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Australia’s limited-overs captain has absolutely no fear of bias being shown by new selector Bailey

Alex Malcolm27-Nov-2019Australia’s limited-overs captain Aaron Finch believes that George Bailey’s quality as a person and a cricketing judge will transcend any danger of bias towards his Tasmania or Hobart Hurricanes team-mates as the newly appointed selector alongside Trevor Hohns and Justin Langer.Cricket Australia confirmed on Wednesday that Bailey has been appointed as the third national selector alongside chairman Hohns and coach Langer.Bailey, 37, is currently still playing domestic cricket and will begin his tenure as a full-time selector in early February when he retires from all forms of cricket after the BBL. He will be available to play in Tasmania’s last two Shield games prior to the BBL and the Hurricanes entire BBL season before fully committing to his new role.In the interim, he will serve as a National Teams advisor and work closely CA’s head of National Teams Ben Oliver, Langer, and Hohns. Bailey has already had conversations with Finch as his main brief will be focussing on the T20 team ahead of the 2020 World Cup.Finch said he had no concerns that Bailey would give preferential treatment to his current team-mates from a selection standpoint.”Not at all, no, I haven’t heard anyone even doubt the decision,” Finch said. “I think everyone, all the players I’ve spoken to, are rapt with the decision. To have someone who is obviously still playing but he’s a professional, he’s been around the game for a long time, he might get sledged a bit less though.”No doubt that will not be an issue.”Bailey captained Australia in both the 2012 and 2014 T20 World Cups, leading them to a semi-final in 2012 before being bounced out in the group phase 2014.Finch is delighted to have someone with those experiences on the panel. With the exception of when former captain Michael Clarke formally sat on the panel for a brief period following the Argus review in 2011, no previous Australian selector had played a T20 international. Langer, Darren Lehmann, Andy Bichel and Jamie Cox all had limited T20 playing experience at domestic level. But Langer and Lehmann have both won BBL titles as coaches.”(It’s great to have) someone who has been heavily involved in T20 cricket, in particular, someone who has captained Australia and knows what it takes to be an elite player and someone who hasn’t always done it the easy way,” Finch said.”He’s challenged himself technically a lot of times, George, and I think just the way that he played the game is brilliant and to have that talent identification as well is really important.”Finch did not think Bailey’s appointment would spurn a generation of Australian batsmen who stand with their back turned to the bowler as Bailey has done in recent years.”I don’t think you can teach that to anyone, nor would you,” Finch said.Bailey’s appointment rounds out the selection panel. Hohns and Langer have been picking teams as a two-man panel since the end of the Ashes series, which has its own challenges. Previously, with Greg Chappell as the third member, on the rare occasion a contentious or line-ball decision arose a vote would be held with the majority holding sway. That hasn’t happened in recent times, although Langer is well known for consulting widely among trusted confidants and coaches around Australia before making any key selection decisions in conjunction with Hohns.”I think that what’s important is that everyone gets on the same page,” Finch said. “Having three selectors now, I think it’s a good mix. When there’s two, it’s just up to an opinion isn’t it, and one of them always wins out over the other. So having three, it probably creates a sense where you can challenge opinions a lot more and, I suppose, get a really streamlined process in selection.”Bailey beat out contemporary Michael Klinger for the role. Klinger advanced well into the interview process with CA, before withdrawing after being appointed as the Melbourne Renegades new head coach.Bailey said in a statement that he was delighted to take on the new role.”I am passionate about the long-term success of the Australian cricket team and advancing the cause of Australian cricket in general,” Bailey said. “I have been fortunate enough to contribute as a player for quite a few years, and to now have the opportunity to continue in the role of selector is a tremendous honour.”I’m confident I can add value to the selection process and that my experience will be complementary to that of Trevor and Justin. I am really excited to be joining them in the coming months.”

One of the four allrounders, Bryce Parsons, was named captain

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2019Pace sensation Gerald Coetzee, who had suffered a hamstring strain in a recent MSL match, has recovered and was named in South Africa’s squad for the Under-19 World Cup at home in January next year. Allrounder Bryce Parsons was appointed captain of a 15-man squad that is filled with all-round talent. As many as four allrounders were picked, and wicketkeeper Khanya Cotani, who has played eight first-class matches, was named Parsons’ deputy. Odirile Modimokoane was the lone frontline spinner to a find a place.Squad

