Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin has admitted that Hamza Igamane was unable to come on against St Mirren after informing the manager that he was unfit to play.

Speaking after the game, the Gers boss said: “I turned around to him at 60 minutes and Hamza told me he’s injured. I have to trust him, but we’ll see.”

“The issue is that the window is still open and there are people with one eye out and one eye in We had a bid this week for Hamza that we rejected. There are too many people uncertain and we have to make sure we have people that want to be here. I’m calm about it.”

Igamane was called to come off the bench in the second half, with the Gers 1-0 down to St Mirren, but declined the call, citing injury, and these comments from Martin do not suggest that an injury was the only factor at play.

The “we’ll see” and the talk of rejecting a bid for the striker, as well as players who are “uncertain” about their future seems to suggest that a possible move away from Ibrox may have influenced the decision.

Hopefully, that was not the case, and it was purely an injury concern and only that, but the window is still open for another week and the possibility that Igamane moves on from the club remains a real one.

Why losing Hamza Igamane would be a blow for Rangers

Cashing in on the Morocco international before the end of the summer transfer window would be a blow for the Light Blues because he is an exciting young talent who has the quality to deliver at the top end of the pitch.

The 22-year-old star enjoyed a terrific first season in Glasgow after his move to Ibrox last summer, scoring 16 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, per Transfermarkt.

His output in the Scottish Premiership, in particular, was impressive. The Moroccan star showed that he can be a clinical finisher whilst also providing a creative presence in the centre-forward position, or out wide on the left.

Appearances

33

Starts

23

xG

9.02

Goals

12

Chances created

37

xA

4.85

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, Igamane outperformed his xG by around three goals and was let down by his teammates in front of goal, as they failed to make the most of the high-quality chances that he created for them.

An xA tally of 4.85 suggests that he should have had way more than one assist in the top-flight, and shows that he has the creativity and quality to open up opposition defences fairly regularly.

Losing Igamane would be a big blow, therefore, for Martin because of his quality in the final third, but the Gers are reportedly keen on a star who could allow the club to sanction an exit before the deadline.

Rangers eyeing move for LaLiga forward

According to the Daily Mail, Glasgow Rangers are lining up a move to bring Girona centre-forward Bojan Miovski to Ibrox before the end of the window.

The report claims that the Macedonia international is out of favour at Girona, 12 months on from his transfer from Aberdeen for a fee of £6.8m, and could be on his way out of the Spanish side in the coming days.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It adds that Martin is a known admirer of the striker, who he wanted to sign during his time at Swansea and Southampton in Wales and England, and would like to snap him up to bolster his attack at Ibrox.

The Daily Mail reveals that the player and Girona would prefer a permanent deal to allow him to leave, but that Rangers cannot afford a permanent move for the star who cost around £7m last year.

It is said that, therefore, a loan deal for Miovski may be the route the Gers look to go down, and that the player could be tempted by the prospect of a return to Scotland.

Why this could be the end for Hamza Igamane at Rangers

Rangers have played with systems that either have one striker or none in all of their competitive matches so far, something which has been a theme for Martin throughout his career.

In their striker ranks, the Gers currently have Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, and Igamane at their disposal. This suggests that they would not be looking to add another centre-forward to the group unless they thought that one of them would move on.

Given what happened against St Mirren, what Martin said, and the interest in his services, Igamane could be the player who waves bye-bye to Ibrox before the window slams shut in order to open up the space for Miovski to join.

Losing the Moroccan sensation, as aforementioned, would be a blow to the Gers when taken in isolation, given what he achieved on the pitch in his first year at the club.

The signing of Miovski, a proven performer in the Premiership, would soften that blow because he could come in and hit the ground running as a huge goalscoring threat for Martin.

xG

15.60

17.08

xG on target

18.36

17.60

Goals

16

16

Shots on target

36

44

Chances created

27

23

Assists

2

2

As you can see in the table above, Miovski was a clinical finisher – taking into account the xG on target versus xG – for Aberdeen on his road to scoring 32 goals in two Premiership seasons.

The left-footed star, who was described as a “complete number 9” by journalist Josh Bunting, only started 12 times in LaLiga for Girona last season, scoring twice, and did not really get a chance to build any rhythm or momentum in his performances.

Miovski is a proven performer in the Premiership, though, and his output for Aberdeen in two of the last three seasons suggests that he has the quality to hit the ground running as a lethal goalscorer for Rangers.

