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Nottingham Forest face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley later this afternoon, looking to book their place in next month’s final.

It is the first time the Reds have reached such a stage since 1991, with a win edging them one step closer to their first FA Cup triumph since way back in 1959.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s men come into the clash off the back of a 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night, handing them the momentum ahead of the crucial fixture.

However, they face Pep Guardiola’s side, who have dominated the competition in recent years, winning twice and losing in the final once in the last six seasons.

If the Reds are to continue their incredible season and claim another historic victory, they will have to do so without numerous key players who will miss the clash at Wembley this afternoon.

The players who will miss the clash with Man City today

Ola Aina has been missing from the Forest side since the 1-0 win over Manchester United back on the 1st of April, with it unclear if he will return this afternoon.

The Nigerian has been key to the success endured in recent months, with his return greatly welcomed, especially considering the situation Nuno faces in the capital.

Ryan Yates and Neco Williams are both suspended for the meeting at Wembley after both picking up their second yellow cards of the competition in the previous round against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Such suspensions are huge blows given their importance to the side, with the Reds facing a selection crisis at right-back should Aina fail to feature after his injury layoff.

With Williams suspended and Aina still a doubt for the meeting, the manager will have to utilise a player out of position, potentially shifting one first-team member into an unnatural role.

The Forest player who could start right-back against Man City

Forest have used the fewest number of players in the Premier League this season, highlighting the tight-knit squad Nuno has built during his tenure at the City Ground.

The likes of Anthony Elanga, Jota Silva and Williams have all featured in unfamiliar roles – with the latter cementing his place at left-back given his performances in recent months.

However, Nuno faces another situation in which he has to operate with someone out of position this afternoon, potentially dropping Nicolas Dominguez into a right-back role against City.

The Argentine, who’s primarily a central midfielder, has once played at wing-back for the Reds in the defeat against Aston Villa, but a role in the back four could utilise his strengths in a much better capacity.

He struggled to provide the width in attacking areas, whilst often being caught out in behind previously, but should the manager select Elanga in a right-midfield role, it could allow the pair to double up on the opposition wingers if needed.

Dominguez’s Premier League stats from the ongoing campaign make him the ideal choice to fill the void this afternoon, hopefully maintaining his popularity amongst the fanbase with another impressive showing.

He’s managed a huge 2.2 tackles won per 90 – the most of any player in the squad this campaign – whilst also coming out on top in 6.3 duels per 90, subsequently proving his defensive qualities.

In possession, he’s been just as impressive, completing 88% of his attempted passes, whilst also creating 0.8 chances per 90, allowing the likes of Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of him to cause City huge problems.

Whilst the selection problem is far from ideal for the Reds this afternoon, the players have proven time and time again that they are capable of stepping up to the occasion and thriving on the chances handed their way.

Harry Toffolo did just that against Spurs on Monday night, with Dominguez the next man up, potentially playing a key role in any success come the end of the meeting later on this evening.

Toffolo 2.0: Nuno must revive "coveted" Nottingham Forest gem's career

Nuno could hit gold by reviving this Nottingham Forest star’s career at the club.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 23, 2025

Manchester United are set to axe a £65,000-a-week player this summer who Ruben Amorim called out in his first game in charge.

Man Utd and Amorim preparing for summer after another defeat

The Red Devils can still salvage their season by lifting the Europa League, however, it has been a disappointing campaign on the whole.

Last time out in the Premier League, Man Utd suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United, with Amorim critical of his side making numerous mistakes.

Man Utd making moves to sign "incredible" assist king for bargain £20m fee

The Red Devils are in pursuit of a playmaker, who is set to leave his club on the cheap this summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 15, 2025

“We did a lot of mistakes and they were better than us, stronger than us. Suffering the second goal in the beginning of the second half hurt us a lot and then we did mistakes during the game that helped Newcastle to win the game.

“It’s a team thing [and not about individuals]. We are doing a lot of mistakes in certain games that give confidence to the opponent, give goals, and then it’s hard to cope with everything. We had the first chance, we didn’t score, [then] they have their chance, they score. Then they took control of the game. We scored to draw but then second half, we were suffering in the second play of the game, it’s hard for our team and we did a lot of mistakes.”

Man Utd vs Lyon

April 17

Man Utd vs Wolves

April 20

Bournemouth vs Man Utd

April 27

Brentford vs Man Utd

May 4

Man Utd vs West Ham

May 10

One player who was dropped for the trip to St James’ Park was Andre Onana, and there have been plenty of rumours that the goalkeeper is unsettled at Old Trafford and looks set to be sold over the coming months.

There is interest from Saudi Arabia in Onana, whereas Man Utd are looking at replacements and have recently shown an interest in Anders goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.

More Old Trafford exits are on the cards, though, and Fabrizio Romano has shared another Man Utd exit update.

Jonny Evans set to leave Man Utd – Fabrizio Romano

As per transfer expert Romano, Man Utd defender Jonny Evans and third-choice keeper Tom Heaton are both set to depart the club this summer when their contracts expire.

