West Ham transfer chief Tim Steidten is being linked with more strikers by the day, as the German seeks to resolve a key issue.
West Ham want to sign new centre-forward this summer
Reports suggest David Moyes may not be at the helm next season, as West Ham chiefs look to life beyond their current boss.
West Ham chiefs tell Sullivan to sack Moyes with elite replacement possible
Figures have made their feelings known behind-the-scenes.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2024
West Ham have apparently kickstarted their contingency plans to replace Moyes as both the tactician and Hammers amicably agree to part ways in the summer, as explained by journalist Pete O'Rourke this week.
Alongside their search for a possible new manager, Steidten is tasked with bringing in a new striker who can add more firepower in place of the ageing Michail Antonio and Danny Ings.
West Ham are even thought to be in the race for Ivan Toney with the England international looking extremely likely to leave Brentford this summer. Chairman David Sullivan and the Irons recruitment team quite simply need a new centre-forward, after failing to replace Gianluca Scamacca last year.
West Ham's top scorers in all competitions
Goals
Jarrod Bowen
19
Mohammed Kudus
13
Tomas Soucek
9
Lucas Paqueta
8
James Ward-Prowse
6
They've been heavily reliant on input from star winger Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus for the majority of their goals this season, and, arguably, they haven't possessed a clinical centre-forward for over a decade.
It's a position which supporters have been eager for West Ham to strengthen for some time, with Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy also attracting Steidten's attention following a prolific campaign in the Bundesliga.
Stuttgart strikerSerhou Guirassy.
In any case, West Ham have been urged to bring in a new number nine.
“I don't think David has had an out-and-out number nine, with Antonio used wide left and wide, right, while Bowen has cut inside from that wide right position,” said former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley last year.
“They are yet to have an out-and-out centre forward that has come in and taken the mantle, so I think that’s their big priority, but that’s also where you spend the big money. They are stocked up very well in all the other positions, that just seems to be the main one which is lacking.”
Now, according to a report by HITC, a lesser-known name is enticing West Ham following an excellent La Liga campaign.
West Ham set sights on Samu Omorodion
That player is Atletico Madrid starlet Samu Omorodion, who is currently enjoying a terrific stint on loan at Deportivo.
West Ham are one of a few sides now eyeing Omorodion ahead of the summer, with the 19-year-old impressing as one of Deportivo's star players this season.
“You can see him evolving in the games we’ve followed involving Alaves,” said Atletico boss Diego Simeone.
“He’s a young guy, strong, with a lot of speed in long spaces and very good play in the box with his body. Let’s hope he does well at Alaves because he has a future with Atletico. He spent only a few days with us, but he looks humble and hardworking.”
Na tarde desta quarta-feira, o Corinthians encerrou sua preparação para enfrentar o Sport, na Neo Química Arena, nesta quinta, às 19h, pela sexta rodada do Brasileirão-2021. Sylvinho segue com desfalques no setor ofensivo, mas tem a volta de Gustavo Mosquito para a lista de relacionados.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansCorinthians faz último treino antes de encarar Sport pelo BrasileirãoCorinthians23/06/2021CorinthiansCorinthians e Avelar decidem por rescisão e zagueiro deixará o clubeCorinthians23/06/2021CorinthiansOrganizada do Corinthians pede ‘expulsão imediata’ de Danilo Avelar após caso de racismoCorinthians23/06/2021
TABELA > Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui
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GALERIA >Bruno Méndez é mais um! Veja quem já deixou o Corinthians em 2021
Uma novidade da relação é a presença do jovem Felipe Augusto, promovido das categorias de base no início desta temporada. Ele será uma das opções para o ataque, em meio às baixas que a comissão técnica tem tido no setor. Outro garoto na lista é o meio-campista Mandaca, que já jogou o Paulistão.
O meia Luan segue em tratamento de uma tendinite no músculo adutor da coxa direita. Além dele, Léo Nate continua o tratamento de uma luxação no ombro esquerdo. Gustavo Mantuan e Ruan Oliveira estão em transição com a equipe de preparação física. Já Otero está com a seleção da Venezuela.
