s success was a spell of 6 for 5 with the ball in an innings victory over Somerset at Guildford. Patel may not have played here had Scott Borthwick been passed fit, but he was tasked with batting at No. 3 and demonstrated a temperament worthy of the promotion; having taken 36 balls to record his first run, he batted for more than five hours to anchor his side to the close.As Alec Stewart and Michael Di Venuto acknowledged before the start of the season, there is a difference between hunting down the Championship trophy – which Surrey had done for the first time since 2002 – and being the quarry. Just ask Essex, who were title-winners 18 months ago. Most of their chasing on a bright, chilly day was in vain as Patel and Jacks pushed on confidently from a position of 181 for 4.Ed Smith, the national selector, was in attendance at The Oval, though he did not tarry beyond tea – meaning he missed much of the fun. He was able to observe a punchy fifty from Ben Foakes, eager to make his case for a Test recall this summer, and a couple of unconverted starts from England openers past and present, Mark Stoneman and Rory Burns. Depending on how often he blinks, he might have missed Ollie Pope, who drove his second ball for four and edged his third to slip.Foakes received a life on 0 when Dan Lawrence dropped a straightforward catch at second slip, but thereafter elicited several grunts of approval during an innings that included 14 fours, though Smith would doubtless have preferred to see him press home his point with a hundred.Patel was one of the tyros involved when Surrey set a post-war record by fielding four teenagers in the same side at the end of 2017 – Pope, Sam Curran and Amar Virdi were the other three. Curran, who is now away at the IPL, and Pope have since played for England, while there are several more-experienced Surrey hands jockeying for England positions – notably Jason Roy, who is eyeing an Ashes opening but was not fit to play in this match. Smith may need to keep his Oyster card topped up.After a hammering against Hampshire last week, this was another tough outing for Essex – though Siddle’s four-wicket haul (he was also the man to see Foakes put down) kept them competitive. They would clearly have preferred not to start round two with another long day in the field, but lost a contested toss and saw Surrey’s southpaw openers Burns and Stoneman box cleverly during the opening exchanges.Essex were already without wicketkeeper Adam Wheater, with Middlesex loanee Rob White drafted in behind the stumps, and they lost Ravi Bopara before the start, too, due to a stiff back. Perhaps that contributed to a sloppy start with the ball, in marked contrast to when they bowled Surrey out for 67 in the final match of the 2018 season (although that game nearly got away from them at the end of a rip-roaring contest).This time, the openers reached 75 without loss – Burns also benefiting from a Lawrence drop when on 23 – before Essex hit back with three quick wickets before lunch.

Spinner Kirstie Gordon impressed by dismissing all three of Storm’s most potent batsmen, including the top scorer in the competition, Smriti Mandhana

