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Hossan, Beg make half-centuries for visitors as Minto impresses again with three wickets

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay07-Sep-2025England U19 273 for 6 (Mohammed 104, Basir 3-35) beat Bangladesh U19 272 for 9 (Hossan 57, Beg 51, Minto 3-48) by four wicketsA superb Isaac Mohammed century guided England Men U19s to a four-wicket win against Bangladesh Men U19s in the second Youth one-day international at Loughborough.The Worcestershire batter, who was dropped on six, was the backbone of a potentially tricky run chase after half-centuries from Rifat Beg and Rizan Hossan helped Bangladesh post 272 for nine.James Minto claimed three for 48 from his 10 overs – to follow his five-wicket haul in the opening-match defeat – although the highlight of the innings was arguably Joe Moores’ stunning catch to remove KS Aleen off Manny Lumsden.Moores dived full length to his right at a floating slip to haul in a remarkable one-handed catch and then struck 47 alongside Mohammed at the top of the order to put the hosts on track in their pursuit.Mohammed went on to reach 104 from 95 balls, which included nine sixes, before Jack Nelson, who made his debut in the opening game on Friday, saw the Young Lions over the line with an unbeaten 35 from 38 balls.The five-match series is level 1-1 heading into the next match at Bristol on Tuesday.Despite the early loss of Zawad Abrar, caught at mid-off from Matthew Firbank’s bowling, Bangladesh edged the initial stages, reaching 67 for one after 10 overs.The drinks interval proved pivotal, as three wickets fell in three consecutive overs, after the break. The pace of Hampshire’s Manny Lumsden rushed Beg into a mistake, ending a promising knock of 51 from 52 balls. The soft dismissal of Azizul Hakim Tamim followed, as he offered a simple chance to square leg and Lumsden claimed his second wicket courtesy of Moores excellent catch.At 126 for four inside 20 overs, Bangladesh were precariously placed but Hossan, a centurion in Friday’s game and wicketkeeper Mohammed Abdullah rebuilt with a partnership of 69. It was ended when Abdullah mistimed a pull shot off Minto.Hossan, displaying power and subtlety, got to his fifty soon after, off 54 balls. His crucial wicket was taken the ball after he deposited a huge six onto the roof of an adjacent building, Jack Nelson being rewarded for perseverance.At 218 for six Bangladesh’s innings never really regained impetus, as Nelson’s leg-spin claimed another wicket in his next over, with Samiun Basir Ratul’s top edge being caught by Bryon Hatton-Lowe.Two further cheap wickets followed as the England bowlers continued to apply themselves, although late innings hitting from Al Fahad elevated the final total to 272-9 off 47 overs – three overs being reduced due to rain.In response, the England openers raced to f50 off 6.5 overs, to get ahead of the asking rate. Mohammed’s graceful straight hits and Moores’s scooped six, were highlights of a partnership worth 68. Moores was out gloving the ball behind, from Shahrir Al-Amin’s first delivery.The next wicket came somewhat against the run of play, Ben Mayes bowled by Ratul when the second-wicket partnership looked well set, leaving the score on 120 for two. Mohammed’s second successive fifty came shortly afterwards off 69 balls, and in a run soaked 26th over he struck three sixes off Hossan’s medium pace.At the other end, a sharp stumping sent Will Bennison back for 12, before skipper Thomas Rew departed for 14 to a catch in the deep, which just kept Bangladesh in the game with 59 runs needed off 14 overs.Mohammed was dismissed, holing out off Fahad, two balls after completing a composed century. The sixth-wicket pair of Nelson and Ralphie Albert took England to the brink of victory, which eventually came with 3.5 overs remaining.Moores said: “It was a really good win, I though last game we were pretty close for a lot of the time, we had a lot of good moments, we spoke about trying to build that for longer.”Obviously Isaac batted really well, he set the tone really nicely, the lads who came in after him followed it up really nicely as well. Everyone chipped in, it’s definitely good to get the win and go one-all.”Speaking about his scoop for six, Moores added: “It’s just going to your strengths as quickly as possible, I feel like those kinds of shots are one of my strengths. It felt like it was a good option.”Moores added about his diving slip catch: “I was very pleased, it’s one of those that sticks, it felt like it was going in slow motion, it was a nice feeling (to take the catch).”

Tottenham Hotspur may need to improve their performance levels if they want to come away with all three points in the North London derby against Arsenal on Sunday.

The Lilywhites are fifth in the Premier League table, after 11 matches, but the underlying numbers behind their performances suggest that Thomas Frank’s team are heading in the wrong direction.

Shots on target

38

14th

Non-penalty xG

11.0

15th

xG

11.0

15th

xGA

15.2

14th

xGD

-4.2

17th

xGD per 90

-0.38

17th

As you can see in the table above, Spurs rank just above the relegation zone in a host of key performance-based metrics, but they have been able to grind out results in spite of their struggles.