Evans, on £65,000-a-week, returned to the Red Devils in 2023 and has made 42 appearances in all competitions under Erik ten Hag and Amorim in recent years.

Now 37 years of age, the experience centre-back started Amorim’s first game as United boss against Ipswich Town back in November.

That was actually Evans’ last top flight appearance for United, with Amorim critical of the defender after the 1-1 draw.

“If you see the first half, we were a little bit afraid. The No.5 [Sam Morsy] was always alone, we have to jump on him. Hutchinson was always in the dead space, Jonny Evans should be pressing his guy, but when we don’t have the training and it’s hard to see say all the reactions to the players. We had two days, they are confused a little bit. If you stay here, you don’t run, you defend but you don’t run.”

Now, it looks as if Evans will be one of a number of Old Trafford players to depart, something that won’t come as a huge surprise due to his age and contract status.

He will lead USA against his friend and school-mate Jofra Archer in a town where they first dreamt of playing international cricket

Sidharth Monga23-Jun-2024Aaron Jones has had a lot to take in over the last three days. On Thursday he came home, but as the captain of USA. On Friday he officially stood to a beautiful rendition of Rally ‘Round The West Indies only for the second time in his life. The first had been in an ODI when West Indies were forced to go into the World Cup Qualifier last year. But this was different: at his home ground, the Kensington Oval, in front of his own people, with David Rudder himself performing the regional cricket anthem.Later, Jones walked out to a huge cheer from his people, hit a huge six onto the roof of the Kensington Oval, then tried to take on fellow Barbadian, two years his senior, offspinner Roston Chase and lost his leg stump. The shot was on, the match-up was on, but it went a little like the whole night did for USA. By the time Jones was getting done with the media, he got a call from another fellow Bajan.Jofra Archer, his friend – school-mate at both primary and secondary school – soon to be his opponent on Sunday, called him and told him he had reached with the England team and checked in at Hilton, the same hotel where USA are staying. Jones couldn’t finish his formalities in time, and spent the Saturday linking up with his family and people.Related

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On Sunday, perhaps at the breakfast, or on the field, Archer and Jones will meet each other. Two kids who had spent their childhood and adolescence dreaming about playing cricket together for West Indies now under two non-West Indies flags playing at their own theatre of dreams in the T20 World Cup 2024. The two spent practically every single day of school playing cricket together. When they were not playing formally, when they were not talking about cricket, they were playing with a tape ball or on hard courts or playing road tennis.Aaron Jones announced himself early at the T20 World Cup 2024 with a magnificent 94* for USA against Canada•ICC/Getty ImagesRoad tennis is a Bajan sport that originated as a response to its time. During the exclusionary racist times of the 1930s in Barbados, when the locals, originally brought to the Caribbean as slaves, were not allowed to play tennis in private clubs, they invented this sport. The kids collected stray tennis balls that flew out of clubs, shaved off the skin, took the inner core and played tennis with it on the streets. The net would be a wooden plank not higher than a foot generally, and the rackets were carved out of wood, giant table tennis rackets if you will. It actually is a bit of a table tennis played with a tennis ball and an underarm serve but on the road.A quick sport, it requires a low centre of gravity and comes with a good working over of the back, glutes and knees. Importantly it has gone from a silent rebellion to being a symbol of inclusiveness. What started as a poor man’s sport is now a low-key national passion. It is now a formalised professional sport that found big resurgence during the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Mia Mottley has even pitched it as a potential Olympic sport.Around the time road tennis was making a resurgence, Jones was making a tough life decision, following in the footsteps of his friend Archer to move to the USA and play international cricket for them. He had started playing for USA just before the pandemic, but now decided to move to North Carolina – hot summers, winters cold but no snow, beaches far and nearly not as good as Barbados – to avoid travelling so much.The reason for Jones and Archer to move away were more or less similar. Don’t go by West Indies’ declining fortunes in international cricket, both Archer and Jones swear by the abundance of talent and the stiff competition into the Barbados side. It is similar in other traditional cricketing islands, you would imagine. The problem is, there is no level before it keeping a second team ready. Perhaps it has got to do with finances.When Archer moved to England, he did so when he got injured, having started bowling fast only at 17. He knew he would have to spend seven years qualifying to play for England, but he knew he had no future in Barbados once he failed to make the Under-19s because of injury.Jones stuck around for longer, but didn’t see a clear pathway even if he kept fighting it out. “I think that if I had stayed in Barbados and worked hard enough that I probably would’ve played for West Indies eventually,” Jones tells ESPNcricinfo. “But I was in and out of the Barbados first-class team. A lot of West Indies guys come from Barbados. So me being a guy that didn’t represent West Indies, it was hard for me to find a place in the starting XI every game. My career was really and truly stagnant at that time. So I just took the opportunity to go to US and see if I could get another opportunity to play at the world stage there and the rest is history.”