ECB Reporters Network15-Aug-2018

ScorecardLoughborough Lightning established themselves as firm favourites for the 2018 Women’s Kia Super League with a crushing victory over defending champions Western Storm at Edgbaston.Chasing 125 to win, Lightning eased home with seven and a half overs to spare, a humbling margin for Storm, who had beaten Lightning at Taunton in a rain-reduced five-over thrash earlier in the campaign but this time were no match for their impressive opponents.Australian opener Rachael Haynes led the way with her third half-century of the tournament, finishing on 66 not out from 40 deliveries including 10 fours and a six.New Zealand allrounder Sophie Devine weighed in with 38 off 30 balls and picked up two wickets as Lightning displaced Storm at the top of the KSL table with one match remaining, the bonus point giving them a three-point lead into their final fixture, away to Yorkshire Diamonds on Saturday evening.Storm take on Surrey Stars at The Oval. The team that finishes top of the table goes straight into the KSL Final at Hove on Monday week, which is preceded by a semi-final between second and third in the chart.Lightning’s tightly disciplined bowling attack had vindicated skipper Georgia Elwiss’s decision to bowl first by restricting Storm to 124 for 6 in their 20 overs, the defending champions’ lowest score in the tournament.Spinner Kirstie Gordon had been the star of the show, dismissing all three of Storm’s most potent batters, including the top scorer in the competition, Smriti Mandhana, who came into this match with an average of 77.40 and a strike rate but this time fell for 29.An eventful Powerplay saw Mandhana riding her luck from the start on a day when she could never quite muster the destructive powers that had brought her the tournament’s only hundred so far.Unable to play with her usual freedom, the KSL’s most prolific scorer escaped a stumping chance before she had got off the mark in Jenny Gunn’s opening over, although the replay showed Lightning’s appeal to be a little optimistic. That was followed by a genuine let-off in the sixth over when, on 17 and beginning to find her timing, she was put down at extra cover, where a stretching Elwiss had a good hand on the ball but could not hold on.It looked like it might be a costly miss when Mandhana repeated the shot a couple of balls later, hitting seamer Devine over the head of the Lightning captain for her third boundary as Storm reached the end of the Powerplay at 43 for 1. They had lost opener Rachel Priest when the New Zealand batter sliced Devine to short third man, but there was plenty of batting to come.England and Storm captain Heather Knight punished Sarah Glenn’s legspin with a couple of boundaries but then a brilliant over from the left-arm spinner Gordon, one of the break-out players of the tournament, changed the complexion of the innings.Called into the attack in the ninth over with Storm 60 for 1, Gordon claimed the major scalps of Mandhana and Knight with consecutive balls, the former failing as she tried to clear Elyse Villani on the long-off boundary. Gordon then came up with a beauty that turned past the outside edge to clip Knight’s off stump.Thereafter, Storm were never able to regain any consistent momentum as Gordon and fellow left-armer Linsey Smith combined with Elwiss’s medium pace to produce a near-perfect bowling performance on a slow surface, seldom giving away any easy runs.Gordon picked up a third success – her 14th of the tournament – and a third of Storm’s batting trump cards when Stefanie Taylor hit her into the safe hands of Georgia Adams on the long-off boundary, giving her figures of 3 for 19 as the leading spin bowler in the competition.Elwiss got in on the act with a deserved wicket when Villani grabbed a second catch in the deep, before doing well to hold on to a low chance at wide extra cover as Naomi Dattani became Devine’s second victim in the final over of the innings.

Keith Stackpole often set the tone for Australia’s innings in the early 1970s, with his steely presence and bat that spoke volumes

Greg Chappell24-Apr-2025Australian cricket has farewelled one of its most combative and charismatic characters with the passing of Keith Stackpole on Tuesday. A fierce competitor, courageous opening batter, and fiercely loyal team-mate, Stackpole’s influence during a formative period in the game’s evolution was as significant as it was deeply felt by those fortunate enough to share a dressing room with him.Keith’s Test journey began in the middle order, but it was his shift to the top of the order that defined the cricketer – and the man – he would become. It wasn’t just a tactical move; it was transformational. His temperament was perfectly attuned to the demands of facing the new ball. He relished the responsibility, often setting the tone for Australia’s innings with a steely presence and a bat that spoke volumes.What truly set Keith apart was his fierce love of fast bowling. The quicker they came, the more alive he became. His cross-batted strokes – especially the pull and hook – were trademarks, and he never blinked at short-pitched hostility. But it wasn’t just about technique; it was his intent. Defeat stung him personally. He wore responsibility like a badge and took it upon himself to alter the course of matches.Related

Wisden Cricketers of the Year 1973: Keith Stackpole

Former Australia opener Keith Stackpole dies aged 84

There’s a story, often retold, that speaks volumes about the man. It was Jamaica, 1973, just before the West Indies series. Word had spread about a young Jamaican quick, Uton Dowe – touted as the next Wes Hall. When news came through that Dowe would be rested for a warm-up match, most of the touring side breathed easier. Not Keith. He was genuinely furious – pacing the dressing room, lamenting the missed chance. He wanted to face Dowe, to test himself, to measure the mettle of this rising force.When the first Test came round and Dowe took the new ball to the roar of Kingston’s crowd, Keith was ready. The first ball was short; Stackpole sent it racing to the boundary. He went on to smack seven fours in a fiery innings of 44, dismantling the youngster’s confidence – and with it, his career. It was Stackpole in full: courageous, combative, and utterly unwilling to let reputations go unchallenged.As Ian Chappell’s vice-captain, Keith was steadfast. He gave unwavering support, both on and off the field, and the two forged a friendship that lasted decades. He would not abide criticism of his skipper and was a pillar of strength during Australia’s rise in the early 1970s.Of all his performances, his knock at The Oval in 1972 remains etched in memory. With the Ashes on the line and Australia needing 242 to draw the series, Keith launched into the English attack of John Snow, Geoff Arnold, Tony Greig and Derek Underwood. He belted a commanding 79 – bold, belligerent, and calming to those watching on. It helped secure a pivotal win and symbolised so much of what he brought to Australian cricket: nerve, heart, and a flair for the moment.To his beloved wife Pat and the entire Stackpole family: the thoughts and deepest sympathies of the cricketing community are with you. Keith Stackpole’s legacy won’t just live on in statistics or archives – it endures in the hearts of those who played with him, watched him, and knew what it meant to have “Stacky” at the top of the order.Vale, Stacky.