Up against the league leaders this weekend, Tottenham may not be able to get away with giving up as many high-quality chances whilst failing to create many of their own opportunities.

If performances do not improve and results fall in line with the current data, questions may be asked of Frank, but also of the squad of players that has been assembled by the Europa League champions.

Some questions may be asked about how well the club have spent their money on both player transfer fees and player wages, as they may not be getting value for money.

Ranking Tottenham's top ten earners

Tottenham, as you would expect of a club that is regularly in European competitions and competing at the top end of the Premier League table, reportedly have a lot of high earners in the squad.

Per Capology, Spurs have nine players who earn between £100k and £195k-per-week in North London, and summer signing Xavi Simons is at the top of the pile alongside Cristian Romero.

=1

Xavi Simons

£195,000

=1

Cristian Romero

£195,000

3

James Maddison

£170,000

=4

Mohammed Kudus

£150,000

=4

Randal Kolo Muani

£150,000

6

Dominic Solanke

£140,000

7

Joao Palhinha

£135,000

8

Dejan Kulusevski

£110,000

9

Brennan Johnson

£100,000

=10

Richarlison

£90,000

=10

Micky van de Ven

£90,000

Excluding Randal Kolo Muani, who is on loan, it is hard to do anything other than rank Xavi Simons at the bottom of the club’s top earners, as he has no goals and two assists in 13 appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore, as an attacking midfielder.

Maddison has a claim to rank first on this list after an eye-catching haul of 12 goals and ten assists in all competitions last term, per Sofascore, but he is currently set to miss the majority of this season with an ACL injury.

Brennan Johnson should go in second, purely because of his winning goal in the Europa League, and Cristian Romero should rank third as a first-choice centre-back and current club captain, showing value for money on and off the pitch.

Kudus, with one goal and four assists in ten Premier League games for Spurs, has been a mainstay since his summer move from West Ham United and should rank fifth, whilst Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison have been long-serving members of the squad, without being genuine stars, so could slot in sixth and seventh.

Dominic Solanke, who joined in the summer of 2024, underperformed his xG of 10.97 with a return of nine goals in the Premier League last season, per Sofascore, which is why he should be eighth, behind Simons, whilst Kolo Muani and Palhinha are hard to rank as it is unclear how much of their wages they are paying as part of the loan deals.

The last remaining name on the list is central defender Micky van de Ven, who we rank in fourth place, as Lilywhites expert John Wenham has urged sporting director Fabio Paratici to improve his wages.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

He told TottenhamNews: “Spurs should reward his rapid progress into one of the best defenders in the Premier League with a new deal and could even double his current salary.”

How Micky van de Ven has turned his Spurs career around

Rewind to April 2024 during his first season with the Lilywhites, after a move from Wolfsburg in 2023, and the Dutchman found himself on the receiving end of some harsh criticism for mistakes in a game against Newcastle United.

Speaking on Match of the Day, former Arsenal and England centre-back Martin Keown called his defending “embarrassing” in a 4-0 win for the Magpies at St. James’ Park, as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon took advantage of his slips.

Roughly 18 months on from that criticism he faced, Van de Ven is now in a position where there has been a call for the club to double his wages because of how impressive his performances have been.

It is understandable for Wenham to make the claim when you consider that Romero, on £195k-per-week, reportedly earns more than twice as much as the Netherlands international does, on £90k-per-week.

Van de Ven and Romero are Tottenham’s first-choice centre-back pairing in the Premier League this season and their respective statistics do not suggest that the Argentine defender is more than twice as valuable to the team.

Appearances

11

9

Goals

3

0

Dribbled past per game

0.2x

0.3x

Clearances per game

3.4

3.0

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.3

3.8

Ground duel success rate

62%

68%

Fouls committed per game

0.5

1.2

As you can see in the table above, both players excel in different areas of the game, particularly defensively, but they both have their strengths, and Van de Ven more than holds his own.

The left-footed star is the club’s top goalscorer in all competitions this season, with six goals, and may have already locked in the Goal of the Season award with his effort against Copenhagen.

At the age of 24, Van de Ven also has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player, which is why it would be worth tying him down to an extended contract on better terms.

Overall, the Dutch defender has turned his Spurs career around by becoming a reliable figure at the heart of the defence for Frank this season, and appears to warrant a wage hike if Paratici can convince him to pen a new contract in North London.

Frank must sell £55k-per-week Spurs flop who was looking "like Dembele"

Tottenham Hotspur must now look to offload one player who has failed to deliver in North London.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 16, 2025

One of the best midfielders of his era, perhaps the greatest crosser of a football ever and a free-kick taker to rival the best the game has ever produced, David Beckham was a special player to say the least. And yet due to his off-field impact, one of the sport's great champions of the past 30 years is generally forgotten when it comes to referencing the true legends of the game.

Beckham – or, to give him his newly-minted full title, Sir David Beckham – marked an era both on and off the pitch as he wrote the manifesto for the evolution from footballer to brand. He represents to football what Michael Jordan did for basketball a few years earlier as Beckham became a true global icon who pushed boundaries beyond the sport, paving the way for Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Lionel Messi, among others, to follow in his footsteps.