As well as Aarons: Martin must drop Rangers lightweight who lost 100% duels

Russell Martin must drop this Rangers lightweight as well as Max Aarons.

ByDan Emery Aug 24, 2025

This is why the club’s interest in the Girona outcast may suggest, along with Sunday’s events, that Igamane could be on his way out of Ibrox before the window shuts, and Miovski could be a dream replacement for him.

Forwards signed? Tick. Striker in the door? Tick. What’s next on Manchester United’s summer shopping list?

Well, if reports are to be believed, Ruben Amorim – having already overseen a £214m outlay – is keen to bring an athletic midfielder and a new goalkeeper into the fold, having so far only bolstered his ranks at the top end of the pitch.

There is a touch of the Adrien Rabiot regarding links to Paris Saint-Germain stopper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, although ESPN have reported that United are among the clubs who are expected to make an offer for the towering Italian, with less than a year to run on his existing deal.

With the former AC Milan man emerging as a leading contender to replace Andre Onana, a standout midfield target has also since been revealed, with reports earlier this week outlining that the Red Devils have made contact regarding Brighton and Hove Albion sensation, Carlos Baleba.

The 21-year-old – who is reportedly valued at over £104m by the Seagulls – certainly won’t come cheap, however, with the Old Trafford side wise to be seeking out potential alternatives.

Man Utd eyeing Carlos Baleba alternative

Excluding prior links to former Aston Villa man, Douglas Luiz, it had been rather quiet regarding United’s concrete midfield targets this summer, with full focus seemingly placed in the search for a striker.

Well, that all changed this week as the news broke that United are interested in trying to do a deal for Baleba, having only just wrapped up the £74m signing of RB Leipzig’s Slovenian sensation, Benjamin Sesko.

Unsurprisingly, Brighton are not set to allow the Cameroonian starlet to depart without a fight, with the south coast side more inclined to sanction an exit next summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

With that in mind, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that those at Old Trafford are also eyeing up alternatives to the former Lille man, with Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand believed to be among them.

As per Bailey, Amorim is said to be keen to reunite with ‘trusted figures’ as he looks to get his 3-4-3 system up and running, with Hjulmand having thrived in Lisbon after being signed from Lecce by the Portuguese coach in the summer of 2023.

Reportedly valued at around £42m, the Dane could well be an astute addition to Amorim’s side, representing the perfect partner for another man with Sporting ties, Bruno Fernandes.

Why Morten Hjulmand could thrive at Man Utd

While Amorim might want to steer clear of Erik ten Hag’s policy of signing his former assets – with the new Bayer Leverkusen boss having repeatedly dipped into the phonebook during his time at the helm – adding in at least one familiar face surely wouldn’t be too much of a gamble.

Of course, the 40-year-old has already seen his ex-Sporting talisman, Viktor Gyokeres, head on over to Arsenal, although Hjulmand would offer the chance to acquire another of his trusted lieutenants in what is a key area of the pitch.

Although things are beginning to take shape in the backline and the frontline, there are problems to be solved regarding the centre of the park, with a suitable partner for that man Fernandes yet to be found.

The hope was that the arrival of Amorim would spark Manuel Ugarte into life, with the pair having also worked together back in Lisbon, although on recent evidence, the Uruguayan shuttler has yet to convince.

Having been an unused substitute in the Europa League final defeat, the 24-year-old has also endured a sticky summer on pre-season duty, having notably been well below par in the 2-2 draw with Everton last week. Indeed, as MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst noted, he was simply ‘dominated’ by the Toffees’ midfield.

There might be concerns regarding the capture of a player who actually replaced Ugarte at Sporting, although as journalist Zach Lowy has pointed out, Hjulmand is an “absolute monster” in regaining possession, albeit while “far less reckless than Ugarte ever was”.

Also described as the “complete midfielder” by all-seeing analyst Ben Mattinson, Hjulmand’s destructive midfield presence would be perfect to allow Fernandes’ attacking talents to shine. That quality was evident last season, as the £42m man averaged 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game in the Primeira Liga, while also averaging 5.7 balls recovered per game.