“Oh, if he hits my helmet or anything, he will talk about it for the next three years for sure. If I can hit it for a six, I will definitely hit it for a six. If it’s a good one, I will just let it go.”Aaron Jones has his plans set against good friend and school-mate Jofra Archer

Never underestimate the significance of being able to make a living as a cricketer either. He actually had an opportunity to make the move before he actually did but he kept giving it a shot for as long as he could. Phil Salt, Chris Jordan and Nicholas Kirton are three other Bajans playing this World Cup from other countries. Life can come in the way of dreams.Both Jones and Archer love their adopted countries, but feel so at peace when they come back to the island of their birth, where they dreamt those dreams. Jones saw all the signs that make Archer so good back in school even though at that time he was the better cricketer. And he should know: they both went to Hilda Skeene Primary and Christ Church Foundation together.’We went primary school and secondary school together,” Jones says. “It was always a competition. He’s very competitive regardless the situation. Even outside cricket, when we played soccer, when we played road tennis, anything to be honest. He’s a very competitive person.”It’s actually really an amazing journey, growing up as kids and then obviously branching off the plane. At that time we couldn’t imagine playing for other countries. We always thought that we would play for Barbados and then West Indies. We got opportunities elsewhere and here we are now.”Being such good athletes, they were both popular boys in school but “good boys”, staying out of trouble. Archer hadn’t yet become a fast bowler. He used to do everything else: bat, bowl legspin, keep wicket. They met as recently as when both the teams happened to be in Antigua at the same time. They keep abreast with each other’s lives.Just before the 2019 ODI World Cup, which it is fair to say Archer won for England, Jones had just made his international debut for USA. Before the big final, Archer actually called up Jones, congratulated him, told him he was looking forward to playing against him, and asked him to stay ready for a bouncer first ball. Now the moment has arrived. England will be facing USA for the first time ever.”Oh if he hits my helmet or anything, he will talk about it for the next three years for sure,” Jones says. “If I can hit it for a six, I will definitely hit it for a six. If it’s a good one, I will just let it go.”To somebody on the outside, this comes across as a highly unfortunate scenario. It helps that Jones is not an overtly emotional person. Or perhaps you need to learn to get better of your emotions when you have to leave home for work. However, there are times when he does wonder what might have been.”I thought about it a few times,” Jones says. “I mean that was the plan when we were younger. I don’t know.. we can’t really know how we’ll feel now because we are not playing for West Indies. But definitely it would have been good because we’ve been close since we were young. And then we know we could bring a lot to West Indies cricket as players so it would’ve been good for sure to play for West Indies together.”

Mark Taylor’s side is one of only two Australian teams to have won a Test series in the country

Andrew McGlashan and Tristan Lavalette28-Feb-20222:06

McDonald: Touring Pakistan after decades an ‘exciting challenge for Australia’

Heading into the tour of Pakistan in 1998, Australia had not won there since 1959. That tour back then had been decided by a one-wicket defeat in Karachi. Adding to the challenge for Mark Taylor’s team was that they were without the injured Shane Warne whose shoulder had finally given in after the tour of India earlier in the year. There was also the backdrop of the Qayyum match-fixing hearings which stemmed from Australia’s previous visit in 1994.

1st Test, Rawalpindi

There might have been concerns when Aamer Sohail, Pakistan’s captain, won the toss and was able to bat first but Australia’s attack were soon among the wickets. Glenn McGrath and Damien Fleming, playing together in a Test for the first time, took out the first three then there was a maiden Test wicket for Colin Miller, making his debut at the age of 34, when he removed Saleem Malik. “He was caught at second slip, low to Mark Waugh’s side. Was nearly a wide, Saleem had to reach to hit it,” Miller recalled to ESPNcricinfo.Stuart MacGill, taking the legspin duties in the absence of the injured Warne and playing just his second Test, went through the middle and lower order to leave Pakistan 147 for 8. However, Australia were then held up by a 120-run stand for the ninth wicket between Saeed Anwar, who made a masterful century, and Mushtaq Ahmed who faced 136 balls at No. 10.When Australia slipped to 28 for 3 in reply – Justin Langer and Mark Waugh collecting ducks – things looked dicey but from there the visitors dominated. Michael Slater and Steve Waugh added 198 for the fourth wicket then Waugh and Darren Lehmann built a lead with a stand of 126. When Waugh fell for 157, Lehmann got to within touch distance of a maiden century only to miss a sweep against Mohammad Hussain but Ian Healy’s 92 swelled the advantage to 244.Colin Miller in action on his Test debut•Getty ImagesPakistan crumbled in their second innings. Fleming, who had taken a hat-trick on debut during the previous tour in 1994, trapped Mohammad Wasim and Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw for ducks while MacGill again did damage to finish with nine in the match. There was a landmark for Healy, too, when he claimed a world record 355th dismissal against Wasim Akram from the bowling of Miller.”I had been bowling around the wicket for lbws, I was no chance to get them,” Miller said. “Peter Willey was the umpire and told me to go over the wicket. I got one to turn and bounce and Healy took a really good catch. I have the photo of his catch in my office, which is signed by Heals.”It was really important to stamp our authority in the first Test. I remember after the match we were going to sing the song but I didn’t know the words. Heals wrote them down on a piece of paper.”Ian Healy claims his record-breaking dismissal•AFP