أعلن سامي الطرابلسي، المدير الفني لـ منتخب تونس، عن قائمة نسور قرطاج، المشاركة في بطولة كأس العرب 2025 التي تقام في قطر.

وتقام بطولة كأس العرب في قطر، خلال الفترة من 1 حتى 18 ديسمبر 2025، بمشاركة 16 فريقًا.

ويتواجد منتخب تونس، في المجموعة الأولى من بطولة كأس العرب، بجانب منتخبات قطر والفائز من (سوريا ضد جنوب السودان)، الفائز من (فلسطين ضد ليبيا).

طالع | القنوات الناقلة لمباريات كأس العرب بمشاركة منتخب مصر

وستنطلق بطولة كأس العرب، يوم الإثنين 1 ديسمبر، بمواجهتي تونس والفائز من المباراة التأهيلية سوريا وجنوب السودان، والمباراة الثانية تجمع بين قطر صاحب الأرض مع المتأهل من فلسطين وليبيا.

وشهدت قائمة منتخب تونس، تواجد لاعب النادي الأهلي محمد علي بن رمضان، بجانب علي معلول ظهير أيسر الأهلي السابق والصفاقسي الحالي. قائمة منتخب تونس المشاركة في كأس العرب 2025

حراسة المرمى: أيمن ححمان – بشير بن سعيد – نور الدين فرحاتي.

خط الدفاع: معتز النفاتي – محمد بن على – على معلول – محمد أمين بن حميدة – ياسين مرياح – حمزة الجلاصي – مروان الصحراوي – أسامة الحدادي.

خط الوسط: فرجاني ساسي – حسام تقا – إسماعيل الغربي – محمد الحاج محمود شهاب الجبالي – محمد علي بن رمضان.

خط الهجوم: عمر العيوني – نعيم سليتي – نسيم دنداني – ريان عنان -حازم المستورى – فراس شواط.

Aston Villa are thought to be in talks to sign two Barcelona players this summer, according to a new report.

Aston Villa looking to overturn two-goal deficit against PSG

The Villans and Unai Emery suffered defeat in their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening. After going ahead thanks to a first-half goal from Morgan Rogers, Villa fell to a 3-1 loss and have it all to do at Villa Park on Tuesday night.

Goals from Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes have given the Ligue 1 giants the advantage, however, talking after the game, Emery was in a defiant mood.

“The last goal is a little bit disappointing for us because it was in the last minute but it is not changing much, or our belief.

“It is not changing a lot because at 2-1 we were thinking, in the next match, we have to play to win. With 3-1, it is still the same. We need to win the next match, and not only [score] one goal but [at least] two. We were close to getting a good result.

“At the end with this goal it is still more or less the same because we still need to win next week. Villa Park is our home and hopefully we can be stronger and win more of our duels. They showed their power and individual qualities. The result is not the best but it’s not the worst. There are still 90 minutes to play, a second leg, and maybe extra time.”

Offer made: Aston Villa make approach to sign £12.5m "generational talent"

The Villans have now moved ahead of Manchester City in the race for his signature.

ByDominic Lund Apr 9, 2025

Villa are also competing in the Premier League to finish in one of five Champions League places for next season, so there are plenty of big games coming up.

Away from the pitch, though, Monchi, Villa’s president of football operations, appears to be working on possible summer signings, and a double deal from La Liga leaders Barcelona appears to be of interest to Villa.

Aston Villa in talks to sign two Barcelona players after Emery green light

According to reports from Spain, Aston Villa and Monchi have initiated talks to sign Barcelona duo Marc Casado and Andreas Christensen.

Emery has given the green light to deals for the pair as he is ‘convinced that both players can raise the team’s competitive level and establish the club among the best in the Premier League’.

It is claimed that Christensen could leave if an offer in the region of €20m, whereas Casado appears to be surplus to requirements under Hansi Flick. Christensen has experience of the Premier League after a previous stint with Chelsea and can play as a centre-back or even as a holding midfielder if required.

Meanwhile, Casado can play as a holding or central midfielder and is still only 21 years of age after coming through the famous La Masia academy.

A Spain international, Casado is currently out through injury, but by the looks of things, a double deal for the midfielder and a return to England for Christensen is on the cards.