Hjulmand vs Ugarte – 24/25 league stats
Stat (*per game)	Hjulmand	Ugarte
Games (starts)	28 (26)	29 (22)
Goals	2	1
Assists	2	2
Big chances created	2	3
Key passes*	0.9	0.3
Pass accuracy*	91%	89%
Tackles & interceptions	2.9	3.6
Balls recovered*	5.7	4.2
Total duels won*	62%	53%
Stats via Sofascore

There is silk to match the steel, however, with Hjulmand ranking in the top 1% in the league for pass completion, as well as in the top 13% for progressive passes, as per FBref, at an average of 6.38 per 90. Ugarte, for comparison, averaged just 3.08 for that latter metric in the Premier League in 2024/25.

Having a figure who can be an asset both in and out of possession alongside him would be a real bonus for Fernandes, with the division’s chief creator thus provided the freedom to wreak havoc in the final third.

Of course, there is excitement brewing over the enhancements that have been made at the top end of the pitch, although for all that fresh lick of paint, the Red Devils need to ensure that the engine is also running smoothly.

Better signing than Baleba: £25m sensation wants Man Utd move after Sesko

Manchester United appear to be putting focus into other targets alongside Carlos Baleba.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 8, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been voicing their displeasure over the last couple of days, and understandably so, given the failure to complete a deal for Eberechi Eze.

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After James Maddison’s ACL injury during pre-season, the Lilywhites entered talks with Crystal Palace over a deal for the England international, leading to a £60m price tag being mooted.

The move appeared to be at an advanced stage, leading to the player himself approving of a switch to join Thomas Frank’s side ahead of the September 1st deadline.

However, a deal has since evaporated, with North London rivals Arsenal taking advantage of their inability to close the deal, with the 27-year-old set to be announced as a Gunner in the coming days.

Missing out on the Englishman’s signature has been a huge blow to Frank’s plans for the ongoing Premier League campaign, which must see the board go back into the market and land an alternative option.

Spurs targeting moves for Eze alternatives

Como star Nico Paz has been one name mentioned with a potential move to join Spurs this summer, but any deal could be an expensive one for Daniel Levy.

The Serie A side are currently demanding a fee in the region of £60m for the 20-year-old’s signature this summer, with Real Madrid due a hefty sell-on in any transfer.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Chelsea star Christopher Nkunku a player they’re also considering, according to TEAMtalk.

Their report claims that the Blues are desperately wanting to offload the Frenchman, who cost £52m back in the summer of 2023 – with the Lilywhites one of the sides interested in a move for his signature.

It also states that Frank’s side are firmly in the race to land the 27-year-old, but it’s unclear whether the player would be open to a move across London before the end of the window.

Why Spurs’ latest target is just like Rodrygo

In previous months, Spurs have been hugely linked with a move for Real Madrid star Rodrygo, in an attempt to replace Heung-min Son after his departure to join LAFC.

The Brazilian has also been on the radar of the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool this summer, after it was confirmed he was free to depart the LaLiga giants during the current window.

However, any deal would cost a fee in the region of €100m (£86m) – a figure that could prove to be slightly out of the Lilywhites’ price range, given the money spent elsewhere this summer.

Noise over a potential move to North London for the 24-year-old has lessened in recent weeks as a result of his asking price, which has seen the hierarchy move on to other targets.

Nkunku is just one of the names mentioned as a result, with the former RB Leipzig star able to operate in a number ten, centre forward or wide left role.

There’s no doubt the links to the Chelsea star may appear underwhelming given his lack of impact at Stamford Bridge – but his underlying figures showcase he still possesses a lot of quality.

He’s been labelled as a similar player to Rodrygo by FBref, even managing to match or better the Brazilian in key areas when comparing their respective figures from 2024/25.

Nkunku, who’s been labelled “unstoppable” by one writer, matched the Madrid star for goals and assists per 90, whilst also achieving a better shot on target accuracy rate – offering Frank’s side a more clinical option in the final third.

He also completed more of the passes he attempted, whilst also registering more key passes per 90 – handing the Lilywhites the creative presence they will lack after Maddison’s injury setback.

How Nkunku & Rodrygo compared in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Nkunku

Rodrygo

Games played

27

30

Goals & assists

5

11

Shot on target accuracy

44%

37%

Pass accuracy

90%

85%

Key passes made

2.3

2.2

Through balls completed

0.2

0.05

Aerials won

1.6

0.3

Aerial success rate

42%

30%

Stats via FBref

The Chelsea star further impressed last campaign, winning more aerial battles whilst also providing needed versatility to the frontline in an attempt to build on their Europa League triumph.

Nkunku may not be high up on the club’s list this summer, but he could offer a cost-effective option in an attempt to improve the options currently at Frank’s disposal.