Bryce Parsons (capt), Khanya Cotani (vice-capt), Luke Beaufort, Jonathan Bird, Merrick Brett, Achille Cloete, Gerald Coetzee, Tyrese Karelse, Mondli Khumalo, Jack Lees, Andrew Louw, Levert Manje, Odirile Modimokoane, Pheko Moletsane, Tiaan van Vuuren

“Congratulations to all the players who have been selected as well as the management and support staff,” CSA acting chief executive Dr Jacques Faul remarked. “I am sure head coach Lawrence Mahatlane, his fellow selectors and our talent scouts around the country have left no stone unturned in identifying our best players in this age group and that the work done at the various training camps will be well rewarded.”Coetzee is the only member of the squad to have played in the last World Cup in New Zealand, where he impressed with eight wickets in four matches, including a five-for against the hosts. South Africa had finished fifth in the tournament.Coetzee also made a bright start on his MSL debut for Jozi Stars, where he picked up the wickets of Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan. The pacer has taken 17 wickets in four first-class matches so far, at an average of less than 25.Most of the squad assembled has come through the school system, except batsman Tarese Karelse, who is a product of the Regional Performance Centre programme started a few years ago.ALSO READ: Will Gerald Coetzee be South Africa’s next pace sensation?”I feel we have chosen a well-balanced squad that has good leadership potential in its ranks as well,” Under-19 selection convener Victor Mpitsang said. “Having a player who has experienced a previous ICC under-19 World Cup tournament in Gerald Coetzee also brings significant advantages of its own.”The advantage of playing at home also brings extra confidence into our ranks, particularly as the team has a good programme of competitive youth ODIs leading into the tournament.”Parsons was the captain of the team through a torrid period earlier this year when they were walloped 7-0 by Pakistan at home. But he had head coach Lawrence Mahatlane’s full backing, who expressed confidence in Parsons’ growth not only as a leader but also as a person over the winter.”Bryce is a natural leader,” Mahatlane said. “The tone that he has set and the growth we have seen over the last couple of months, it was very natural for us to back him as a leader. He captained the side throughout the winter and we have seen a lot of growth in him, not only tactically, but also as a person. Hopefully, he will keep doing the country proud.”South Africa will take on India in a three-match series later this month before kicking off their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on January 17, also the tournament opener. They are slotted alongside Afghanistan, Canada and United Arab Emirates in Group D.

The European Championship has been a celebration of the continent's footballing prowess since 1960. Alongside the fierce competition and memorable moments on the pitch, the mascots have become a symbol of the tournament's spirit, engaging fans and adding a layer of charm and identity to each edition.

With Euro 2024 now just months away and excitement slowly building, we have decided to rank our favourite European Championship mascots since 1980, when Italy introduced the concept…

We've ordered this list based on the mascots' suitability for each tournament, the amount of creativity involved and their overall legacy as iconic tournament symbols.

Related Euro 2024 tournament guide: Teams, matches, dates, TV channels, odds & more

Football FanCast has put together a guide for all things Euro 2024, with venues, fixtures, tables, stadiums and more all covered here.

Posts ByStephan Georgiou Jun 11, 2024

Year

Mascot

Host(s)

2024

Albärt

Germany

2020

Skillzy

Pan-European

2016

Super Victor

France

2012

Slavek and Slavko

Poland and Ukraine

2008

Trix and Flix

Austria and Switzerland

2004

Kinas

Portugal

2000

Benelucky

Belgium and Netherlands

1996

Goaliath

England

1992

Rabbit

Sweden

1988

Berni

West Germany

1984

Peno

France

1980

Pinnochio

Italy

12 Skillzy Euro 2020

Skillzy, the mascot for Euro 2020, which was held in 2021 due to the pandemic, represents a modern take on football culture, embodying street football and freestyling skills.

However, it looks like very minimal effort was put into the design of the mascot, as it's literally just a human wearing a Euro 2020 outfit with bigger eyes than normal. That's literally it.

11 Super Victor Euro 2016

Super Victor, the superhero-themed mascot for Euro 2016 in France, aimed to inspire young fans with its depiction of dreams and aspirations. However, if anything, it looks like the type of mascot that would scare kids, with its glazed eyes and strange eyebrows.

Similar to Skillzy, it's just a regular person in an average superhero costume.

10 Goaliath Euro 1996

For Euro 1996 in England, the mascot was Goaliath, a lion wearing an England kit, symbolising the host nation's football heritage and the emblematic English lion.

The design was quite neat and simple, which some people certainly enjoyed, but we feel as if mascots need to be a bit more crazy and out there if you want to feature near the top of this list.