Gustavo Mosquito, que foi liberado do jogo do último domingo por conta da morte do pai, está de volta e à disposição da comissão técnica. Assim como Gabriel Pereira, que vinha se recuperando de lesão e retorna para a lista.
Um provável Corinthians é: Cássio; Fagner, João Victor, Gil e Fábio Santos; Cantillo, Gabriel e Roni (Vitinho); Gustavo Mosquito, Mateus Vital e Jô (Ramiro).
Confira a lista de relacionados de Corinthians:
Goleiros: Cássio e Matheus Donelli Laterais: Fábio Santos, Fagner e Lucas Piton Zagueiros: Gil, Jemerson, João Victor e Raul Gustavo Meio-campistas: Adson, Araos, Cantillo, Gabriel, Gabriel Pereira, Mandaca, Mateus Vital, Ramiro, Roni, Vitinho e Xavier Atacantes: Cauê, Felipe, Gustavo Silva e Jô
O Conselho Deliberativo do São Paulo aprovou, na última terça-feira (22), um empréstimo deR$ 79 milhões com os bancosBanco Rendimento S/A e Banco Daycoval S/A. A informação foi divulgada incialmente pelo ‘GE’ e confirmada no LANCE!.
>> Baixe o novo app de resultados do LANCE!
Os valores serão utilizados para quitar dívidas de curto prazo. Esse empréstimo é o segundo desde o início da gestão de Julio Casares. No começo do ano, o São Paulo pegou R$ 70 milhões emprestados para pagar dívidas do clube, como a compra de Tchê Tchê do Dínamo de Kiev (UCR).
>> Confira a tabela do Brasileirão e simule os próximos jogos
RelacionadasSão PauloE agora, Crespo? São Paulo tem desfalques em todos os setores para o jogo contra o CuiabáSão Paulo22/06/2021São PauloÉ hoje? São Paulo encara o Cuiabá buscando primeira vitória no BrasileirãoSão Paulo22/06/2021Futebol NacionalEquilíbrio marca confrontos entre São Paulo e Vasco pela Copa do BrasilFutebol Nacional22/06/2021
O Tricolor vem tentado pagar dívidas atrasadas. O clube também acertou a situação deum débito com o Orlando City (EUA) pela contratação de Kaká, operação realizada ainda em 2014. Se somados os valores dos dois empréstimos, a gestão de Casares já pegou R$ 150 milhões.
Mesmo com alguns débitos quitados, a dívida total do São Paulo gira em torno de R$ 600 milhões. A diretoria busca algumas fontes de renda, como a reformulação do sócio-torcedor e também pode vender alguns jogadores na janela internacional de transferências, no meio do ano.