If he can replicate such numbers in North London next campaign, it would be a shrewd piece of business, offering a cheaper alternative to Brazilian superstar Rodrygo.

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خاض منتخب مصر الأول لكرة القدم بقيادة حسام حسن، أول تدريباته استعدادًا لمواجهة جيبوتي، في إطار تصفيات كأس العالم 2026، وذلك على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب مصر مع جيبوتي، مساء الأربعاء المقبل، بدولة المغرب، في الجولة التاسعة من التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة لنهائيات كأس العالم 2026.

ويستعد منتخب مصر لمواجهة جيبوتي ثم غينيا بيساو يوم 12 باستاد القاهرة الدولي، ضمن مباريات الجولة التاسعة والعاشرة من التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة لنهائيات كأس العالم 2026. 

وشهد المران إحماءات بدنية وتدريبات خفيفة بمشاركة 19 لاعبًا تواجدوا في التدريب وهم: محمد الشناوي ومصطفى شوبير ومحمد صبحي وعبد العزيز البلعوطي ومحمد هاني وأحمد عيد ورامي ربيعة وخالد صبحي وياسر إبراهيم وعمرو الجـزار وحسام عبد المجيد وأحمد نبيل كوكـا ومروان عطيـة وحمدي فتحي ومحمود صابر وأحمد سيد زيزو ومحمود تريزيجيه وإبراهيم عادل وأسامة فيصل.

وينتظم محمد صلاح ومصطفي محمد ومصطفي فتحي ومحمد حمدي ومهند لاشين في تدريب الغد.

محمد صلاح يصل القاهرة استعدادًا للانضمام لمعسكر منتخب مصر

حضر مران منتخب مصر أحمد حلمي الشريف عضو مجلس إدارة اتحاد الكرة والدكتور مصطفى عزام المدير التنفيذي لاتحاد الكرة.

ويمتلك منتخب مصر في رصيده 20 نقطة، في المركز الأول بالمجموعة، بينما يحتل منتخب بوركينا فاسو المركز الثاني، برصيد 15 نقطة.

وكان منتخب مصر قد تعادل سلبيًا في الجولة الماضية أمام بوركينا فاسو، ليقطع الفراعنة شوطًا كبيرًا نحو التأهل إلى نهائيات كأس العالم.

The pending departure of Heung-min Son to LAFC is one that will leave a huge hole in the final third for Tottenham Hotspur, with the South Korean one of the best attackers in the club’s history.

He’s racked up over 450 appearances during his decade at the Lilywhites, scoring 173 times, with 11 of which coming during the 2024/25 campaign, helping the club end their 17-year wait for a trophy.

There’s no denying that at 33, it’s the right time for a move, but such a departure will leave Thomas Frank and the hierarchy with a huge task to replace his constant attacking threat.

Further additions will need to be made between now and the end of the transfer window to ensure the new boss has all the options he needs at his disposal to be competitive in the Premier League.

Daniel Levy has already commenced work to potentially make top-level additions, especially if the latest updates coming out of North London come to fruition.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer

Over recent days, Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss has emerged as a potential option for Spurs this summer, with his £22m relegation release clause becoming active.

It was confirmed that the Lilywhites hierarchy are preparing an official approach to land the Moroccan, who registered six combined goals and assists last campaign.

However, he’s not the only forward-thinking player currently in their sights, with Real Madrid star Rodrygo another player they’re chasing, according to Spanish outlet Cadena SER.

They claim that Frank’s side have prepared a €60m (£52m) bid to land the Brazilian forward this summer, potentially being the perfect replacement for the outgoing Son.

It also states that the 24-year-old is hoping for a Premier League move during the current window, after being told he’s free to depart the LaLiga giants ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Why Spurs’ £52m target would be Frank’s answer to Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé has cemented himself as one of Europe’s leading talismen over the last couple of years – undoubtedly being a player every fan wishes played for their side.

The Frenchman burst onto the scene as a baby-faced teenager at Monaco back in 2017, before a huge move to PSG that secured his place as one of Europe’s elite.

He registered a staggering 256 goals in his 308 outings for the Parisians over an eight-year period, breaking the record for the most goals scored by a player in the club’s history.

However, he would depart the Ligue 1 side on a free transfer last summer, joining European giants Real Madrid – a move which has seen him continue his excellent talents in front of goal.