9 Kinas Euro 2004

For Euro 2004 in Portugal, Kinas, dressed in the national team's colours and symbols, showcased Portuguese pride. Its name is a nod to the Portuguese word for "cinema".

The mascot appears to resemble a man crossed with a cat, which is fairly strange.

8 Slavek and Slavko Euro 2012

The twin mascots for Euro 2012, held in Poland and Ukraine, Slavek and Slavko, were designed to reflect the colours and national football kits of the host nations. Their natural poses and friendly appearances endeared them to fans, especially children, placing them in the middle of our list.

However, they clearly didn't bring any luck, as both Poland and Ukraine were knocked out in the group stages.

7 Peno Euro 1984

The mascot for Euro 1984 in France was Peno, a rooster, which is a national symbol of France representing pride and courage. Its design was relatively simple but effectively captured the spirit of the tournament and the host country's cultural identity.

It could rank higher, but it perhaps lacks the imagination of the others to place among the more memorable efforts.

6 Rabbit Euro 1992

The unnamed rabbit mascot for Euro 1992 in Sweden, while less iconic than some of its predecessors, still managed to capture the essence of fun and sportsmanship. Its approachable design and appeal to children secure its mid-ranking position.

This would have ranked higher, but the lack of a name automatically makes it less iconic. We have to frown upon the copycat effort from its immediate predecessor, so a bit more invention wouldn't have gone amiss.

5 Trix and Flix Euro 2008

Representing Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, Trix and Flix were designed with a more animated, dynamic look, donning the tournament's official colours.

One of the reasons we've ranked them highly is their appeal to younger audiences and their ability to convey the excitement of football. Everything you want in a mascot, twice.

4 Albärt Euro 2024

Albärt, the football-loving bear, is Germany’s effort for the upcoming European Championships. And we have to say this is pretty good, as mascots go. Animals are simply better, while it’s hard to deny Albärt is super cute, and youngsters will be queueing up to give him a hug before kick-off.

His legacy is of course still unknown, but the look is on point and Euros fever is rising, so he could yet become one of the more memorable mascots in recent tournaments.

3 Pinnochio Euro 1980

As you can see, Pinnochio ended up winning a mascot poll on the Euro 2024 X page, and although we don't believe he's the best, we feel he deserves a spot in the top three.

For the 1980 tournament held in Italy, Pinocchio, the wooden puppet from Italian folklore who dreams of becoming a real boy, was chosen as the mascot. This choice was deeply rooted in Italian culture, making Pinocchio an instant hit and a symbol of the tournament's national pride. His iconic status and cultural resonance earn him a top spot in our rankings.