2nd Test, Peshawar

This was Mark Taylor’s Test. After coming through an initially hostile spell from Shoaib Akhtar he went on to equal Don Bradman’s 334 as the then highest score by an Australian in Test cricket – only denying himself the chance of setting a new benchmark by declaring before the start of the third day’s play to put the team before his personal achievements.”It was hot and humid, he was exhausted,” Miller remembered. “We had to douse him in cold towels during the breaks. You have to be there to experience that type of innings in those conditions. He could have batted for another two days because no one looked like getting him out. He was in the zone. He wanted to declare and do it for the team as it was the best chance of a victory. I was hoping he would break the record for Australia.”Mark Taylor is given a guard of honour as he leaves the field unbeaten on 334•AFPIn a column for newspapers this week, Taylor wrote: “I did consider grinding Pakistan into the dirt by batting another 20 minutes in a seventh session. That’s when the significance of Bradman’s 334 at Headingley in 1930 hit me. I thought people may think if I didn’t declare, it was to deliberately go past Bradman’s score.”I never played the game for individual records. You always play for enjoyment. Word filtered through our team, while Pakistan captain Aamer Sohail was surprised when I told him 30 minutes before play. A lot of others were, too. People thought I’d go for Brian Lara’s world record of 375 but, truthfully, that didn’t cross my mind.”I think it’s one of the best things I did, and I still have people ask me about it. I didn’t stop on Bradman’s score deliberately. That was a quirk of fate, but I’m delighted I did what I did because I think it does hopefully set an example of how sport should be played.”Taylor went on to add 92 in the second innings as the match drifted to a draw on a docile surface after Anwar and Ijaz Ahmed had plundered hundreds of their own. It gave him a match tally of 426 runs which remains the second highest in a Test behind Graham Gooch’s 456 against India in 1990.

3rd Test, Karachi

Mark Waugh’s century ensured Australia could not lose the final Test•AFPThe series concluded at a ground where Pakistan had not lost in 33 previous Tests. Both teams went with three frontline spinners (although Miller’s versatility as a seamer gave Australia balance) and the ball held sway over the first two innings. Slater played with great restraint in making 96 off 257 balls – the second slowest of his Test scores over 50 – but Healy’s 47 was the next best as debutant Shahid Afridi claimed 5 for 52.However, Australia’s 280 proved very competitive and a big lead was in the offing when Pakistan crashed to 69 for 5. Sohail found support from the lower order and complied a brilliant century but McGrath’s 5 for 66 kept Australia ahead in the game.Taylor laid the platform for what became a series-clinching second innings with 68 then Mark Waugh’s century took Australia into an impregnable position alongside Gavin Robertson’s useful 45 at No. 8 as they opted to bat out the fourth day rather than declare.A target of 419 was never within the realms for Pakistan and Miller’s burst early on the final day left them 35 for 3 with Australia sensing the chance to take the series 2-0. But Ijaz held firm, adding 153 for the fifth wicket with Moin Khan although Australia were more than content with the outcome.”That Pakistan team was really strong with so many superstars,” Miller said. “It was one of our finest achievements to beat them over there.”

The tournament has suffered some growing pains having become the most sought-after domestic league in Australia