The 26-year-old found the net 44 times in his 59 outings across all competitions throughout 2024/25, having a debut campaign to remember at the Santiago Bernabéu.

A player of his calibre would cost a pretty penny in today’s market, but Spurs could be about to land a player of his level – that’s if they complete a deal for Rodrygo this summer.

The Brazilian has been labelled as a similar player to Mbappé by FBref, managing to outperform his teammate in numerous key areas during the most recent season in LaLiga.

Rodrygo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, registered more progressive passes and carries per 90, handing Frank the attacking threat he craves upon Son’s departure.

He also managed to complete more key passes and more passes into the final third per 90, able to allow fellow new addition Mohammed Kudus to also hit the ground running in North London.

Games played

30

34

Goals & assists

11

34

Progressive carries

5.3

4.6

Goals per shot on target

0.3

0.3

Pass accuracy

86%

82%

Key passes made

2.5

1.3

Passes into final third

3.1

2.3

Carries into final third

4.1

2.9

Crosses completed

3.8

1.1

Progressive passes

5.1

4.3

Rodrygo’s dominance over his teammate is further reflected in his higher pass completion rate, whilst completing more crosses per 90, showcasing his impeccable nouse for creating chances in attacking areas.

He certainly won’t be a cheap addition for Spurs this summer, but the Brazilian has showcased that he has the ability to provide a real threat for the club within the final third.

If he can transfer such a skill-set over to England ahead of 2025/26, he could become the club’s main man in their ambitions of being successful in the Premier League in the near future.

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Sunderland have made contact to sign a £15m centre-back who Crystal Palace want to replace Marc Guehi.

Sunderland’s signings so far this summer as Le Bris eyes more

It has been an extremely busy summer transfer window for the Black Cats, who have so far signed 12 players for Regis Le Bris.

Many of the new arrivals started and impressed in the opening day win against West Ham at the Stadium of Light, however, Sunderland lost 2-0 to fellow promoted side Burnley last time out.

Habib Diarra

Strasbourg

£30.5m

Simon Adingra

Brighton

£21m

Enzo Le Fee

Roma

£19.4m

Noah Sadiki

Union Saint-Gilloise

£15m

Granit Xhaka

Bayer Leverkusen

£13m

Nordi Mukiele

PSG

£12m

Omar Alderete

Getafe

£10m

Reinildo Mandava

Atletico Madrid

Free

Chemsdine Talbi

Club Brugge

£18m

Robin Roefs

NEC Nijmegen

£9m

Marc Guiu

Chelsea

Loan

Arthur Masuaku

N/A

Free

Talking before the defeat at Turf Moor, Le Bris admitted that Sunderland still want to make new additions before the September 1 deadline.

When asked on potential signings out wide, Le Bris added: “There’s a lot of speculation which is positive for everyone. Same answer. If it’s possible to reinforce the squad with the right profile we’ll move forward, but it’s not just our question. It’s a question of the player and the club, so we’ll see.”

Sunderland's most expensive signings of all time

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ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

A new centre-back is also wanted, especially as Dan Ballard went off injured against Burnley. Jhon Lucumi of Bologna has been heavily linked with a move to Sunderland, however, another defensive target with Premier League experience is wanted by the Black Cats.

Sunderland make contact to sign Lloyd Kelly

According to reports from Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Sunderland have made an enquiry to sign Juventus centre-back Lloyd Kelly. Formerly of Newcastle, Kelly’s loan move to Turin became permanent over the summer for £15m, but a return to the Premier League is possible.

As well as the Black Cats making contact over a transfer, Crystal Palace have followed suit as they view Kelly as a replacement for Guehi, who is being heavily linked with a move to Liverpool.

Juventus have even identified Paris Saint-Germain’s Lucas Beraldo as a replacement for Kelly, so a last-minute move back to England could be on the cards.

Riccardo Calafiori

Arsenal

Luke O’Nien

Sunderland

Chris Richards

Crystal Palace

Pierre Kalulu

Juventus

Sven Botman

Newcastle

Kelly, previously of Bristol City and Bournemouth before his move to Newcastle and subsequent transfer to Juventus, has played 64 times in the Premier League and was once called “incredible” by former manager Gary O’Neil.

Therefore, if Sunderland miss out on Lucumi and Crystal Palace keep hold of Guehi, Kelly, similar to O’Nien, could be an ideal option for Le Bris, making this one to watch.