MCC president returns to scene of 2009 atrocity with mission to help bring international cricket back to Pakistan
Andrew Miller13-Feb-2020
Kumar Sangakkara speaks in Lahore at the start of MCC’s tour•AFP
Pakistan’s emergence from international purgatory is slowly but surely coming to fruition. In recent years the growth of the PSL, and the willingness of its overseas stars to put themselves forward for the knock-out stages in Karachi and Lahore, has helped to accelerate a process that culminated, late last year, in Sri Lanka’s arrival for the first Tests on Pakistan soil in more than a decade.Bangladesh too have decided the time is nigh to get the show back on the road, with the second Test of their two-part tour due to take place in Karachi in April, after last week’s innings win at Rawalpindi was lit up by a hat-trick for Pakistan’s latest teenage sensation Naseem Shah.But for sheer symbolism, few matches will resonate more than the one taking place under the Gadaffi Stadium floodlights on Friday, when Kumar Sangakkara leads his MCC side in a T20 contest against Lahore Qalanders. In doing so, he will return to the scene of the most shocking atrocity to be visited on an international sporting team since the Munich Olympics in 1972.The events of March 3, 2009 are all too well known to cricket’s tight-knit global community. As the Sri Lanka team bus approached the stadium for what should have been the third morning of the second Test against Pakistan, they were ambushed by 12 gunmen on the Liberty Roundabout, sprayed with bullets and subjected to rocket and grenade assaults, in an attack that left six policemen and two civilians dead, as well as the driver of the minibus carrying the match officials.Heroically, the Sri Lankans’ bus driver, Mehar Mohammad Khalil, kept their vehicle moving towards the stadium compound despite having his tyres shot from beneath him, but amid the chaos, seven of the team suffered shrapnel and gunshot wounds – most seriously, Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera, who only the previous day had completed his second double century in a fortnight.Sangakkara himself had a shockingly near miss. As he related in his MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture in 2011, in the very moment that he turned his head to attend to Samaraweera, he felt the wind of a bullet fizz past his ear and strike his seat. The last time he and his team-mates departed the Gadaffi Stadium, it was as evacuees in a military helicopter. His return, more than a decade later, provides closure on the one hand, and hope on the other.Meher Muhammad Khalil drove the Sri Lanka team to safety during the 2009 terror attack•AFP
“I don’t think I need any flashbacks, because I remember that day and those moments so very clearly,” Sangakkara told ESPNcricinfo, on the day of the team’s arrival in Pakistan. “It’s not something I relive or wallow in. But it’s an experience you should never forget, because it gives you perspective in terms of life and sport, and you learn a lot about your own values and characters, and those of others.”I have no reservations about talking about it, it’s not something that upsets me, but these sorts of experiences can only strengthen you. Today I consider yourself very fortunate to be able to come back here to Lahore, and at the same time remember the sacrifice of all those who lost their lives that day.”The emotions among the Sri Lankans ran understandably wild in the immediate aftermath of the attack, though as Sangakkara recalled, their innate resilience shone through first and foremost, along with a certain grim humour too. Within minutes, Ajantha Mendis, himself injured in the attack, was reaching for his poker chips and setting up a card school, while Sangakkara’s own thoughts somehow kept coming back to Paranavitana’s terrible first taste of international cricket – a golden duck on debut, and now hospitalised with a bullet in his chest.”I think everyone deals with it in their own personal way,” Sangakkara said. “But at the same time, what really unites us is that you face adversity and you face challenge, and you have to get past it, and you’ve got to do that successfully. It’s about moving forwards and upwards and being part of cricket. Being Sri Lankan you learn those lessons quite well, because throughout our civil war, cricket was a unique vibe.”We speak about the attack at various times,” he added. “We even have a laugh about it, in terms of what we went through, because it helps sometimes to look at it with a bit of humour, even though there was a tragic loss of life, and other serious injuries within that incident.”And I think for us also, it’s brought home the fact that being a cricketer on the international stage, you are not immune to real-life situations and the experiences of other people that you might not otherwise connect with. It’s really a strengthening experience for us, a humbling one as well, and it puts a lot of things in perspective.”Sri Lankan players prepare to board a Pakistani military helicopter•Getty Images