Daniel Brettig10-Feb-2020Just as they had for the first edition of the tournament in 2011, the Sydney Sixers lifted the Big Bash League’s neon-lit trophy as champions, at the end of a final that was rain-truncated but near miraculous for having happened at all.The trophy, and the identities of some of the Sixers holding it up – Steven Smith and Moises Henriques to name two – were just about the only unchanged thing about the victory scene, as the BBL has changed utterly from that first start-up event broadcast exclusively by Fox Sports as Cricket Australia eagerly sought a free-to-air buyer for domestic T20 cricket. Up to that time, it had been a product that not even Kerry Packer wanted, palming it off in his final broadcast rights deal in 2005.Fifteen years later, at 61 matches with an expanded finals series, this was the biggest BBL yet, maintaining a trend of competition growth that has been continued by Cricket Australia and its broadcast partners. This despite the fact that two of its key health indicators, broadcast audiences and attendances at the grounds, have been showing signs that the league’s extension is wearing thin. At the very least, it is not pulling in the sorts of big event audiences that characterised its supposed “peak” years in 2015-16 and 2016-17.ALSO READ: The Big Bash League team of the tournamentWhy is this the case? CA and its broadcasters are trying to figure things out for themselves, having called in former TV executive Dave Barham to conduct a review of the tournament. Barham had been instrumental in Ten’s award-winning coverage between 2013 and 2018, before briefly helming Seven’s new cricket department and then exiting for personal reasons ahead of the 2018-19 season. In 2018 he had reckoned that better cross-promotion of the BBL on international cricket and vice versa would help, as would better performances from the teams in the major markets of Sydney and Melbourne. The Sixers and the Stars held up their ends of the bargain this season.Moises Henriques receives the BBL trophy•Getty ImagesThose who have chosen to throw rocks at the BBL have generally picked up the argument that it is too long and cumbersome, there are not enough star players, and the tournament’s place amid the rhythms of the Australian season have been disrupted. First by the aftermath of the Newlands scandal last summer and then by the combination of a low drawing international season this time and the absence of the Australian side due to a tour of India at the height of the January school holidays.What these arguments miss, perhaps, are a longer story of growth from the 20-game, state-based Big Bash that began in 2005, and from that of a tiny domestic cricket broadcast product at the same time, to the most sought-after summer broadcast property in Australian sport as of 2017.Back then, the BBL was played over 35 matches, cost the Ten Network in the region of A$20 million a season to air exclusively in Australia, and pulled in an average national broadcast audience of more than one million viewers per fixture. After the 2017 peak, things began to trend down slightly in terms of crowds and broadcast audiences in 2017-18, the last season in which Ten held the rights, after an increase from 35 to 43 matches.When the new broadcast deal in 2018 wrenched the BBL away from Ten – a turn of events that still sticks in the craw of many at or associated with the network – it was no longer just a piece of fan-finding R&D for CA, but a commodity worth as much to Seven and Fox as the international season itself, for so long the bread and butter of cricket rights deals in Australia. So from A$20 million a season for 43 matches, the BBL’s value grew to effectively A$100 million a season for the addition of only 16 more games, before an extra two finals were tacked on this year.As CA’s head of commercial, Steph Beltrame, put it recently to SEN Radio: “T20 cricket already existed and the Big Bash at that time was really like a start-up. [In 2013] the description through media commentary was that Channel Ten had overpaid for this product. By the end of it after they had worked incredibly hard with us to build the product, I think the description was that they had a bargain.”Another $500 million is a lot of extra value wrought from a domestic tournament that, prior to 2013, did not really have its own broadcast deal, as it simply fell under the umbrella of Fox’s small-time contract with CA to air domestic matches played between the states. CA has, to its credit, ploughed much of this extra cash into the game’s community levels, the better to get club cricket growing again after a lull of several years, and also to capitalise on the interest of children and families that the BBL had been devised to attract in the first place.The crowd at the Melbourne Renegades verses Adelaide Strikers match•Getty ImagesAt the same time it has used money to help build the WBBL, now sitting happily in its own window at the front end of the season. That tournament is a good example of how the cricket landscape has been utterly changed by the BBL, though within the parameters first devised by CA when the governing body stopped short of allowing privately-owned clubs. A degree of central control, and balance within the context of the whole cricket season, has been maintained, meaning international cricket is still seen as the pinnacle for players, the Sheffield Shield and domestic limited-overs tournaments still have their – albeit fringe-dwelling – place, and the BBL is very seldom if ever set up to clash with either.For the players, coaches and clubs there is one imbalance about the balancing act: salaries for participants in the BBL bear absolutely no relationship to the value of the rights deal, unless they are overseas or marquee players fortunate enough to benefit from bundled deals with marketing and broadcast elements. Aside from the likes of Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen and this season AB de Villiers, most players have given their time at remarkably good value for CA, something reflected in how it has become harder to attract overseas players to the longer event.That pressure has left broadcasters decrying the lack of “big names” populating the tournament, although it was seen with de Villiers or Chris Gayle at the Sydney Thunder before him, that no player, regardless of how talented he is, can overcome the handicaps of a squad that is otherwise poorly constructed or dimly led. Perhaps the area for most consideration as far as high profile players is concerned is how to bring the likes of David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins back into the fold for the pointy end of the tournament.Those sorts of names, already contracted to CA, would help bring the BBL a little more in the way of star power to match the brief but bright lights of the Australian Open tennis, which serves as cricket’s only genuine summer competition for broadcast audiences during the last two weeks of each January. And although Open tennis enjoyed several moments of television ubiquity around the runs of Nick Kyrgios, Ash Barty and Roger Federer, its average of around 726,000 viewers over two weeks was still outstripped by the BBL’s 780,000 over closer to seven weeks.Elsewhere, the contest for summer audiences isn’t one. Soccer’s A-League has been particularly hurt by comparison. Average A-League audiences have hovered for more than a decade at somewhere between 50-75,000 viewers nationally on subscription services, with free-to-air peaks like the average 358,000 who watched the 2014 competition final. The BBL’s broadcast audience, even without the still rubbery figures of the streaming service Kayo places it comfortably ahead of average audiences recorded for the major winter NRL and AFL competitions.AB de Villiers goes aerial•Getty ImagesSo there is plenty to suggest that the gentle decline of the BBL’s audiences in recent years is not, as the academic and social commentator Waleed Aly put it on ABC debate show Offsiders, “the BBL falling on its face”. Instead there is cause to ponder how the BBL fits into the season, whether it should be played as a long tournament or a short, sharp league, and how much the drop off in crowds and audiences this season was influenced, like the rest of the country, by its extreme weather. From 2011 to 2019, the BBL had only three abandoned matches in total, and nine affected by rain to the extent that they required DLS. This season alone there have been two abandonments, and no fewer than eight fixtures requiring DLS, including the final.That final, incidentally, recorded an average national broadcast audience of 1.2 million for a match that looked so unlikely that there were even some first edition newspapers that carried columns indicating it had been abandoned. This after the Thursday night fixture between the Stars and the Thunder at the MCG drew an average of 1.048 million viewers, only the fourth match of the competition to crack the one million mark. These matches took place after a week’s gap to the previous finals, indicating that after weeks of at least one game a day and often more, the appetite had returned.It is worth pondering how much less CA would have sold the BBL for had it retained the 35-game length that seemed to hit the sweet spot five years ago. The subsequent extension in games has meant that quite stable numbers of attendees and broadcast viewers are spread more thinly. Precious few respondents to any CA survey about what fans want from the BBL in 2020-21 would find themselves answering “more”.There is much that has changed in the decade since that first final, but the thrill of the BBL as an event remains. What CA and its broadcasters should actively discuss is whether the bankable audiences over seven weeks of a 61-game season are going to be as thrilled, engaged and deeply involved as those who salivated over 35. That, after all, is why the BBL began.