Shivam Dube and Ramandeep Singh have been added to India’s T20I squad for the series against England in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh. Reddy is out of the five-match series with a side strain, while Rinku experienced lower-back spasms while fielding during the first T20I against England and is out for at least the second and third matches.*With the second game set to be played later today in Chennai, Dube and Ramandeep will be available from the third T20I onwards.Reddy picked up his injury during a training session ahead of the second T20I. He will head to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence – the newly opened National Cricket Academy premises on the outskirts of Bengaluru – for rehabilitation.Dube’s last outing for India was in August 2024, during an ODI series in Sri Lanka. He then missed India’s home T20I series against Bangladesh with a back injury. Dube returned to cricket with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 151 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 179.76, and took three wickets at an economy of 9.31.In all, he has played 33 T20Is for India, for 448 runs at a strike rate of 134.93 with the bat, and 11 wickets with the ball. He was part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad in the West Indies and USA last year.Ramandeep has played just the two T20Is for India, both in South Africa last November. In the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy, the 50-over tournament, he totalled 126 runs from six innings for Punjab, mostly providing quick runs for a strike rate of 134.04.Dube’s most recent outing at the competitive level was Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir, which ended on Saturday afternoon. He was out without scoring in both innings, and picked up one wicket in the match as Mumbai lost by five wickets. Ramandeep was also involved in the just-concluded Ranji round, also minimally, scoring 16 and a duck in Punjab’s big loss to Karnataka.India won the first T20I against England, in Kolkata, by seven wickets with all of 43 balls remaining. Reddy didn’t have much to do in the game: he took two catches, but did not get to bowl or bat as India romped home. Rinku, too, did not get to bat with the top order polishing off the chase of 133.

India’s updated T20I squad

Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Axar Patel (vice-capt), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shivam Dube, Ramandeep Singh.*

Sydney Thunder defended 135 – the second-lowest total defended in a BBL playoff game – to go through to the Challenger

Tristan Lavalette22-Jan-2025Legspinner Tanveer Sangha thwarted Glenn Maxwell on a tricky Showground surface and quick Nathan McAndrew claimed five wickets as Sydney Thunder superbly defended a modest total in the BBL elimination final.Melbourne Stars had high hopes of chasing 136 in 19 overs, but lost regular wickets including Maxwell for 28 off 21 balls. McAndrew started the damage with a brilliant new ball spell and finished with 5 for 16 on a spin-friendly pitch.The match was reduced to 19 overs per side due to lightning early in Thunder’s innings, which led to a brief delay.Thunder will play crosstown rivals Sydney Sixers at the SCG in Friday’s Challenger with the winner to meet Hobart Hurricanes in the final.It was a disappointment for Stars, who were riding a five-game win streak but their title drought extends by another season.McAndrew, spinners crush StarsThunder were under pressure defending what appeared a below par total. They needed early wickets and McAndrew delivered by dismissing openers Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers.The match boiled down to how their spinners would fare against Maxwell and Stars skipper Marcus Stoinis. Offspinner Chris Green stepped up and lured Stoinis into a mishit on the legside, where George Garton claimed a brilliant catch diving forward at deep midwicket.After copping early punishment, Sangha produced the key wicket of Maxwell, who tried to work it to the legside but got a top-edge and the bowler held on with glee.Sangha was on a hat-trick when he dismissed Tom Curran first ball before McAndrew claimed late wickets to ensure Thunder avoided any late nerves. After leading superbly and making all the right moves in the field, skipper David Warner fittingly took the final catch to trigger jubilation for Thunder’s players and fans.Maxwell shines briefly after top-order collapseIt always felt that the match would be decided one way or another by Maxwell. He was at the crease within five overs after Stars’ top-order struggles continued as they crashed to 27 for 3.In his season debut, as a late replacement for Beau Webster, veteran Peter Handscomb had a tough initiation. Having missed out on the Test tour of Sri Lanka, Handscomb was keen to showcase his prowess at facing spin but never looked comfortable and on 11 he was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Tom Andrews.Glenn Maxwell took the pressure off after early wickets•Getty ImagesIn came Maxwell on the back of a purple patch where he almost single-handedly lifted Stars into an unlikely finals berth. While other batters had struggled mightily, Maxwell made it look easy with a hat-trick of boundaries off Andrews.The first two were trademark reverse sweeps before whacking a boundary through midwicket – where a fielder had just been moved from.Maxwell then hit Sangha for a monstrous six over deep midwicket to race to 23 off 11 balls. But on this occasion Maxwell couldn’t put the cape on and Stars fell apart without their talisman despite some late hitting from Mark Steketee.Warner falls early, Davies guides them at backendWarner has been Thunder’s rock amid top-order shuffling. After a slow start to the tournament, Warner anchored Thunder’s batting superbly to ensure they earned a home final.But Warner’s first BBL final ended quickly when he fell for a second-ball duck after he mistimed Curran to cover.Matthew Gilkes came to the crease and decided to go for broke in the powerplay, knowing that the surface would wear and become more difficult to bat against spin. He whacked Curran for six over deep square leg and his aggressiveness rubbed off on 20-year-old Hugh Weibgen, who unleashed a boundary off the back foot in his new role as opener.Gilkes raced to 22 before having good fortune when he hit to cover where Curran caught it low to the turf. But third umpire Michael Graham-Smith gave it not out after replays suggested the ball touched the ground.Thunder struggled on resumption and were strangled by Stars’ spinners in tough batting conditions. Sam Billings had a cameo, but played a risky strategy, and it was left to Ollie Davies to ensure they batted the allocated overs.Davies top-scored with 36 but frustratingly fell in the 18th over. Thunder did finish off with some momentum after a last ball six from big-hitting Andrews.Usama Mir struck with his second ball•Getty ImagesStars spinners relish favourable conditionsStars’ quicks struggled in the powerplay, including veteran quick Steketee who was a revelation in the backend of the regular season to help lift Stars into the finals.As soon as the powerplay ended, Stoinis had no hesitation in giving the ball to legspinner Usama Mir. He delivered almost immediately with a well flighted delivery that held up in the surface and deceived Weibgen, who spooned a return catch.It was the fourth time this tournament that Mir claimed a caught and bowled as he continued to spin the ball sharply off the surface. He concentrated almost entirely on legbreaks as an intriguing battle emerged with Billings, who tried to break the stranglehold by reverse sweeping.Mir had Gilkes holing out to a fired-up Maxwell, who told nearby fans to quieten down as Stars took control in the middle overs. Left-arm spinner Doug Warren, playing just his third match of the season and first since Boxing Day, bowled quick darts at the stumps and was unlucky not to have Billings stumped after a fumble with the gloves from Harper.He was finally rewarded with the key wicket of Billings in the 12th over as Stars’ seamers returned in the backend and focused on taking the pace off the ball to ensure Thunder never flourished at the backend.