For some weeks one contest in the final round of Championship matches has leapt from the fixture list: Somerset entertain Essex at Taunton in an anticipated showdown for the First Division title. But it may well be that an alternative West Country game compels equal attention. The meeting of Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire is a potential play-off for promotion from the second tier.Three counties will go up this summer and only one come down as the ECB switch from an eight to a ten-team first division from 2020. The consequence is that more candidates are still in the frame to be elevated. Even with Lancashire guaranteed one slot – four more points will mean they go up as champions – as many as five counties are realistically contesting places two and three.Victory for Sussex at Nevil Road enabled them to climb a place to fifth, now 11 points behind Gloucestershire, who duly slipped from second to third. Northamptonshire moved above them, and are 25 points above Glamorgan, sixth. Things are that tight. The remaining games are:Northamptonshire (161 points): Durham (Northampton) and Gloucestershire (Bristol)
Gloucestershire (156): Worcestershire (Worcester) and Northamptonshire (Bristol)Durham (147): Northamptonshire (Durham) and Glamorgan (Chester-le-Street)Sussex (145): Derbyshire (Derby) and Worcestershire (Hove)Glamorgan (136): Leicestershire (Cardiff) and Durham (Chester-le-Street)For the first time in two months, momentum will become a factor. Between mid-July and the latest set of matches, all bar Gloucestershire and Worcestershire played only a single Championship match. Now, they have just a two-day break before the penultimate round, with a three-day gap then before the last. Form, along with fitness and stamina, are now critical.So, after a run of three losses in mid-season, Sussex are coming good again just in time. Jason Gillespie, the head coach, said: “There are always tough challenges at Bristol, and Gloucestershire are a strong side, but we are scoring runs again and winning. When we had that blip we were poor, especially with the bat. It sounds a simple explanation for what has happened, but it’s true.”Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire have signed overseas players specifically for the last three weeks, Shannon Gabriel and Doug Bracewell respectively. Interestingly, Northants turned to Bracewell, who has played for the club before, only after failing to secure Gabriel’s West Indies new-ball partner, Kemar Roach. Both counties want that something extra to make a difference.It backfired for Gloucester as Gabriel conceded 121 runs from 20 wicketless overs in the Sussex first innings and did not bowl in the second, when his new team-mates rushed through to get their over-rate back on schedule and avoid a points deduction. Gabriel did not take the field with Richard Dawson, the head coach, suggesting that the bowler was “a bit under the weather”.Sport is not short of cases where a star name is drafted into a side to the detriment of team equilibrium. Faustino Asprilla’s ill-fated signing for Newcastle United in 1996 is the prime example. But Dawson offered a sympathetic view. “He steps off a plane, everyone has expectations and obviously he wants to do well,” he said. “It is one of those things. He had pace and he bowled balls that went past the outside edge and troubled the batsmen.”Gillespie confirmed that Sussex will not be in the market for overseas help, and it would be surprising if England allow Jofra Archer to play for them in their final game, against Worcestershire at Hove. Gillespie did reveal, however, that Archer wanted to appear for Sussex in their Blast quarter-final last Friday even though it fell on the third day of the Ashes Test at Old Trafford.”If he is able to play [against Worcester] we will explore that, but I have absolutely no idea at the moment,” Gillespie said. “We will see if he is able and willing. He is always willing. He wanted to play in the Blast quarter. I phoned Trev [Trevor Bayliss, the England coach] to say ‘any chance, mate’ but he just said ‘nope’. We had a little laugh about it.”Gloucestershire themselves may have suffered from playing in the fourth and last of those quarter-finals, only three days before entertaining Sussex. The 20-over loss to Derbyshire on home soil, especially in so emphatic a fashion, must have hit them hard, and Dawson thinks they were simply unable to reproduce their standard level of performance back in red-ball mode.”Up to this point, we have done well by grinding games out and keeping things simple,” he said. “Possibly after the excitement of the T20s we need to remember to keep things simple again. We cannot worry about what is going on in the rest of the country, just concentrate on our own game. It is a tight division because all of the teams can pretty much beat each other.”Of the contenders, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan have been out of Division One for the longest, 14 years. Durham were there as recently as 2017 before being demoted by the ECB and handed a 48-point penalty for 2018. Their success has been based around the pace of Chris Rushworth and Ben Raine, who are both ever-presents and have shared 109 wickets. Promotion would be cheered far outside the county border, though Tom Harrison and Colin Graves would doubtless meet a frosty response from members if they went to Chester-le-Street to congratulate them in person.Glamorgan have not been the same since Marnus Labuschagne was pulled away by Australia. He is still the leading run-scorer in the division. They must be an outside bet, but a single win may prove enough for Northamptonshire as it would simultaneously dent a rival. That is the positive slant on a run-in versus Durham, then that one against Gloucester. At Bristol, they will have the considerable advantage, as visitors, of bowling first. It may make the difference.

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the appointment of Nuri Sahin as the club's new head coach following the exit of Edin Terzic.

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BVB settle on Sahin as managerEx-midfielder was part of Terzic's coaching staffWill guide German side into new eraWHAT HAPPENED?

Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund unveiled Sahin as their new boss following Terzic's shock exit earlier in the week. BVB were runners-up in the Champions League following a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid at Wembley. Terzic admitted he thought a new man should guide the club forward after the agonising loss.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Sahin is a Dortmund legend but the former midfielder has a lot of work to do over the summer. Alongside Terzic, veteran defender Mats Hummels has also left the club following their fifth-placed finish in the Bundesliga. BVB were 27 points off champions Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the campaign.

WHAT SAHIN SAID

Speaking to the club for the first time as the new manager, Sahin said: "It is a great honour for me to be head coach of Borussia Dortmund. I would like to thank everyone in the club’s senior management team for the faith they have shown in me, and I am hugely looking forward to my new role at BVB. From day one we will do everything we can and work with energy and passion to make this club as successful as possible."

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR SAHIN AND BORUSSIA DORTMUND?

Sahin is already well acquainted with the Borussia Dortmund squad but will have to wait a few weeks before re-introducing himself as the new manager. Most players are either away on holiday or with the national teams ahead of a summer that includes Euro 2024 and Copa America. While they are away, the Turkish tactician will get to work on reshaping the squad as BVB look to mount a title challenge in 2024-25.

West Ham United have not enjoyed an auspicious start to 2024 having crashed out of the FA Cup against Championship side Bristol City and drawn against Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield United in the Premier League.