Wilfried Zaha is returning to the Ivory Coast fold after a prolonged spell away, with the 33-year-old earning a surprise recall for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. The Charlotte FC winger had been absent from the national team squad for two years, having initially slipped out of contention following disagreements with former coach Patrice Beaumelle. As a consequence, Zaha missed Les Éléphants' triumphant campaign on home soil in 2023.

Getty ImagesZaha backed to shine with Ivory Coast

Zaha's omission ahead of the previous continental tournament had seemed to signal a permanent break. Yet, Emerse Fae, now steering the champions into their title defence, revealed on Tuesday that he had spent months rebuilding a relationship with the winger as he sought fresh impetus in attack. The former Crystal Palace star, now on loan at MLS side Charlotte from Galatasaray, has impressed the national team staff sufficiently to convince them that his creativity remains an asset. After the conclusion of the 2025 MLS campaign, Zaha started training with English non-league side Croydon Athletic earlier this week. Fae, speaking on national television as he named a 26-man squad, explained that Zaha’s return was grounded in his capacity to unpick stubborn defences.

"We saw that we need experienced players. In Zaha's case, his ability to beat defenders and his current form worked in his favour," Fae said. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMajor absentees: Pepe and Adingra miss out

While Zaha’s name returns to the squad list, two other superstars have been left out. Nicolas Pepe, once Arsenal’s record signing and now at Villarreal, will not be travelling to Morocco. The 30-year-old has featured regularly in La Liga this term but missed international camps in November, and Fae has opted to move forward without him.

Meanwhile, Simon Adingra, whose assists in the 2023 AFCON final inspired the Ivory Coast to victory over Nigeria, is another notable omission. The 23-year-old has endured a frustrating start to the season with Sunderland, managing only nine appearances and four starts. Fae admitted that fierce competition for wide roles had left the Brighton academy graduate out of contention.

"Simon has faced fierce competition for his position," Fae said. "He's struggling to earn a starting spot (at his club, Sunderland). We had to do without his qualities when making our selection."

However, Manchester United star Amad Diallo is part of the 26-man squad. Amad is a regular starter under manager Ruben Amorim, and the forward has been rewarded for his consistency at Old Trafford. He has already made 14 appearances in the Premier League this season, including 13 starts, and has one goal and three assists to show for his efforts. The fixture against Bournemouth next Monday should be his last for the Red Devils before he joins his national team-mates for the AFCON. He could miss up to seven games for United, including one FA Cup fixture against Brighton and the Manchester derby on January 17, if the Ivory Coast compete in the final, scheduled a day later. 

Meanwhile, Sebastien Haller, the match-winner in the 2024 final against Nigeria, is again part of the squad. The squad announcement also confirmed that defender Wilfried Singo will miss the tournament through injury, depriving Fae of another experienced option.

Ivory Coast set up for Group F challenge

With the selections confirmed, Ivory Coast now turn their attention to the defence of their African title. They open their campaign against Mozambique in Marrakech on 24 December, before contests with Cameroon and Gabon in a challenging Group F.