Guglielmo Vicario explained the differences between Thomas Frank's methods to Ange Postecoglou's as the goalkeeper admitted that Tottenham have a better "understanding" under the new boss. The Italian talked about the dramatic shift inside the dressing room, revealing how Frank’s pragmatic approach has ripped up Postecoglou’s ultra-attacking mantra and replaced it with discipline, structure, and grit.

• Clean sheets are the new currency

  Tuesday night’s 1-0 triumph over Villarreal in the Champions League wasn’t just a statement win. It was another defensive masterclass. That shutout made it four clean sheets in their first five matches under Frank. Compare that to the same stage under Postecoglou a year ago, when Spurs had just one clean sheet to their name. The difference couldn’t be starker. Vicario insists the team now have a far deeper understanding of how to manage games from back to front.

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  Learning to read the fight

  Talking to reporters, Vicario said: "What has changed is being able to recognise the different phases of the game, understanding when we need to press high with intensity and when we need to cover the pitch better. In general, there’s more focus on defending the box, also because we have more clarity about the different movements without the ball."

  But the keeper wasn’t blind to the flaws, either. He admitted Spurs gave Villarreal too many opportunities on the break and warned they need to “take away hope” from teams trying to hit them on the counter.

  “Against Villarreal, we allowed a few too many transitions, and we need to take away a bit of hope from the opponents when they go on counterattack. Overall, it was an excellent defensive performance as a team, and we have to keep going this way," he added.

• A club reborn by silverware

  Vicario believes the biggest transformation has come from the Europa League triumph last season, a moment that broke Tottenham’s infamous cycle of near-misses. 

  “Winning surely gives you a different dimension, probably even in the eyes of others and a bit of healthy respect. We used to have this thing, even within the club, of being the ones who always got there but never managed to win,” he said.

  “But now we’ve done it. That’s freed us up a little. We’ve taken a weight off our shoulders, so we can now move forward, aware of our strengths. And also with some goals, which we’ll keep to ourselves, but we absolutely want to achieve.”