That said, there is plenty for David Moyes' side to be optimistic about heading into the business end of the 2023/24 campaign, with the club having advanced to the knockout stage of the Europa League and currently perching in sixth place in the Premier League, above the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.

Moreover, Kalvin Phillips has recently been welcomed to the fold from Manchester City, joining on a six-month loan deal, to add some depth and mettle to the centre of the park.

That said though, offensive phenoms Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta are both currently nursing injuries and Moyes appears eager to secure an exciting finish to the transfer window.

West Ham eyeing late January swoop

With Phillips now in the bag, it's clear that the Irons' interest lies in landing a new attacking outlet, with Argentine playmaker Pablo Fornals a late target for Spanish side Real Betis.

As such, West Ham could use the funds from Fornal's sale to complete a swoop for teenage winger Ibrahim Osman, with the Guardian reporting that West Ham are considering returning for the Nordsjælland starlet before the end of the month. A bid has already been rejected but the Hammers may well return to the table with another ofer.

The Danish outfit are understood to be holding out for a €20m (£17m) package and the London club will now need to ensure they recuperate funds from player sales before sealing the deal.

Why West Ham want Ibrahim Osman

Osman, aged 19, has posted four goals and five assists across 29 appearances in all competitions this season and has caught the eye with his blistering pace and influence in attacking sequences.

Indeed, as per Sofascore, Osman has scored one goal and provided four assists from 16 games (14 starts) in the Danish Superliga this term and has averaged 1.2 key passes, 3.1 ball recoveries, 5.6 successful duels and 2.6 successful dribbles per game.

Osman does lack a certain incisiveness in his finishing ability but is of a lean, athletic build with pace and an innate weaving quality that could be shaped and harnessed in east London.

The likes of Arsenal and Brighton have reportedly been monitoring Osman and there's possibly a sense of urgency in wrapping up a deal from Moyes, with manager Johannes Thorup candid in admitting that the rising star will be hard to keep a hold of after such promising early endeavours on the major stage.

He said of the 5 foot 9 whiz: “He is a fast winger and striker, and I have huge expectations for him to be skilled. He has the pace which is important for us to have on at least one of our strikers. I don’t want to say that he has to take over for someone, but people can probably figure out that there is a player who is really good for us in the Super League, who might be really hard to keep.”

Given that West Ham star Mohammed Kudus bloomed from the same academy, it might be wise for Moyes to secure the next version of the Ghanaian machine, with the summer signing very much riding the crest of a wave since arriving at the London Stadium.

Ibrahim Osman could be Mohammed Kudus 2.0

The Hammers welcomed Kudus to the club from Ajax in a £38m deal in August to bolster the offensive fold after winning the Europa Conference League last season.

As per FBref, Kudus ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 13% for successful take-ons, the top 3% for tackles and the top 14% for blocks per 90.

Club's "top" captain "could be brought in" after Phillips at West Ham

Technical director Tim Steidten is busy behind the scenes.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 27, 2024

The 23-year-old was featured sporadically across the opening weeks of his Claret and Blue career but has excelled in plundering nine goals from 24 appearances in all competitions, starting just 17 times.

He's even been described as a "generational talent" by African journalist Gary Al-Smith and brings dynamism and deadliness in abundance, and if West Ham can secure the services of a similar player it would only improve the offensive efforts.

Given that Kudus (right wing) and Osman (who prefers the left) operate on alternate flanks, this could be a signing that would birth a fear-inducing partnership for opponents, with Osman absorbing the fruits of his fellow Nordsjælland academy graduate's labours.

While Osman is far less clinical than Kudus – though it would seen he has more of a natural creative flair – the Hammers star does share some exciting similarities, averaging 5.8 ball recoveries, 7.1 successful duels and 2.6 successful dribbles per fixture in the Premier League.

This blistering, breakneck pace is something that West Ham could certainly make good use of down the left flank, especially with Fornals ostensibly departing and Said Benrahma also touted with a move away after starting just five matches in the English top-flight this year, with French clubs lurking.

West Ham might have started the year off slow but there is much to look forward to over the coming months and the addition of a precocious talent in Osman would be the perfect finish to the window.