That said, Sangakkara had no reason to think he’d ever come back to Lahore after the attack, certainly once it became clear that international cricket would not be returning to Pakistan before his retirement in 2015. But as MCC president – an office that speaks, in his words, of “stewardship and legacy” – he felt a compunction to lead a side back to the country to help to spread the word that one of the game’s “powerhouses” is open for business once again.”There is history and tradition galore at MCC but to actually use that to benefit the game, not just in the UK and within the club framework, but beyond that, internationally, will edify the philosophy of MCC,” Sangakkara said. “We feel we have a role, not just as the guardians of the spirit and laws, but of the game itself. We leave a legacy of trust and support in all the countries that we tour.”The 12-man squad, which will be coached by Ajmal Shahzad and also features the likes of Ravi Bopara, Ross Whiteley and Roelof van der Merwe, is due to play four fixtures in the space of six days – three of them in the leafy environs of Aitcheson College, the so-called “Eton of Pakistan”, which counts Imran Khan among its most illustrious old boys.Most of the trip, in fact, will be a far cry from the hustle and hype of a full international tour, and Sangakkara was at pains to point out that MCC’s presence was not about pointing fingers at any Test nations that might still be having doubts about committing fully to a return to Pakistan – least of all the next scheduled visitors South Africa, who are due to tour the country next month, pending security clearance.”Our message is very simple,” said Sangakkara. “We are here because we are confident that we will have a great tour. There’s been a huge effort by Wasim Khan [managing director] at the PCB, and the government, to get us here, and once we are able to show that this tour has gone off successfully, that message will resonate beyond Pakistan, and go a long way towards strengthening the purpose of other sides who are making the decision to come back.”These things take time. You have to build confidence by sending the right message, then you need the right protocols and the right arrangements in place. But it’s great to see it all gathering momentum. More and more teams are talking about it, and more teams are coming back.”As for Sangakkara’s own return, his first 24 hours back in Pakistan have turned out to be improbably relaxing.”I did spend some time thinking what it would feel like, coming back to Lahore, going to the ground and staying at the Pearl Continental Hotel,” he said. “But the reception at the airport was brilliant, everyone was so passionate about us coming here. It really made us relax, getting into the bus. It feels lovely to be back, and I’m glad I made the decision to come back to Lahore and be part of this tour.”It’s about reigniting the passion and the spark of inspiration for young Pakistani boys and girls, who want to be able to watch their heroes, playing at home in front of them in the flesh. The best in the world, competing and winning and doing great things.”There’s no greater legacy can be left behind than that, and for MCC to be part of that effort to bring international cricket back to Pakistan, I think we can all be quite proud.”
West Ham United succumbed to their second defeat of the week on Sunday as they were beaten 2-0 by Fulham at the London Stadium in the Premier League.
A brace from former Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira secured all three points for the away side, as David Moyes' team failed to provide an attacking threat throughout the match.
Fulham racked up an xG (Expected Goals) total of 3.29 from 18 shots at goal, whereas the Hammers only managed an xG of 0.93 from 15 shots.
David Moyes
West Ham have scored 52 goals in the Premier League so far this season, the second-lowest tally within the top half, and are now reportedly eyeing up a striker to bolster their goalscoring options.
West Ham's interest in irresistible centre-forward
According to The Sun, the Hammers are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Panathinaikos centre-forward Fotis Ioannidis in the upcoming summer transfer window. They are lining up a possible swoop to bring the Greek international to England but will face competition for his signature, as Fulham are also looking at him.
The report claims that the Super League side are looking for a fee in the region of £15m to let him leave. They are prepared to cash in on their star man for the right fee, as his dream is to play in the Premier League.
FotisIoannidis
It states that the 24-year-old marksman has been in unstoppable form for Panathinaikos this season, and that West Ham and Fulham are both keen to sign him as they want to add more firepower to their respective squads ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Why West Ham should sign Fotis Ioannidis
The Hammers should push to sign the Greek international this summer as his goalscoring record this term suggests that he could be a fantastic addition to Moyes' side. Ioannidis, who has been described as "dangerous" by analyst Ben Mattinson, has racked up an impressive tally of 21 goals and eight assists in 40 appearances in all competitions.
He produced an eye-catching five goals in six Europa League outings, as his team were knocked out during the group stage, and this suggests that the talented ace has the quality to compete on the European stage.
23/24 season
Fotis Ioannidis (Super League)
Michail Antonio (Premier League)
Appearances
24
21
Goals
13
4
Sofascore rating
7.51
6.77
Assists
6
2
Big chances created
8
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Ioannidis has more than tripled current West Ham number nine Michail Antonio's output at league level this season, along with having four more assists. Antonio, who has failed to score in five Europa League appearances this term, has not provided a reliable source of goals in the final third for the Hammers, with four goals in 26 matches in all competitions.