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Ivory Coast squad in full

Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos)

Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolves), Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting), Guela Doue (Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta), Evan Ndicka (Roma), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Basaksehir), Armel Zohouri (Iberia 1999)

Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Rennes), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Metz), Christ Inao Oulai (Trabzonspor), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Jean-Michael Seri (Maribor)

Forwards: Vakoun Bayo (Udinese), Oumar Diakite (Cercle Brugge), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Sebastien Haller (Utrecht), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Paris FC), Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte)

Reserves: Evann Guessand (Aston Villa), Guiagon Parfait (Royal Charleroi)

Phil Foden was in disbelief after he rescued all three points for Manchester City after a totally unexpected fightback from Leeds United. Foden, who had got the ball rolling by scoring in the first minute, fired in the winner in added time to grab a 3-2 victory for Pep Guardiola's side after the struggling visitors had come back from two goals down at the break to level the score.

• Foden the hero for Man City

  Foden's first goal in the first minute of the game saw him become only the second City player along with Erling Haaland to score more than once in the Premier League this season. And after an unusually quiet performance from his usually insatiable team-mate, Foden stepped up again and hit a brilliant winner from outside the area. Josko Gvardiol had doubled City's lead after Foden's goal in a totally dominant first-half performance from Guardiola's side.

  But the game took a dramatic turn in the second half as Leeds came out with renewed hunger and energy, hitting back through a Dominic Calvert-Lewin goal and then levelling when Lukas Nmecha scored on the rebound after seeing his penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Foden, though, had the final say.

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  Foden: One of the wildest games I've played

  Foden said: "It's up there as one of the wildest games. We had full control in the first half. They changed their system in the second half and we couldn't get going. It was a frustrating half. But when there was a short break the manager got us together and we adapted to their formation. We had a few half chances and finally I've found a bit of space and found the bottom of the net. We're delighted with the result."

  The title race is never straightforward. There's always ups and downs and periods where you can't seem to get going and we've had that. The belief and togetherness came through at the end. Hopefully that's the case today that we can kick on from here. But you never know what to expect. I was so hungry today to play and prove to myself I could still score goals. I missed a few chances against Newcastle and wanted to put it right."

• Dias furious with second half display

  City defender Ruben Dias was livid with how his side wilted in the second half and let Leeds back into the game. He said: "The mistakes that happened cannot happen. It was just not good enough. We're not happy with the beginning of the second-half especially. Maybe 10, 15 minutes in we finally adjusted, started to play more comfortably but by then I think it was already 2-1.

  "At the end of the day, I feel we need to leave this on a positive note because mistakes happen and are part of football. Obviously we're challenging for everything in every season we play, and these kind of mistakes can cost us heavily. But still, we faced the situation, kept fighting, had the chance for Phil , a clear chance for Omar just before and I'm proud of the way the team kept fighting."

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  Foden: Title race 'never straightforward'

  Foden's winner averted a third consecutive disappointing result for City after their 2-1 defeat at Newcastle last week and their 2-0 loss at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. The match-winner explained: "I was so hungry today to play and prove to myself I could still score goals. I missed a few chances against Newcastle and wanted to put it right.

  Instead of trailing leaders Arsenal by six points in third place, City climbed into second in the Premier League table, four points behind the Gunners before they play Chelsea on Sunday. City visit Fulham on Tuesday and then have another home game, against Sunderland next Saturday.

  "The title race is never straightforward," Foden added. "There's always ups and downs and periods where you can't seem to get going and we've had that. The belief and togetherness came through at the end. Hopefully that's the case today that we can kick on from here. But you never know what to expect. I was so hungry today to play and prove to myself I could still score goals. I missed a few chances against Newcastle and wanted to put it right."

U.S. Soccer have confirmed the U.S. men's national team's final four opponents ahead of next summer's World Cup. The road to the tournament will continue in March as the U.S. host Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Belgium before clashes with Germany and another yet-to-be-named opponent in two pre-tournament friendlies next summer.

AFPThe schedule

The U.S. will spend March stationed at the federation's new home, Atlanta, for a pair of marquee friendlies. Up first will be a clash with Belgium on March 28 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of Atlanta United. Three days later, the U.S. will face Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal at the same venue.

Then, after Mauricio Pochettino confirms his World Cup squad, the U.S. will head to Charlotte FC's Bank of America Stadium for a May 31 clash against an unnamed opponent. They will then have one final pre-tournament friendly against Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 6. That Germany match will come six days before the USMNT's World Cup opener in Los Angeles.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhat Pochettino said

The Argentine manager highlighted that this is an important test for his squad. 

“For us, this is a massive opportunity to challenge ourselves against some of the top teams in the world. These are incredible matches for the players and for the fans,” USMNT head coach Pochettino said. “We are so happy to be playing in our new home of Atlanta, and of course to be competing in the great cities of Charlotte and Chicago ahead of the World Cup.”  

GettyBig games on the horizon

The series of matches against elite opponents continues the trend of big games for the USMNT. This fall, the U.S. took on South Korea, Japan, Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay, all teams bound for the World Cup next summer. Belgium, Portugal and Germany, of course, will be in the World Cup field as well, with all three joining the USMNT as Pot One teams.