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  Flying start proves the point

  Tottenham’s early-season form suggests Frank’s blueprint is already paying off. Three wins from their opening four league matches have them planted firmly in the mix at the top end of the table. The next challenge comes on Saturday at the Amex, where Brighton will test Spurs’ newfound defensive steel.

Duckett gave Stars hope with 67 off 49 balls in big chase but lacked support

Tristan Lavalette28-Dec-2024

Sam Billings’ half-century rebuilt for Sydney Thunder•Getty Images

Sam Billings smashed a half-century after capitalising on a bizarre non-appeal on a run out as Sydney Thunder beat hapless Melbourne Stars by 18 runs in Canberra.After Thunder were sent in on a flat Manuka Oval surface, Billings top-scored with 72 off 39 balls having on 16 survived a run out when Stars failed to appeal.Chasing 183, in-form opener Ben Duckett gave Stars hope with 67 off 49 balls but he lacked support as they slumped to a 0-5 record with their finals chances almost over.Fresh after a week off, Thunder (2-1) were sharp in the field while quick Wes Agar led a disciplined attack with three wickets.Warner again can’t fire, Billings makes Stars payWith Sam Konstas taking centre stage at the MCG, Thunder reshuffled their batting order with Cameron Bancroft moving up from No.3 to partner David Warner in a reunion for the former Test openers.Warner has brought plenty of energy since taking Thunder’s leadership reins, but had yet to fire with the bat. He looked in a determined mood with a second-ball boundary and his placement through the offside was a feature.Warner ran hard between the wickets and looked to rattle the bowlers with inventive strokes. His best was a switch-hit for six off allrounder Beau Webster as he added 41 runs with Bancroft, who made an unbeaten 70 against Sydney Sixers.But Warner was clean bowled by Webster to trigger a Thunder collapse before Billings and Jason Sangha steadied Thunder’s innings with a 60-run partnership.Billings received a major reprieve in the 13th over when he was short of his ground at the non-striker’s end after a direct throw from Joel Paris hit the stumps, but Stars did not appeal.”You’re kidding me…sounds about right,” grinned Glenn Maxwell when he found out while speaking on the broadcast.Billings cashed in and added 56 off 23 runs. He targeted the quicks down the ground, while he reverse swept legspinner Usama Mir for three consecutive boundaries.Billings powered to a half-century off just 29 balls but couldn’t stay at the crease in the death overs after he chopped a slower ball from quick Peter Siddle onto his stumps.”I actually did,” laughed Billings after he was asked on the broadcast if he knew he was out.Ben Duckett’s knock wen in vain for Melbourne Stars•Getty Images

Usama redeems himselfStars’ spirit sank in the fourth over when Usama dropped Bancroft on 19 at short third after he lost his footing.Usama was brought on in the sixth over and redeemed himself by bowling Bancroft with a quicker delivery. He deceived Ollie Davies on the next delivery by slowing his speed as he held onto a sharp return catch to his right before setting off in celebration.Usama was unable to claim a hat-trick and things got harder for him later in the innings amid an onslaught from Billings. Webster claimed three wickets after his release from Australia’s Test squad, but veteran quicks Siddle and Joel Paris were Stars’ most reliable bowlers as they cleverly mixed up their speeds.Sangha suffers injury after picking up MaxwellWarner’s aggressive captaincy paid major dividends after he called upon Sangha’s handy legspin in the ninth over of Stars’ chase with Maxwell fresh to the crease. Warner had been egging on Maxwell, who couldn’t contain himself and mistimed a slog to short fine leg.A cackling Warner was overjoyed as Thunder celebrated with gusto, but Sangha emerged gingerly and in discomfort with a bicep injury. He bowled two more deliveries before leaving the field and he threw his cap in frustration as he entered the changerooms.Sangha suffered a bicep strain last month while bowling in the One-Day Cup as he faces a nervous wait on the severity of his latest injury.Duckett again delivers in vainAfter smashing 68 runs off 29 against Sixers, all eyes were on Duckett who single-handedly kept Stars on track. He had an early reprieve when a thin under edge off allrounder Daniel Sams was dropped by Billings behind the stumps in a low chance.Duckett made them pay as he looked a class above his team-mates. He batted calmly and mostly in orthodox fashion to reach his half-century off 37 balls.But Duckett finally fell to Sams as Stars’ chase ran out of puff despite some late hitting from Webster.