West Ham could steal international forward from under Diego Simeone's nose
The Irons are have their sights on a personal target of his.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 13, 2024
There is no guarantee that Ioannidis' form will translate over to the Premier League but their respective statistics suggest that the potential is there for Moyes to land a huge upgrade on his current first-choice striker by landing a deal for the £15m-rated finisher this summer.
With the transfer window fast-approaching amid the end of a dramatic Scottish Premiership season, Rangers have reportedly been handed a boost in pusuit of one of Philippe Clement's summer targets.
Rangers transfer news
As things stand, Rangers are set to miss out on the Scottish Premiership title, with Celtic in the clear and on course to keep hold of their crown, but that failure should spark them into transfer action. Clement's first summer in charge is set to result in a number of changes too, with several contracts coming to an end at the end of the season.
Among those set to leave is Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic and in the most frustrating of all for those at Ibrox, John Lundstram. The Scottish giants had attempted to keep hold of their midfielder, but it now seems as though he is destined to depart as a free agent this summer. What Lundsrtram's exit will do, however, is free up room for further reinforcements, which could see players arrive in permanent deals.
Rangers midfielder John Lundstram.
Reports have already eyed Fabio Silva for a permanent switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, and it now looks as though Abdallah Sima could follow suit. Reportedly in pole position to sign the winger, the Gers have now been handed a further boost.
Rangers can save millions on Tavernier successor with "highly-rated" star
Rangers could place their trust in a young talent rather than spend millions on a replacement for Tavernier
ByRoss Kilvington Apr 27, 2024
According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Brighton & Hove Albion are now willing to sell Sima for just £6m this summer in a cut-price deal that should hand Rangers a major advantage. There were previously concerns over their ability to afford the Brighton man then valued at £10m-£15m, but that new price should leave them without any issues in negotiations, especially given Sima's £8.5k per-week salary.
A key part to Clement's side, signing Sima permanently should be high up on the list of Rangers' priorities this summer, especially if they want to dethrone Celtic.
"Terrific" Sima can be the difference-maker for Clement
Sima's injury may have interrupted his loan spell at Ibrox this season – missing nine consecutive Scottish Premiership games previously and again this weekend at St Mirren – but that hasn't taken away from the impact that he's made. The fact that he returned with a goal against Celtic in a dramatic 3-3 draw sums up the success that his loan spell has been. Now, he could get the chance to have a permanent impact at Ibrox in a move that would go a long way in dethroning Rangers' Old Firm rivals.
Former Brighton coach Billy Reid tipped Sima for great things in Scotland and he has delivered ever since. Reid previously said via The Scottish Sun: "He’s a player who needs to be at his top physical level to show what he’s capable of.
"He trained well and worked really hard in every session because he wants to do well. As a lad, he’s terrific. He was one of those boys who always came in with a smile on his face. He’s an infectious character and even when his English wasn’t great, he was always a big part of the dressing room. Now he’s comfortable speaking the language, I’m sure he is popular around Ibrox.”
O Vasco anunciou, nesta quinta-feira, que farácampanha para que sócios e torcedores escolham o novo nome do CT do clube. Atualmente, o local é chamado “do Almirante” e foi construído com a ajuda da torcida. Com isso, o projeto será dividido em três etapas e intitulado de:”NOSSO CT: Você construiu, você vai escolher o nome”.
> Confira e simule a tabela da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro
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O resultado final será divulgado no dia 2 de agosto e não serão permitidas homenagens a pessoas vivas ou personalidades políticas, de acordo com a vedação estatutária. Na primeira etapa, que será realizada de 01 a 07 de julho, participarãoos torcedores que fizeram doações para a construção do CT. Eles irão sugerir nomes a uma comissão, que selecionará os dez.
>Veja momentos em que o clube defendeu as causas sociais
Na fase seguinte, do dia 10 a 16 de julho, os sócios poderão participar e terão direito a um voto cada. Dos dez, os dois nomes mais votados seguirão para a terceira e última etapa do processo.