There was music enlivening the stands in Cardiff, hundreds of Sri Lankan flags aflutter, and raucous cheers for every Sri Lankan boundary. Fans had traveled hours to be at this match, filling out early morning trains from London, and booking out Cardiff hotels for the night.It should have been a happy day out, but it was barely a half-day – Sri Lanka dusted off in emphatic fashion, in the space of 45 overs. There were even some reports of boos and hoots for their team, from the Sri Lankan sections of the crowd. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne – the only batsman to remain at the crease for more than 40 deliveries, made no excuses for his team. If spectators were angry, perhaps they had a right to be.”Everyone came here to see a good match. They came from far away, spending their money. We needed to give them a good match. Losing is one thing, but we need to fight for the sake of the spectators. If you only make 130-odd, that’s not a match,” Karunaratne said after the bruising ten-wicket loss. “Personally, a lot of people had wished as well and urged us to do well in this first match. Everyone was looking forward to this game, and to playing well.”If we had fought and made a good fist of this game and then lost, it wouldn’t have been so hard to swallow.”Sri Lanka are ranked ninth, and are nursing a woeful ODI record over the past two years. Karunaratne knows his team is not expected to challenge for the title. But the Test side he had led in South Africa earlier in the year was perhaps even more unfancied than this ODI side, beset as it had been by injury and inexperience. There, his team had somehow find the means to compete, and seized key moments in each of the Tests to turn the tide in their favour.”There’s a limit to our capabilities, and if you compare us with some other teams, realistically we are a side with limited talent,” Karunaratne said. “But there’s no reason why we can’t win with what we’ve got. We really thank the spectators, and their support is really important to us. We’ve got eight games left now. We want to come back and fight. If we win one game, we’ll build some momentum. The support that we get is vital, because it’s just 15 of us in the squad, and 30 of us traveling together with the team. We need that support around us.”Sri Lanka’s bowlers were unable to dent New Zealand, who sped to the meagre target at a rate of 8.47 an over, but it was at the batsmen’s feet that Karunaratne laid almost all the blame. Especially crucial was the period between the ninth and 16th overs of Sri Lanka’s innings, where they nosedived from 46 for 1 to 60 for 6. Yes, a green pitch and the skilful New Zealand seam bowling were challenges, Karunaratne said, but there was no excuse for a collapse quite that dramatic.”Because there was a bit of grass on the pitch, we were on the back foot,” he said. “The NZ attack is very good, but when Kusal Perera and I were batting, there wasn’t too much seam and swing. But as soon as we went on the back foot, we couldn’t play as well as we know we can.”More than the conditions, the problem is in our mind. There was some quick bowling from them, but it’s only with a few overs that they made it very difficult for us. If we had seen out those tough periods, we could have been in a better place. Even though it’s not the kind of pitch that’s conducive to 300 or 350, if we get it in our heads that we can’t bat well here, we can’t put the kind of score on the board that our bowlers can defend.”

The Argentine is being strongly linked with a move to the Premier League after a stellar debut season at Estadio Do Dragao

A new era is about to begin at Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp's nine-year reign is now officially over, and Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has been chosen to fill the beloved German manager's spot in the Anfield dugout.

Slot won't be facing a rebuilding job on Merseyside, but it has been suggested that key players such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk could follow Klopp through the exits, and it will be necessary for the Dutchman to stamp his mark in the transfer market if Liverpool are to re-emerge as title contenders in 2024-25.

If reports from Argentina are to be believed, Porto's Alan Varela could be the first new addition, with Liverpool said to have already opened "formal talks" to sign the midfielder. According to Portuguese outlet , the Reds are considering triggering Varela's €70 million (£60m/$76m) release clause – a hefty investment that is sure to raise plenty of eyebrows.

Varela is not a superstar yet, but he certainly has the potential to be one, and GOAL is here to provide everything you need to know about Porto's Argentine general…

• Where it all began

  Varela was born just a 40-minute journey away from Boca Juniors' iconic home stadium, La Bombonera, and was raised in Argentina's capital city Buenos Aires. He became obsessed with football at a young age and began his journey towards the professional ranks by linking up with Barcelona Juniors Lujan, the youth academy created by La Liga giants Barcelona to nurture Argentine talent back in 2007.

  Boca soon took notice, drafting an 11-year-old Varela into their academy ranks in 2012 – after a hilarious initiation ceremony that saw him and six other new players forced into getting very unique haircuts – and seven years later he began training with the first team. Varela also signed his first professional contract in 2019, and made his debut for Argentina's Under-20s, but had to bide his time before becoming a fully-fledged starter for Boca.

  Varela finally made his senior bow in a Copa de la Liga Profesional play-off stage clash with Independiente in December 2020, and put in an impressive display to help Boca to a 2-1 victory. His minutes dwindled as the tournament went on, but got his first taste of silverware after Boca beat Banfield on penalties in the final, and they followed up that success by clinching the Copa Argentina.

  In the 2021 campaign, Varela made 27 appearances across all competitions, and although Boca ended up finishing a disappointing fourth in the league table, he was developing at a rapid rate.

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  The big break

  Boca bounced back with a vengeance in 2022 to win their 35th Argentina Primera crown, alongside another Copa de la Liga Profesional triumph, and Varela was one of the most important members of the squad. He provided the rock solid base for Boca's success across his 47 appearances, three of which came during their run to the Copa Libertadores last 16, and also weighed in with one goal and two assists.

  Varela's solitary goal also happened to be the 8,000th in Boca's history, and gave them a vital 1-0 win over Deportivo Cali in their final Copa Libertadores group game. It was a fitting strike for the weight of the moment, too, as he rifled a fierce shot into the net from 25 yards out – albeit with the help of some poor goalkeeping.

  The season would end on a sour note for Varela, however, as he was one of 10 players to receive a red card as Boca suffered a 2-1 defeat to Racing Club in a bad-tempered Trofeo de Campeones final – with the referee forced to cut the contest short in extra-time due to a lack of remaining players. Still, Varela had more than made his mark, and was rewarded with a shirt upgrade from No.33 to No.5 after the departure of Carlos Zambrano.

  By this stage, Varela was attracting attention from top clubs across Europe, and Porto eventually edged out the competition in August 2023, snapping him up for the bargain price of €11 million. “I’m really happy to arrive at a club as big as Porto and I can’t wait to get to know my new team-mates, the club facilities. I’m so happy,” Varela said at his unveiling. “It’s a beautiful stadium. I can’t wait to play here and I’m going to get straight down to hard work to try and earn the trust of the coach."

  Varela would soon learn that winning Sergio Conceicao's trust is no easy feat as he swapped the comfort of life in his homeland for a whole new challenge and environment in Portugal.

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  How it's going

  Varela made his debut for Porto off the bench in a draw against Arouca before starting in a 1-0 victory over Estrela, and Conceicao stuck with him for their Champions League group-stage opener against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Dragons stormed to a 3-1 win over the Ukrainian champions, and Varela played the full 90 minutes, only to face criticism from his manager in the days that followed.

  Speaking on the integration of Varela and fellow new addition Ivan Jaime, Conceicao said: "They have to understand some of the ideas I have. I would say they have a lot to improve." The Porto manager's words had the desired effect, though, as Varela nailed down a spot in his starting XI with a string of stellar performances to help the team fight at the top of the Primeira Liga and qualify for the Champions League knockout stages as runners up in Group H behind Barcelona.

  Varela eventually opened his goal account for Porto in January, showing great composure to capitalise on a defensive error and round two players before tapping into the net, finishing off a 5-0 rout of Moreirense. He produced a brilliant first-time finish from the edge of the box the following week as Porto saw off Farense, leaving Conceicao delighted with his progress.

  "He has a good arrival, a good shot, he defines well – both in the short and long pass. He is also a player with quality and, in that sense, there has been an interesting evolution, especially now that I am asking a little different things of him," the Portuguese coach told a press conference.

  Porto then turned their attention to the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie against Arsenal at the Estadio Dragao, which saw Varela properly introduce himself to fans across Europe. Porto secured a massive 1-0 victory thanks to a late strike from Galeno, but it was Varela that walked away with the Man of the Match award.

  Varela recorded more ball recoveries (five), interceptions (three) and passes in the opposition half (11) than any other player, running himself into the ground while also showing great technical quality on the ball. Porto would go on to exit the competition on penalties after a tense second leg in north London, but they did so with their heads held high, and Varela's stock has only continued to grow.

  Porto slumped to a disappointing third-place finish in the league, but can still salvage silverware in the form of the Taca de Portugal, if they beat new champions Sporting in the final. The question is: will that be Varela's send-off game now that Liverpool and others are hot on his tail?

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  Biggest strengths

  Varela is currently following in the footsteps of some of the biggest South American stars of this generation, including Angel Di Maria, James Rodriguez, Enzo Fernandez and Luiz Diaz, all of whom played in the Portuguese top-flight before moving on to one of Europe's elite clubs. The Porto star doesn't possess quite the same level of flair as those men, but he is already a master at shielding the defence and driving his team forward with his physicality.

  The combative defensive midfielder has a great engine and reads the game brilliantly, while he also possesses an aggressive streak and will to win that makes him a perfect leader. Varela isn't just a brute, though; he also has a superb passing range and keeps a cool head under pressure in tight areas.

  For all of these reasons he has been dubbed 'the next Javier Mascherano' in his homeland, which will be music to the ears of Liverpool fans. Mascherano played for the Reds between 2007 and 2010, establishing himself among Europe's top midfielders before going on to form part of a star-studded Barcelona team alongside Lionel Messi, and Varela has the potential to reach similar heights if he stays on his current trajectory.

Winning the Championship in style last season, Vincent Kompany's Burnley side entered the Premier League in the hope of kicking on even further. As we approach the halfway mark, however, the Clarets sit 19th and five points adrift of safety, having endured a disastrous start to the season. A recent 5-0 thumping of Sheffield United gave them a much-needed boost, before a solid draw against Brighton & Hove Albion, but Komany's side still have a lot of work to do.

Reinforcements could be the key to their improvement, whether that be sticking to their summer transfer tactic of welcoming young players or, instead, perhaps those more experienced this time around. That said, reports suggest that the Clarets are eyeing one particular in-demand player.

Burnley transfer news

Those at Turf Moor opted for players with the potential to turn into Premier League regulars such as James Trafford and Zeki Amdouni rather than those more established in England's top flight and have since faced the short-term consequences of relegation trouble.

Burnley now lining up cut-price move for "outstanding" player in January

The Clarets aren’t the only side keen.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Dec 6, 2023

Burnley have won just twice all season, with one of those victories coming recently, highlighting just how slowly they started the current campaign. In that run, Kompany may have learned a lot about his players, which could see him target one specific reinforcement.

According to The Daily Mail, Burnley are eyeing a move for KAA Gent left-back Archie Brown, who has also attracted the interest of Leeds United, Everton and clubs in both the Bundesliga and Serie A in what could be a tough battle for his signature. If Burnley want to sign the former Derby County left-back, however, they may have to wait until the summer, with Gent reportedly set to keep hold of their player until the end of the season at the very least.

Kompany could finally replace Maatsen with Archie Brown

Since the end of Ian Maatsen's loan spell at the club, Burnley have struggled to replicate the left-back's work within their back four, with Charlie Taylor failing to replace the current Chelsea man. The arrival of Brown would finally solve that problem for Kompany, however. Here's how Brown's stats compare to Taylor and Maatsen:

Player	Progressive Carries Per 90	Progressive Passes Per 90	Take-ons Completed Per 90	Blocks Per 90
Archie Brown	4.85	3.11	2.72	1.36
Charlie Taylor	1	3.77	0.38	1.23
Ian Maatsen (for Burnley)	3.51	6.14	0.68	1.01

Looking at the numbers, the Gent man wouldn't just finally fill the void left by Maatsen, but he'd potentially do an even better job. Brown's versatility would also hand Kompany a major boost, given that he can play left-back, centre-back and left-midfield. So, when the January transfer window swings open, before the summer hands clubs another attempt, the left-footed Brown certainly looks like one to keep an eye on.

Burnley may need improvements and Brown would be exactly that. At 22 years of age, the Englishman also fits in with the club's apparent transfer tactic of signing stars for the future. Every way you look at it, Burnley could pursue the fullback's signature sooner rather than later, making this one to watch.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo contou com o retorno do goleiro Tiago Volpi no treinamento realizado na manhã deste sábado, realizado no CT da Barra Funda.

>São Paulo conversa com argentinos: Listamos 25 técnicos promissores sem clube

Se recuperando de uma lombalgia, ele ficou de fora dos dois últimos treinamentos.Neste período, Volpi realizou trabalhos internos no REFFIS e não foi a campo junto com os companheiros.

SIMULE OS PRÓXIMOS JOGOS DO SÃO PAULO NO BRASILEIRÃO

Sua ausência levantou dúvidas na torcida sobre sua permanência no Tricolor. No entanto, o próprio jogador tratou de desmentir uma possível saída e garantiu estar focado em seu contrato, que termina em 2023.

🆕🧤🔙

Recuperado de uma lombalgia que o tirou dos últimos dois dias de treino, @TiagoVolpi voltou a trabalhar no gramado neste sábado.#VamosSãoPaulo 🇾🇪 pic.twitter.com/ntbp8i4JjQ

— São Paulo FC (@SaoPauloFC) February 6, 2021

Sem jogo neste final de semana, o São Paulo segue se preparando para encarar o Ceará, na próxima quarta-feira (10), às 21h, no Morumbi. O Tricolor é o quarto colocado, com 58 pontos, seis a menos que o líder Internacional.