But that shouldn't overshadow what 'Becks' was able to achieve from a pure football perspective, and what makes him a fine addition to GOAL's Hall of Fame:

Bend it like Beckham

Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, Beckham was the sport's poster boy, the player every teenager dreamed of becoming, both from a sporting and style point of view. His ever-changing hairstyles – from his boyband-style blonde highlights to the buzz cut he sported at the beginning of the new millennium, from the mohawk that infuriated Sir Alex Ferguson, to the controversial cornrows and the man bun of his Real Madrid days – were copied around the world. His adidas Predator boots became must-haves for any wannabe footballer; a No.7 Manchester United shirt suddenly the height of fashion.

A lot of fans wanted to look like Beckham, but everyone dreamed of being able to kick the ball like him. His unmistakable style, with his right arm whipping behind him as he swung another ball into the box, became one of the sport's most famous silhouettes, and even inspired the title of a film that allowed a new audience to find the game: 'Bend it like Beckham'.

However, no one has ever come close to the absolute perfection of that technical move, with which Beckham was able to trace millimetric trajectories with a class, elegance and naturalness that are more akin to artists than sportspeople.AdvertisementMuch more than a pop icon

Beneath the glossy surface, Beckham was undoubtedly one of the strongest midfielders going, and probably the most underrated champion of his era. He was a victim of the mass media, who were more interested in his relationship with popstar Victoria Adams than his displays at Old Trafford on a weekend.

For many years, Beckham was talked about more in the front pages of the tabloids than he was in the sports section. As such, the common perception when discussing him being amongst the true elite was inevitably influenced by him being a personality before a footballer, almost as if he were too handsome, too perfect, too stylish to be taken seriously.

But let's get one thing right: Beckham was a special player. He was not a pure winger who would wow crowds with his dribbling and agility, but with his right foot he managed to leave everyone speechless with his pinpoint passes. He was more of a wide playmaker – although he did try to reinvent himself as a central midfielder at points – a midfielder with refined technique, heavenly vision and extraordinary ball skills. It is no coincidence that he is unanimously recognised as the best crosser of all time and one of, if not the best, free-kick taker in history.

His free kick against Greece in October 2001, which allowed England to qualify for the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, remains his Mona Lisa, a masterpiece that will remain forever in the annals, as will his fabulous goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996, which symbolically marked the beginning of his legendary career at United.

Getty Appearances can be deceiving

However, Beckham's greatness on the pitch cannot be limited to the precision of his right foot. The third-most capped player in the history of the Englan national team, Beckham was also captain of the Three Lions for six years, wearing the armband in 58 matches, going from public enemy number one,after his sending off in the 1998 World Cup against Argentina to a symbol of redemption and leadership.

A charismatic and courageous leader on the pitch, Beckham was always ready to sacrifice himself for his team. He was a true example of professionalism, as repeatedly emphasised by even the toughest coaches such as Fabio Capello, who went so far as to disobey president Florentino Perez's instructions and reinstated Beckham to the Madrid line up, which led to a historic La Liga title triumph before the midfielder left to join LA Galaxy.

Wherever he went, Beckham left his mark: From titles with United to those in Madrid, from successes in MLS to his short stints at AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, the Londoner was able to immerse himself in each new environment with a humility that had nothing to do with the image that the tabloids had built up around him for years.

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Ballon d'Or worthy?

In 1999, the year Beckham won the treble as a key player for Ferguson's United, Beckham arguably deserved to also take home the the Ballon d'Or, which was instead awarded that year to Rivaldo. The Brazilian had been sensational in La Liga for Barcelona but had been eliminated from the Champions League in the group stages.

>Beckham, by contrast, had been forced to pick up the pieces after a World Cup in which he was vilified, publicly bullied by English fans, and greeted on Premier League pitches with a soundtrack of boos, insults and verbal abuse. He endured this relentless hostility without ever showing his emotions, responding simply with what he did best: playing football.

"The more he was targeted, the better he played," his former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would later say. Six goals and 12 assists in the Premier League, two goals and eight assists in the Champions League, and a crucial goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, Beckham unquestionably made a decisive contribution to the Red Devils' journey to immortality.

The 1999 Ballon d'Or, which saw Beckham finish in second place, would probably have allowed the English midfielder to enter another dimension in the collective imagination, in the circle of undisputed number ones. Today, 12 years after his retirement, re-evaluating the value, relevance and footballing aura of Sir David Beckham is not a nostalgic gesture, but rather an act of justice towards one of the great icons of the sport.

Jackson Merrill had a big day on Wednesday. It started with him signing a massive nine-year, $135 million contract extension with the San Diego Padres, then he helped lead the team to a 4-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians by hitting a 388-foot home run in the contest.

After the game, MLB Network spoke to the 21-year-old center fielder and he couldn't stop smiling about the great day he had. He joked about striking out at his first at-bat, too.

"I mean, first AB strikeout, I was like 'Damn, this is how we started,'" Merrill said. He was then asked about how much this new extension means to him: "I think it more means a lot to us. I'm here for everybody that's in this clubhouse, that's why I took this deal with the team. I want to be here forever."

From his four at-bats on Wednesday, Merrill completed two hits, two RBI, one run and one strikeout. So far this season, Merrill is averaging .417/.444/.708.

The Padres are 7–0 to start out the 2025 MLB season. Having a player like Merrill on the team, now and for a long time, definitely helps them continue to succeed.

Inglis pulled up sore after training session in Perth on Tuesday and a subsequent scan ruled him out of the three-match series

Alex Malcolm19-Sep-2025Josh Inglis has been ruled out of Australia’s three-match T20I tour of New Zealand due to a calf strain with Alex Carey called up to replace him.It is understood that Inglis pulled up sore in his right calf after a running session in Perth on Tuesday and had a scan on Wednesday, after which he was ruled out of the series to be played on October 1, 3 and 4 at Mount Maunganui.Inglis is the fourth first-choice Australian player to be ruled out of the series after Pat Cummins was withdrawn due to lumbar bone stress, Cameron Green was left at home to play Sheffield Shield cricket as part of his Ashes build-up, and Nathan Ellis was unavailable due to impending birth of his first child.Related

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It is the second calf injury Inglis has suffered in the last nine months after he suffered a low-grade strain while fielding for Australia during the Boxing Day Test against India as substitute last December, which saw him miss the remainder of the BBL season ahead of his Test debut against Sri Lanka in late January.Inglis is expected to be fit for the ODI series against India which begins in Perth on October 19.The injury has caused a slight headache for Australia’s selectors who were already gambling on Inglis staying fit during the short tour having not named a spare wicketkeeper in the initial 14-man squad. Carey was set to play the opening Sheffield Shield round for South Australia starting on October 4 as part of his Ashes preparation before the ODI series against India. He now may be limited to only one or two Shield games in between the ODI series and the first Test in Perth depending on his workload.Alex Carey completed an unusual stumping on his T20I return•AFP/Getty ImagesCarey’s re-emergence as a T20I keeper has been intriguing given his modest T20 record both domestically and internationally. He played the last T20I Inglis missed in Cairns against South Africa in August. It was Carey’s first T20I appearance since August 2021 and his first as the wicketkeeper since September 2020. He was not formally part of the initial squad and Inglis was forced to play through illness in game one of the series in Darwin. Carey replaced him in Cairns after joining the squad early ahead of the ODI series.The selectors also did not pick a spare wicketkeeper for the five-match T20I series against West Indies in the Caribbean in July but with Inglis carrying an ongoing back issue out of the Test series, Jake Fraser-McGurk was added as the reserve wicketkeeping option after an injury to fast bowler Spencer Johnson, despite Fraser-McGurk having never kept in any game in his professional career to-date.Fraser-McGurk played the opening match of the series as a batter but did not feature again with Glenn Maxwell promoted to open instead. He is expected to keep for the first time during Australia A’s tour of India when he joins the squad for the three 50-over matches in Kanpur.Finding a like-for-like replacement for Inglis is challenging given he has become one of Australia’s most important T20 batters. He has scored two centuries at No. 3 and become a pivotal bridge between the new opening combination of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head and the powerful middle-order given his 360-degree skill against both pace and spin.Australia’s new ultra-aggressive style of batting means the replacement keeper for Inglis is likely to bat at No. 7 behind the power of Tim David, Mitchell Owen and Maxwell. Matt Short will also return from injury in New Zealand and could slot in at No. 3 while Marcus Stoinis has been recalled after being left out of the West Indies and South Africa series to play franchise cricket and will also bat somewhere in the middle-order if needed as an allrounder.Carey’s return to form at No. 6 in Australia’s ODI team was part of the reason for his recall in Cairns, having performed brilliantly as a finisher in the longer white-ball format over the past 12 months.The likes of Ben McDermott and Josh Philippe remain in consideration and have been tried in Australia’s T20I side previously but both are seen as top order players predominantly and neither can match Inglis’ explosiveness.McDermott has played 25 T20Is for Australia and has batted in every position in the top seven. He made 54 off 36 in his last T20I innings against India at No.3 but strikes at just 99.70 overall. He is a full-time T20 freelancer at present having given up his state contract with Queensland to move back to Tasmania, although he could play for Tasmania in red and white-ball cricket this summer. However, he has very little experience as a finisher and opened in all nine innings he played for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the recently completed CPL, making just one half-century at a strike-rate of 141.04Philippe, who scored a first-class century off 80 balls for Australia A against India A in Lucknow on Wednesday, has played 12 T20Is on the back of his success at the top of the order in BBL cricket but none since 2023. He has only two scores above 13 striking at just 109.48, having opened in half his innings and never batted lower than No.4. He has only batted lower than No. 4 10 times in his domestic T20 career but has not done so since 2020.Josh Inglis has two T20I hundreds at No. 3•PA Images via Getty ImagesInglis’ injury has also highlighted a problem Australia’s selectors face ahead of the World Cup next year. ICC rules dictate that only 15 players can be selected in a World Cup squad and replacements can only be used if a player is ruled out of the entire tournament. It has long been a frustration for some countries, including Australia, given the compressed nature of the tournaments and need to manage players through them.Australia had to work around it during the 2023 ODI World Cup when Head was injured prior to the tournament but was expected to be fit halfway through. They risked carrying 14 fit players through the first four games before Head was able to play, but the move paid huge dividends.For Australia’s selectors, carrying a spare wicketkeeper who might not be in their best 15 players on the off-chance Inglis suffered a short-term injury would come at the cost of another conditions-based role player who might be needed during the tournament.Inglis’ back and calf issues are a serious consideration. He suffered a back spasm during the second Test in Sri Lanka in February that kept him off the field for large portions of the game and it requires ongoing management.”It’s an ongoing thing,” Inglis told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s sort of been around for a couple years now. For me, it’s been really frustrating. It’s not been something that’s really kept me out of the game. It’s just something I’ve got to manage. So at the minute, I’m not really able to bat as much as I’d like, so I’m not able to spend the time in the nets to be able to work on new things.”It’s really just been about preparing for the next game and getting enough in to feel good going into the game, but not overdoing it. I’ve been doing a lot of rehab stuff with the physios just on different areas, my hips, that sort of thing, just to try strengthen up there and take some load off my lower back.”I don’t really get it keeping. I think it’s just in that batting position and then light rotation. And once it’s flared up, doing everything is pretty uncomfortable.”Australia T20I squad vs New ZealandMitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Manchester City are now closely monitoring AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, with Pep Guardiola personally a fan, and the Italian club’s asking price has been revealed.

Man City made a real statement by defeating reigning Premier League champions Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, and Guardiola was left particularly impressed by Jeremy Doku’s performance, describing the winger as “outstanding.”

Doku completed a remarkable seven dribbles throughout the match, six more than any other player, in what was a top performance, but the 23-year-old was not the only City forward that caught the eye.

Indeed, Erling Haaland once again found the back of the net, with the Norwegian putting his first-half penalty miss behind him and bagging his 14th Premier League goal of the season, which puts the 25-year-old six clear of nearest-rival Igor Thiago in the goalscoring charts.

Guardiola is clearly blessed with a number of top-quality attacking options, but the manager remains keen on strengthening his forward line even further…

Man City closely monitoring Rafael Leao

According to a report from Caught Offside, Man City are now closely monitoring AC Milan forward Leao, who has a €150m (£131m) release clause included in his contract, although the Serie A club have set a more affordable asking price of €80m – €85m (£70m – £75m).

Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal are also in the race for the Portugal international, with Mikel Arteta personally an admirer, but City could rival their Premier League title rivals for his signature, given that Guardiola is a fan.

Indeed, the Spaniard admires the 26-year-old’s versatility, given that he is capable of playing out wide, in attacking midfield or even at striker.

At the moment, Milan are hopeful they will be able to keep hold of their star forward, but a January exit could be on the cards if talks over a new deal do not progress.

There are signs the Portuguese forward could be capable of taking City’s attack to the next level, having been lauded as “world-class” by journalist Carlo Garganese, while also proving himself as a reliable goalscorer over a number of years at AC Milan.

The Milan star has amassed a whopping 75 goals and 63 assists in 268 games for the Serie A giants, scoring a brace in what was a fantastic display against Fiorentina earlier this season.

The former Lille man clearly has the ability to succeed at the Etihad Stadium, but Doku’s recent performances suggest the Belgian winger could now be entering his prime, with his all-round display against Liverpool particularly eye-catching.

Jeremy Doku’s statistics vs Liverpool

Number completed

Dribbles (successful)

8 (7)

Duels (won)

14 (11)

Key passes

3

Shots on target

3

As such, Leao would perhaps be a luxury signing, rather than a necessary addition to Guardiola’s squad.

Rafael Leao has been named as one of the best wingers in the world The Best 15 Wingers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best wide man in world football right now?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 28, 2025

The USMNT’s player pool keeps growing, and Pochettino suddenly has more depth – and tougher decisions – than ever before.

TAMPA, Fla. – How about that November camp, huh?

What was billed as the U.S. men's national team’s toughest window of the year ended up becoming its most convincing. Across two home dates against World Cup-caliber South American opponents, the U.S. edged Paraguay 2-1 and then dismantled Uruguay 5-1. It was the kind of statement that every national team hopes for but rarely delivers.

For Mauricio Pochettino and his players, there’s no shortage of reasons to feel proud – or encouraged by what this group might look like when it all comes together.

But Pochettino, of course, won't quite see it that way. He'll see it as another building block, another step towards something bigger. These were statements, yes, but the big statements will be made in the summer, not the fall. All things considered, though, the path towards the summer has gotten a little bit brighter these last few months as the U.S. have stepped forward with a five-game unbeaten run that includes four wins.

By and large, the biggest lesson from this camp is just how deep the U.S. have become. So many different players have contributed to those four wins, and Pochettino pointed to a stat that he's worked with over 70 players since his arrival as USMNT boss. The pool, in truth, might have even expanded this camp, given the performances put in by the USMNT, and Pochettino might have an even harder time making the tough calls next summer on the heels of these results.

"I think we are starting to feel the World Cup, the excitement," Pochettino said. "I think it's important for our fans now to push them, to really believe in the team. We never doubted, because we saw the quality of the players. It was only about trusting them, to give them the position to find a way to perform, to behave, to feel football and what it means to be a professional. There are all areas we can improve because we are very ambitious and we want to win."

With that said, some players raised their stock more than others. Who stood out? Whose stock rose – and whose fell? GOAL takes a look after November’s camp… 

Getty Images SportStock up: Gio Reyna

Over the course of two games, Reyna showed every reason why he should, and possibly will be, at the World Cup come next summer. All of the other stuff be damned; when Reyna puts on a USMNT shirt, he's usually pretty good.

He was excellent against Paraguay, scoring once and creating another in the 2–1 win. Questions about Reyna’s fitness and explosiveness remain, but his ability to influence a match is beyond doubt. He also put in more defensive work than he often gets credit for, showing he can contribute to this team in more ways than just as a late-game spark off the bench.

"I feel really good," Reyna said after the match. "I feel valued, feel important, feel ready to go. Obviously, when you feel better mentally, you can definitely play better on the field, too. So yeah, I'm definitely building up, but I feel great. I'm just happy, but I have to keep working now."

Against Uruguay, though, Reyna did come off the bench, obviously due to fitness concerns, but still found a way to make his mark. Given way too much time on the ball by a 10-man Uruguay team, Reyna made them pay, looping in a perfect ball to Tanner Tessmann for the Lyon midfielder's first midfield goal. Handed just about 30 minutes to work, Reyna made them count by providing that assist and picking up a yellow card for good measure.

There's still a long way to go until the World Cup, and Reyna's injury history is enough to give anyone a reason to pause. Right now, though, there are plenty of reasons to expect Reyna in the squad next summer, and he might just play a big role, too.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportStock down: Goalkeepers not named 'Matt Freese'

It really isn't a surprise at this point that Matt Freese started both games. Pochettino has made it somewhat clear that the NYCFC goalkeeper was his No. 1 option. Matt Turner's exclusion effectively confirmed that. As for the other goalkeepers called into this November camp? They, too, could only watch as Freese continued to hold down his starting role.

He wasn't perfect, admittedly. The goal against Uruguay came following a clearance, but that clearance was preceded by an ill-timed decision from Freese. The U.S. was unable to recover, but only because Giorgian De Arrascaeta hit an absolutely absurd bicycle kick into the back of the net. At the end of the day, it was more "incredible goal" than "bad mistake", and not something that'll be held against Freese.

With no USMNT games until March, Freese has now started each of the last 12 USMNT matches. It doesn't seem that's changing as everyone else continues to watch on as he leads from the back.

GettyStock up: Alex Freeman

In terms of describing Freeman, Pochettino said it best, so we'll let him take it away.

"I think you need to analyze the way that he plays," the USMNT boss said. "He can play like a third center back. He can go forward on the side. How difficult is it for the opponent to stop him from going inside and playing? When he has the ball, the team [can exhale]. He's so strong."

That sounds a lot like the USMNT coach describing a player with both the ability and versatility to play at a World Cup. It's been a rapid rise for the Orlando City full back, yes, but he only continues to rise and get better. The Uruguay game was, of course, his best performance yet, as Freeman scored his first two senior international goals to really make a statement to anyone watching.

Given what we've seen over the last six or so months, there's a chance that the version of Freeman we see six months from now is even better, even with the MLS offseason built in. The 21-year-old defender is flying high after breaking out in 2025 – what can we expect now in 2026?

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Getty Images SportStock down: Yunus Musah

Musah, of course, wasn't in camp. The thing was that the midfielders who were in camp were generally pretty good.

Tyler Adams is going to the World Cup. So, too, is Weston McKennie. The midfielders that were in this camp, Tanner Tessmann, Aidan Morris, Sebastian Berhalter, Cristian Roldan, and Timothy Tillman, all gave pretty good accounts of themselves. Berhalter, in particular, was the standout against Uruguay, scoring a stunner before setting up another with a perfectly hit set piece. He's carving out a role, one which could see him contribute next summer.

The midfield picture is, in a word, crowded, as Pochettino has plenty of different profiles and skillsets to sort through.

What does this mean for Musah? It means that, at the very least, the process of clawing his way back won't be easy. He hasn't been in camp since March and, if he were to return in the next gathering, it'll have been a year since he last put on a USMNT shirt. The competition during that year has only gotten more fierce, and the road back has only gotten harder.

So how does that happen? Playing for Atalanta will help, and if not, possibly getting out of there in January. Musah has to focus on himself at the moment, but while that's happening, the midfield pool only continues to grow.

The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes is over—the Japanese-born pitcher announced Friday that he has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Two days after the international signing period opened on Wednesday, Sasaki took to Instagram to share his decision, making the announcement with a picture of a Dodgers cap in the bleachers.

"I have signed a minor contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers," Sasaki's post read, via Instagram’s translation. "It was a very difficult decision, but I will do my best to make it the right decision when I look back after my baseball career. I want to slip my sleeve on the Dodgers uniform at the opening conference, thanking everyone who has supported me this far."

The news comes after the San Diego Padres were eliminated from consideration earlier on Friday, leaving the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays as the final two teams. Sasaki had previously eliminated the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and New York Yankees earlier in the week.

Sasaki now bolsters a Dodgers' rotation that struggled with injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Gavin Stone, and River Ryan among others toward the end of the 2024 season. The Dodgers managed to win the World Series anyway with a three-man rotation, but will now have the additional help of Sasaki, Cy Young-award winner Blake Snell, and Shohei Ohtani, who is expected to return to pitching in 2025.

The Dodgers were long the favorites to sign Sasaki, and now they have officially signed him. Sasaki is regarded as one of the most talented pitching prospects in the sport, with an impressive splitter and a fastball that can exceed 100 miles per hour. The Dodgers were already viewed as a super team by many, and they should only continue to dominate with their exceptionally stacked roster.

The Premier League has approved Arsenal's application for their game against Everton on December 21 to be pushed forward after Mikel Arteta complained about fixture congestion. With the Gunners progressing to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they are scheduled to face Crystal Palace on December 23, the club wanted to avoid playing two matches in the span of just three days.

Arsenal want Premier League game to be rescheduled

The match against Everton was originally scheduled to take place at 2:00 PM BST on December 21, but the Gunners pushed for it to be held a day earlier at 8:00 PM.

Arteta's side will face Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on December 23, so would only have had two days to recover from their exertions against the Toffees at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. The EFL had originally scheduled the Carabao Cup tie on December 16, but later postponed it so that Palace, who are competing in the Conference League, would not be forced to play three matches in five days.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportArteta ranted over fixture congestion

Arsenal made the request after a passionate outburst from Arteta,who told reporters: "Hopefully they will move our Premier League match, because to play two days later doesn't make any sense. So now we decide the date [for the Carabao Cup match], I am sure they will change the Premier League [match] as well. I'll leave that to the club. I think we're very clear what was the best thing is, the more logical day to play, they bring a different date."

Palace have also been granted permission to move their Premier League clash with Leeds from December 21 to the 20th. Eagles boss Oliver Glasner joined Arteta in bemoaning the tight schedule earlier in the season: "I was really upset when I heard it for the first time. I couldn't even believe that they were considering this. We are trying the same thing that Arsenal are trying, to move our Leeds game forward to Saturday [December 20], so we don't have two days between these games.

"There are people who work on this, and I would really like it if they talked together. We have international games, the two cups and the Premier League. It would be nice if UEFA, the Premier League and the FA talked together because it's so surprising. Maybe now you can't find a solution, but we need to get it sorted. It would be irresponsible to play on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. But there is a solution because the week after, on the 21st [of December] we play Leeds and then we play on the 28th. There was a big discussion as to why there are no Boxing Day [matches]. Again, they fixed these games without talking to anyone. It would be nice if they all talked together; this is their job, what they get paid for."

Premier League approve change of dates

On Tuesday, Arsenal and Palace confirmed that the Premier League has accepted their respective requests to reschedule the games for December 20.

The statement from Arsenal read: "Our Premier League match at Everton in December has been rescheduled, with the fixture at the Toffees' new Hill Dickinson Stadium now taking place on Saturday, December 20 at 8pm. This match was previously scheduled for Sunday, December 21. However, the EFL scheduled our Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace on Tuesday, December 23 due to the Eagles’ participation in the UEFA Conference League. When that fixture was officially scheduled, and before tickets went on sale for our away game at Everton, we opened dialogue with the Premier League and Everton Football Club to request a change of date to avoid playing two matches in the space of 48 hours. As a result, the match has moved to Saturday, December 20. Playing two matches within a 48-hour period contravenes FIFA recommendations, which have established a consensus for a minimum of 72 hours' rest between games. This recommendation is in place to protect player health and fitness. Recovery time between matches is especially important during busy periods of the season, such as December."

Palace's statement said: "Crystal Palace's Premier League fixture away to Leeds United in December has been moved. The fixture, which was due to take place on Sunday, 21st December, will now kick off at 20:00 GMT on Saturday, 20th December, our final league game before Christmas. The match will remain live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. This followed a club request with the Premier League, due to the scheduling of our Carabao Cup tie away to Arsenal on Tuesday, 23rd December."

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Getty Images SportFinger of blame pointed at UEFA

Amid the chaos related to the scheduling of matches heading into November, the EFL shifted the blame to UEFA, saying in an official statement: "In determining the schedule for the quarter-finals, the League recognises the challenge it presents to Arsenal and Crystal Palace in particular, and the frustration and concern that will undoubtedly be felt by their managers and players. These are concerns which are shared by the League. The expansion of European cup competitions and number of exclusive match nights across Europe ahead of the 2024-25 season, implemented without adequate consultation with domestic leagues, means that such scheduling conflicts – for both the EFL Cup and other competitions – are now entirely unavoidable. 

"With those teams competing in Europe already entering the EFL Cup in Round Three and having been forced to implement further draw conditions to avoid scheduling conflicts at that stage of the competition in the past two seasons, we have shown a willingness to compromise. However, to continue making endless concessions only serves to undermine the reputation of the EFL Cup – a competition which delivers vital revenue to EFL Clubs and provides millions of supporters with the opportunity to back their team on the road to Wembley each season. It also challenges the traditional scheduling of the English football calendar and strength of our domestic game, which relies upon teams having the necessary time for preparation and ability to field their strongest lineups, in order to entertain their supporters and progress through the competition."

Result dents both teams with Surrey pulling away at top of table

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-Aug-2025 Nottinghamshire 544 (Haseeb 208, James 72, Haynes 70) drew with Somerset 438 (Rew 166, Abell 156, Abbas 3-60) and 200 for 5 (Abell 51, Banton 43*) A half-century from the experienced bat of Tom Abell was key as Somerset secured the draw that had seemed inevitable for much of their Rothesay County Championship visit to Trent Bridge.In the context of the race for the title, the result leaves Surrey, who won at Durham earlier in the week, with a nine-point advantage over Nottinghamshire at the top of Division One as they seek a fourth consecutive title, although they still have to meet Haseeb Hameed’s side at The Kia Oval next month.Nottinghamshire were all out for 544 in their first innings – 208 of those runs scored by Hameed – after their last four wickets fell in the first 40 minutes of the final morning as former Nottinghamshire seamer Jake Ball finished with three for 76 on his return to Trent Bridge.It left Somerset, who began this match in third place, with a deficit of 106 and a potential 85 overs minimum remaining in the match, but after former skipper Abell and Tom Banton (43 not out) had shared a vital partnership of 87 for the fifth wicket under some pressure, they were 94 in front at 200 for five when the players on the field shook hands on a draw shortly after 4.50pm.Though a draw had looked the likeliest result after the slow progress of the opening three days, there were some moments of jeopardy for Somerset to survive, mostly induced by the leg spin of Calvin Harrison, who finished with three for 57.When Harrison, bowling his leg breaks into the rough outside off-stump, dismissed the left-handers Tom Lammonby and James Rew in quick succession early in the afternoon, Somerset were four down and still in arrears.But Abell and Banton guided them out of trouble to the extent that they were 84 ahead by the time Harrison had Abell caught behind for 51 with time running out for Nottinghamshire to take the remaining wickets and chase even a modest target.Given the amount of time that lay ahead of them at the end of the Nottinghamshire first innings, a flurry of early wickets might have set Somerset nerves jangling.They lost two in the space of three balls after Josh Davey and Lewis Gregory had shared 32 for the first wicket, but in the event they had reduced their arrears to 34 in the 15 overs they faced in what remained of the opening session, going to lunch looking comfortable.Davey well caught at second slip off Dillon Pennington, with Gregory smartly taken off an inside edge by wicketkeeper Joe Clarke as he drove at Mohammad Abbas.As Lammonby and Rew went about their business, adding 68 at a run a ball, the visitors were looking increasingly secure.But it became a different story as the fourth-day pitch began to offer help to the slow bowlers, Harrison bowling Lammonby before finding bounce and turn to have Rew caught at short leg.Earlier, Nottinghamshire’s plan to add substantially and quickly to their overnight lead of 73 unravelled rather swiftly, in contrast with the slow pace of developments over the first three days as the Kookaburra ball combined with an unresponsive pitch to produce somewhat stiltifying cricket. For all that Hameed (208), Rew (166) and Abell (156) had excelled with the bat in the first innings, it had been largely uninspiring fare.Liam Patterson-White was the batter most likely to impose himself on a Somerset attack weary and frustrated from 151 overs in the field – all of them using only one ball after Gregory stuck with the original through the whole innings. But he had added only a single to his overnight 47 before chipping Ball to midwicket.Harrison, keen to make the most of his first innings of the season in a red-ball match for Nottinghamshire, made 31 from 34 deliveries but Brett Hutton fell first ball, caught and bowled by Davey, Ball cleaned up Dillon Pennington and Harrison departed in similar fashion to Patterson-White before him.