> Vasco demonstra descontrole emocional e tem quatro derrotas na Série B
Por fim, a fase decisiva será constituída porvotação aberta a todos os torcedores do Vasco com duas opções de escolha. Não haverárestrição de quantidade de votos e a opção mais votada pela torcida renomeará o Centro de Treinamento do Vasco da Gama.Para participar do processo de escolha basta clicar aqui.
When cricket’s attempts to fight back against its oldest foe come a spectacular cropper
Andrew Miller05-Mar-2020
By the Duckworth-Lewis calculation, South Africa would have been looking at a target of five runs from one ball•Getty Images
The miserable circumstances of England’s elimination from the Women’s T20 World Cup – knocked out of their semi-final at Sydney without a ball being bowled, on the same day that Australia scraped through in a later match at the same venue – bring to mind other high-profile occasions when cricket’s attempts to fight back against its oldest foe have come a spectacular cropper:Richie Benaud is rightly praised for many things in his illustrious career. He was a formidable legspinning allrounder in a 63-Test career, and an innovative, attack-minded Ashes-winning captain. He was the voice of cricket for three decades, and its moral arbiter too. But if there was one blot on his copybook, it was his endorsement of the 1992 World Cup rain rules. They were an utter turkey.Their logic was sound in principle. Rightly recognising, as the Duckworth-Lewis method later would, that it’s easier to pace your innings when you have a target in your sights than when you are batting blind, Benaud backed the notion of discounting the least-productive overs of the side batting first when setting a rain-adjusted target.This ploy, however, didn’t work so well when the chase was all but over, and on the biggest stage yet, at Sydney … in March … in a World Cup semi-final … (sound familiar yet?), the system malfunctioned grotesquely thanks principally to a 12-minute shower, but also to Meyrick Pringle’s supremely economical and self-immolating spell of 9-2-36-2.When South Africa left the field, they needed a tantalising 22 from 13 balls, with Dave Richardson and Brian McMillan poised for glory. When they returned, they needed 21 from 1 (initially misreported as 22 from 1 on the big screen). McMillan duly patted a lobdown from Chris Lewis for a single and stalked off with a face like thunder, while England sheepishly counted their blessings.In some respects, South Africa had only themselves to blame, given that their fielding stint had over-run so terribly (with rain always in the air) that England’s own innings had been truncated at the 45-over mark. But there was schadenfreude to be had in the final at the MCG three days later, when England were outgunned by the champions Pakistan – who owed their qualification to the washout point they had scrounged after being bowled out for 74 in their group-stage encounter.What’s often forgotten in that farrago was that England, 24 for 1 after eight overs when the rain came, had not even been guaranteed winners that day … their adjusted target had been an awkward 64 from 16 overs, after the combined analyses of Derek Pringle (8.2-5-8-3), Ian Botham (10-4-12-2) and Dermot Reeve (5-3-2-1) had all but bowled Pakistan back into contention. Marvellous.Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka and Saurav Ganguly of India share the trophy•Clive Mason/Getty Images
First, the good news. For the 2002 Champions Trophy – the second iteration of their newly minted fundraising knock-out competition – the ICC had all their contingencies in place. They’d arranged a reserve day for the final, and they had a widely respected (if utterly baffling) new rain rule in operation, with the Duckworth-Lewis method having been unveiled in 1997 and officially adopted by the board two years later. They even had a dream final in prospect – the hosts, Sri Lanka, against the regional giants, India – Murali v Tendulkar, Jayasuriya v Kumble. So far, so good.Unfortunately, two fatal flaws intervened to derail the narrative. Firstly, the organisers in their eternal wisdom, decided