Throughout that fall run against World Cup opponents, the U.S. went 4-1-1, picking up wins over Japan, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay as part of a five-game unbeaten run to close 2025. In total, the U.S. concluded the 2025 slate with a record of 11-6-1.

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Getty ImagesWhat comes next?

While the games are over, the drama sure isn't for the USMNT. On Friday, the U.S. will learn the team's World Cup group at the official draw, which is set to be held in Washington, D.C.

تحدث ألفارو كاريراس لاعب ريال مدريد في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم الثلاثاء، قبل مباراة الفريق أمام أولمبياكوس اليوناني، موضحًا الأجواء بين اللاعبين والمدرب تشابي ألونسو في ظل الجدل الدائر بالصحف عن توتر العلاقة.

ويستعد ريال مدريد لملاقاة أولمبياكوس غدًا الأربعاء، ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة في مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقال كاريراس في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “أنا متحمس جدًا لخوض موسمي هنا، وخاصةً في دوري أبطال أوروبا، نعلم أنهم فريق قوي، وأننا نلعب على أرضهم، وأن الفوز سيكون صعبًا”.

وعن الأجواء في غرفة الملابس، أوضح: “رائعة، لدينا أجواء رائعة مع المدرب، الأجواء رائعة حقًا، وتجمعنا علاقة رائعة، أنا سعيد جدًا بانضمامي إلى هذا الفريق”.

وعن مدى توقعه لحصوله على فرص للعب تحت قيادة تشابي ألونسو، رد: “كلما وصلتُ إلى مكان جديد، أبذل قصارى جهدي وأثق بأنني سأقدم أفضل ما لدي، آمل أن ألعب دقائق أكثر في موسم طويل كهذا، أنا واثق من أنني سأستمر في ذلك”.

اقرأ أيضًا | مبابي يهين حكم مباراة ريال مدريد وإلتشي.. وعقوبة محتملة

وعن إمكانية مشاركته كقلب دفاع، أفاد: “مركزي هو الظهير الأيسر، لكن يمكنني اللعب كقلب دفاع، أو كجناح، أو في خط دفاع رباعي، أو كخط دفاعي خماسي، أتكيف مع كل ما يتطلبه الأمر، ومع كل ما يطلبه مني المدرب في أي وقت”.

واستطرد: “أحب تحليل المنافسين والمباريات، أحب تحليلهم، كما أحب الاستمتاع بجمال كرة القدم”.

وسُئل كاريراس إذا كان يعتقد أن ريال مدريد يحظى باحترام أكبر في الخارج منه في إسبانيا، وأتم: “لا يستمتع أي فريق بمواجهة ريال مدريد، إنه فريق ذو تاريخ عريق واسم كبير، لكننا نذهب إلى كل ملعب متعطشين للفوز، بشخصية قوية، ونسعى دائمًا للهجوم”.

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake is now open to leaving the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window, with the Premier League giants setting his price tag.

The Dutchman has been a fantastic servant for the Citizens since arriving from Bournemouth back in 2020, winning four Premier League titles and one Champions League crown, among other trophies.

That said, the 30-year-old has seen his playing time become more limited under Pep Guardiola this season, making only one start in the league, as well as making four substitute appearances in the competition.

Ake is now into the final two years of his current deal at City, with his contract running until the summer of 2027, so there are decisions to be made by both him and the club.

The Sky Blues may want to cash in on him while they still have time, assuming they don’t see a long-term future for him, and the player himself will no doubt like the idea of enjoying more regular playing time.

Ake wants to leave as Man City set £31m price tag

According to Caught Offside, the battle to sign Manchester City ace Ake is hotting up ahead of the January transfer window, with Inter Milan, Juventus and Crystal Palace all mentioned as options.

It is claimed that the Citizens are open to a deal and want as much as £31m for the Netherlands international. Ake wants to be earning more minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup and is looking to leave the club in January.

It does feel as though Ake’s time at City is reaching its natural conclusion, during a period in which so many members of the club’s title-winning sides have moved on, not least Kevin De Bruyne earlier this year.

The centre-back is understandably open to the idea of a fresh challenge, given Guardiola’s current stance on him, even though the Spaniard has lauded him as “incredible” in the past.

If Ake does leave City, he will be remembered as a great servant who has done so much for the cause in the past five years, with his ability to thrive at both centre-back and left-back proving to be priceless.

Whoever does potentially sign will be getting an excellent player who still has plenty to offer in his career, with Guardiola also saying of him: “I don’t think you can ever find a single teammate of his who has anything bad to say about him. Both at his clubs and with the Dutch national team. He’s very competitive and I wish he could play a season without injuries, but sometimes you run into those kinds of things. I adore him as a person and as a player.”

Man City ready bid for Vinicius Jr as feelings at Real Madrid are revealed

He is one of the best players in the world.

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From City’s point of view, if they can get as much as £31m for a player in his 30s, it would have to be considered good business, and they could then bring in a younger replacement instead.

Is Nathan Ake one of Man City's 10 highest-earning players?