to schedule their global jamboree in late September, slap-bang in the middle of the Sri Lankan monsoon. Secondly, they decided to make their final a day-night affair, thereby guaranteeing that the evening rain (by which you can set your watch, as England know all too well from their last visit in October 2018) was sure to start gathering towards the end of the mid-innings break.And then, to cap it all off, the ICC decided that, no, they wouldn’t attempt either a shortened game, or a day game, or a single game spread over two consecutive afternoons. Nope, the solution they settled on was for two entirely different matches, with two nigh-on-identical upshots.Sri Lanka won the first toss, and posted a respectable 244 for 5 before India reached 14 for 0 after two overs when the rains arrived. Twenty-four hours later, Sri Lanka won the second toss too, reached 222 for 7; India responded with 38 for 1 in eight. The Champions Trophy duly finished with no outright champion, but with one side having batted for 100 overs, and the other for 10. You couldn’t make it up.A frustrated Pollock, South Africa v Sri Lanka, World Cup, 2002/03•Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
So, those aforementioned Duckworth-Lewis tables, eh? A bit confusing, but somehow, like a stern “because I said so!” from a mildly irate parent, the presumed logic of D/L’s inner workings seemed to brook any real argument. And surely, for South Africa, proud hosts of the World Cup for the first time, and still not entirely over the misery of 1992 (let alone 1999…) it had to be an improvement on the rank injustice of the system that preceded it?Wrong! Because as any number-cruncher will tell you, there’s no solving stupid. User error is the bane of statisticians worldwide, and with South Africa’s campaign on the line, a crumpled “D/L par sheet” (eh? Whazzat?), uneasily interpreted by the coach Eric Simons and relayed to the crease by the 12th man, Nicky Boje, wasn’t quite the clarity that their embattled batsmen needed.Tension was rife under brooding skies in Durban. South Africa’s initial target of 268 was daunting enough in such conditions, but at 149 for 5 in the 30th over, the pressure was becoming intolerable. Mark Boucher and the captain, Shaun Pollock, dug in for a 63-run stand that spanned 80 deliveries – with Pollock’s 25 from 37 played out to a chorus of “hopes of the nation” chirps from Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps. But when he was run out with 57 still needed from 45, the permutations began to engulf the hosts.Not only did Pollock’s departure cause the D/L par score to leap – one fewer wicket in hand meant an extra handful of runs required to get on top of the rate – it also required a near ball-by-ball update of the requirement as Boucher battled to keep South Africa on course. Boje was eventually entrusted with the precious sheet itself, and was ready to deliver to the middle at the end of the 45th over, but it was too late to correct a fatal misinterpretation of the target.With 46 runs needed from 32 balls, and rain so imminent he could smell it, Boucher crashed Muttiah Muralitharan for a six over long on to drag South Africa to what he believed was a winning total of 229. Kingsmead was ecstatic as he pumped his fists and doggedly blotted out the final ball of the over, preserving his wicket first and foremost before sprinting for the pavilion as the covers were hustled on …”Boucher was given the message of 229,” said Pollock afterwards, as the significance of the ‘par’ in ‘par score of 229’ slowly dawned on him. “So he was pretty happy when he got that. You can look at all the ifs and buts but in the end it doesn’t help much.”And so the manner in which the dream died proved to be iconically galling – an amalgam of South Africa’s worst World Cup nightmares: Elimination via rain-affected tie, as if their ghosts of their two semi-final exits had fallen in love and bred a vengeful, homewrecking poltergeist.Dimly fades the Cup: the two captains and the umpires discuss the light rules at the dingy end of the final•Getty Images
User error, mark two. For all that it’s fun to point and laugh at players who make a meal of the rain rules, it’s really not their primary job. For the umpires to cause such a cock-up, however, and on the biggest stage of all, is another thing entirely.The shemozzle that shamed the 2007 World Cup final was a fitting epitaph for a tournament that over-reached itself through sheer greed. The bloated corporatisation of what ought to have been a joyous carnival of cricket created instead an embittered local cricket scene, priced out of their own tournament, and turfed out of their favoured old haunts, such as the Antigua Recreation Ground and Bourda in Guyana, in favour of soul-less out-of-town carbuncles that to this day have never come close to replicating the homespun vibe of Chicky’s Disco and the Mound.And so, when the weather gods decided to teach the organisers a lesson by raining for four hours on their final parade, the ICC’s reaction was to over-reach itself for the benefit of the global TV audience.At least, with a reserve day in place, they learnt some lessons from 2002 by beginning the match with a reduction in overs. Unfortunately, they over-estimated the teams’ abilities to cram a 38-overs-a-side match into Barbados’s six remaining hours of daylight.At least in attempting to do so, there was time for one undeniable treat – a stunning 149 from 104 balls from Adam Gilchrist, an innings of exemplary poise and power that rightly dominates the highlights to this day and will forever distract from the nonsense that followed it. On his watch, the game was up, notwithstanding a gutsy pair of fifties from Jayasuriya and Sangakkara, and Sri Lanka were ready and waiting to shake hands when daylight duly ran out with five overs of the game left unbowled.The umpires, however, weren’t so easily swayed. Rudi Koertzen, who wasn’t even the standing umpire, began loudly insisting that the show had to go out, despite Ricky Ponting’s protestations that they’d bowled 20 overs to constitute a match and “Look mate, we’ve finished the game.”But no. “When light is used in the calculations of a day’s play, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is the end of a day’s play,” explained Jeff Crowe, the match referee, who must wonder what the sun gets up to all night, the lazy glowing orb. Instead, the players went through the motions for 18 more deliveries before finally the plug was pulled in light so bad that no-one in the stadium could see the final ball, let alone a glitzy and utterly futile closing ceremony.
تقام اليوم الثلاثاء مباريات الجولة السادسة من تصفيات آسيا لكأس العالم 2026 وذلك بمواجهة البحرين وأستراليا.
المباراة المقرر إقامتها على ملعب استاد البحرين الوطني، ضمن مواجهات الدور الثالث (المجموعات) بالتصفيات المؤهلة للمونديال المقبل.
ويتواجد منتخبا البحرين وأستراليا في المجموعة الثالثة التي تضم إلى جوارهما منتخبات اليابان والسعودية والصين وإندونيسيا.
ضربة لـ الأهلي.. إصابة وسام أبو علي رفقة منتخب فلسطين
ويحتل منتخب البحرين المركز الخامس وقبل الأخير في ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 5 نقاط حصدهم من فوز وحيد وتعادلين فيما نال خسارتين.
أما منتخب أستراليا فيحل وصيفًا في المجموعة برصيد 6 نقاط حصدهم من فوز و3 تعادلات فيما نال خسارة واحدة.
وتلعب منافسات الدور الثالث من تصفيات قارة آسيا بمشاركة 18 فريقًا، تم تقسيمهم إلى ثلاث مجموعات، بواقع 6 فرق في كل مجموعة.
ويتأهل صاحبا الصدارة والوصافة من كل مجموعة إلى نهائيات كأس العالم مباشرة، فيما يصعد أصحاب المركزين الثالث والرابع للمرحلة الرابعة من المنافسات.
ويتم تقسيم الفرق المتأهلة للمرحلة الرابعة إلى مجموعتين، يصعد منهما المتصدر فقط إلى مونديال 2026، فيما تقام مباراة أخيرة بين وصيف مجموعتي الدور الرابع، يتأهل الفائز منها إلى الملحق العالمي، ليكتمل نصاب قارة آسيا في المونديال. موعد مباراة البحرين وأستراليا في تصفيات كأس العالم
وتنطلق مباراة البحرين وأستراليا الساعة الثامنة والربع مساءً بتوقيت مصر والتاسعة والربع بتوقيت السعودية والبحرين. القناة الناقلة لمباراة البحرين وأستراليا اليوم
ومن المنتظر أن تذاع مباراة البحرين وأستراليا عبر فضائية بي إن سبورتس 4. معلق مباراة البحرين وأستراليا اليوم
وأسندت شبكة قنوات بي إن سبورتس مهمة نقل أحداث وفعاليات المباراة للمعلق أحمد البلوشي.
ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا.