All football fans will be familiar with the chant “can we play you every week?”, but it would be more apt if Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters started signing “can we play in the Carabao Cup every week?”, even if it hasn’t quite got the same ring to it.

This is because, having already ousted West Ham in round two, Wolves beat Everton 2-0 in the EFL Cup at Molineux on Tuesday, thanks to goals from Marshall Munetsi and then Tolu Arokodare.

So, despite having beaten two top division teams in the League Cup, the Old Gold have lost all five Premier League matches they’ve played so far, the club’s worst-ever start to a season, following last weekend’s 3-1 reverse at the hands of Leeds.

On Saturday night, Wolves will face Spurs in North London, and an appointment with Doctor Tottenham might just be what they need to cure their relegation woes, but Vítor Pereira will need to unleash his “huge talent” if his side are going to get off the mark in the capital.

Jørgen Strand Larsen's importance to Wolves

This is Wolverhampton Wanderers’ eighth successive season in the top division, their longest stay since the 70s, but many fear that the streak could come to an end, given that they continuously sell their best players.

In 2023, it was Matheus Nunes and Rúben Neves who were sold for big money, with Pedro Neto and Max Kilman following suit 12 months later, while Rayan Aït-Nouri and Matheus Cunha were sold for a combined £93.5m during the most-recent transfer window.

Cunha scored 17 goals last season, directly involved in 39% of Wolves’ Premier League goals, despite sitting out five matches due to various suspensions.

Thus, he was always going to leave a rather large void in the Black Country, one that Jørgen Strand Larsen is attempting to fill, having himself scored 14 times during his debut campaign at Molineux, netting twice so far this season, both in the Carabao Cup.

As already outlined, Wolves have become accustomed to selling their stars in recent times, but recognised the potentially disastrous consequences of allowing Strand Larsen to leave, thereby rejecting multiple bids from Newcastle for the Norwegian’s signature, the highest of which was £55m.

The 25-year-old has been nursing an achilles issue, thereby sitting out the defeats to Everton and Newcastle, before being introduced off the bench against Leeds on Saturday, so he simply must start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, but which new teammate will help get the best out of him?

Wolves' new Matheus Cunha

On deadline day, Wolverhampton Wanderers signed striker Tolu Arokodare from Genk for a reported fee of £24m.

The Nigerian international started against both Newcastle and Leeds, in the aforementioned absence of Strand Larsen, before opening his account in old gold by scoring off the bench in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

From his time in Belgium, Arokodare is certainly highly rated, with Graeme Bailey labelling him a “huge talent” and at 6 ft 6 in (197 cms), he is imposing and a major attacking threat.

Earlier this year, the striker bagged his first two international goals, netting for Nigeria against Russia at the Luzhniki and then during a victory over Rwanda in a World Cup qualifier in Uyo earlier this month.

At club level meantime, Arokodare scored 22 goals in 34 appearances for his first European club, namely Valmiera in Latvia, spending time at Köln and then Amiens, before truly bursting onto the scene with Genk.

Last season, he scored 23 goals in all competitions for the Smurfs, thereby sharing the Jupiler Pro League golden boot.

The table below indicates how prolific he was in Belgium.

Goals

21

1st

Goals inside the box

21

1st

Headed goals

3

1st

Shots

158

1st

Shots on target

52

1st

Big chances missed

34

1st

Aerial duels won

156

3rd

% of aerial duels won

63.41%

5th*

*minimum 100 won.

As the table documents, Arokodare led the way for all attacking metrics in Belgium’s top-flight last season.

Worth highlighting that all 21 of his goals were scored inside the penalty area, including three headers, underlining his style of play, albeit the fact he missed a whopping 34 Opta-defined big chances has to be a concern.

Nevertheless, the fact he won the third-most aerial duels is commendable, emphasising how he could be useful to Wolves.

Pereira has favoured a back five as Wolves boss, a shape which would allow him to deploy two centre-forwards together, having notably seen Cunha and Strand Larsen work in tandem last term.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Thus, if he selects Arokodare and Strand Larsen together against Tottenham, it would prevent one or the other from becoming massively isolated while, together, they’re capable of causing Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero problems, potentially helping Wolves cause a massive shock in North London.

100% passing, 100% dribbles: Wolves star is as undroppable as Strand Larsen

Wolves secured their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Everton.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 24, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo perdeu dois jogadores titulares para o jogo do próximo domingo (13) diante do Flamengo, no Maracanã, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. O lateral-direito Rafinha e o volante Pablo Maia receberam o terceiro cartão amarelo na derrota por 2 a 0 para o Atlético-MG, no Morumbi, neste domingo (6).

RelacionadasSão PauloJames Rodríguez e Lucas Moura se apresentam no Morumbi e ‘estreiam’ nova camisa do São Paulo São Paulo06/08/2023São PauloATUAÇÕES: Lucas ‘vacila’, e meio-campo do São Paulo vai mal em derrota para o Atlético-MGSão Paulo06/08/2023BrasileirãoLucas Moura comete pênalti em reestreia, e Atlético-MG vence o São Paulo pelo BrasileirãoBrasileirão06/08/2023

+ Confira a classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro

Com isso, o técnico Dorival Júnior terá que mexer na escalação inicial para enfrentar um dos líderes da competição. Uma das opções é mudar o esquema de jogo para uma formação com um atleta a menos no meio-campo e jogar com dois pontas e um centroavante. 

Para o lugar de Rafinha, Dorival deve optar pela entrada de Nathan Mendes. Já no meio, Luan surge como um dos candidatos para a vaga de Pablo Maia, assim como Alisson pode ser o escolhido para atuar no ataque em caso de nova formação.

+ ATUAÇÕES: Lucas ‘vacila’, e meio-campo do São Paulo vai mal em derrota para o Atlético-MG

Antes de enfrentar o Flamengo, o São Paulo tem o jogo da volta da Sul-Americana contra o San Lorenzo-ARG nesta quinta-feira (10), às 19h, no Morumbi. O Tricolor terá que tirar a vantagem dos argentinos, que venceram o primeiro duelo por 1 a 0, na Argentina.

PRÓXIMOS JOGOS DO SÃO PAULO – DATAS, HORÁRIOS E ONDE ASSISTIR:

São Paulo x San Lorenzo (ARG) – 10/8, quarta às 19h – Morumbi – Sul-Americana – Onde assistir: ESPN e Star+
Flamengo x São Paulo – domingo, 13/8, às 18h30 – Maracanã – Onde assistir: Premiere
São Paulo x Corinthians – quarta-feira, 16/8, às 19h30 – Morumbi – Copa do Brasil – Onde assistir: SporTV, Amazon Prime e Premiere
São Paulo x Botafogo – sábado, 19/8, às 16h – Morumbi – Onde assistir: Premiere
América-MG x São Paulo – sábado, 26/8, horário a definir – Independência – Onde assistir: Premiere

If there was one problem to identify in Arsenal’s ultimately failed attempt to win silverware in 2024/25 it was their lack of goals.

With Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka missing a hefty period of time through injury during the latter stages of the campaign, it meant that for the first time in 101 years, no player scored double figures in a league campaign for the Gunners.

It’s astonishing stuff, it really is, and it beggars belief that Mikel Arteta was able to guide his troops to a Champions League semi-final.

It wasn’t always pretty but the north Londoners found a way and they did so courtesy of Mikel Merino, a midfielder more renowned for winning duels and playing a role in breaking up the play than finding the back of the net.

Alas, Arteta has helped transform the Spaniard into a force to be reckoned with.

Merino's stunning hat-trick for Spain

Before Leicester away last season, the idea of Merino playing as a makeshift and emergency centre forward had been floated. No one believed it would happen, but needs must.

Gabriel Jesus and Havertz were both out long-term through injury and Leandro Trossard looked too lightweight to play the role the German has performed so effectively since arriving from Chelsea.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Trossard is slight, he’s good with the ball at his feet but he’s never going to outmuscle a hefty centre-back to the ball.

As a result, Merino was thrown into the fray. His impact was remarkable. In that clash with Leicester back in early February, the former Real Sociedad man appeared from the bench with the score 0-0. The score when he left the field? 2-0 to the Arsenal. Merino had scored both while playing as a striker.

It was an experiment that continued to work, so much so that the Spaniard actually looked more effective when leading the line. He ended the 2024/25 campaign having netted six times in a dozen games as centre-forward. Merino even bagged against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

While the summer arrival of Viktor Gyokeres will dampen the chances of the 29-year-old appearing in that role again, he’s certainly staking a decent claim for it.

Indeed, the midfielder has been in stunning form over the current international break. He bagged in Spain’s 3-0 win over Bulgaria last Thursday and went even better in their 6-0 rout of Turkey on Sunday evening, scoring a hat-trick.

While Merino wasn’t playing as a forward on this occasion, his ability to pop up in the right place at the right time and attack the box evoked memories of players like Frank Lampard and, from an Arsenal perspective, Aaron Ramsey, in their primes.

The fact of the matter is that the Spain international is a mighty fine finisher, perhaps one of the best Arteta has at his disposal. The way he took his goals, particularly the third, against Turkey, was first-class.

That three-goal performance isn’t just a purple patch. Merino has showcased throughout 2025 that he knows how to find the back of the net. A few in Arsenal colours, including Martin Odegaard, could take note.

Why Martin Odegaard needs to emulate Mikel Merino

When Odegaard signed for Arsenal, initially on loan in January 2021, the Gunners were getting a player who simply needed to find a home.

Signed by Real Madrid when he was merely a boy, he grew up in Spain as a wonderkid but struggled to ever really make an impact in the capital, playing just 11 senior matches for the European giants, failing to score or assist.

It’s very rare that a pure wonderkid such as Odegaard does go on to make the grade but he’s certainly done that with Arsenal. He’s the club captain, he’s the man Arteta relies on to set the tone and lead the team’s press on the field.

Since moving to north London, he’s been brilliant, there’s no doubt about that. Back in 2022/23, he scored more goals than any other midfielder in the Premier League (15). He’s been a creative marvel, with prominent Arsenal content creator, LT Arsenal, noting that his passing is “shades of Mesut Ozil.”

In fact, the £74m-rated Norwegian has regularly been compared to the great German during his time at the Emirates Stadium. Liverpool great John Arne Riise once proclaimed that his fellow countryman was “a more complete player than Bergkamp and Ozil.”

Odegaard certainly looked like he had it all during that 2022/23 campaign, but arguably like a lot of Arsenal’s forward line, has struggled to kick on since.

The 2024/25 season was the nadir of his time in the English capital to date. Odegaard struggled with an ankle problem and didn’t look as though he trusted his body fully. His shooting became weak and feeble, ultimately ending the term with just six goals, only three of which came in the top-flight.

It frustrated many a supporter. Time and time the Norway star would get the ball on the edge of the area and despite having plenty of time would refuse to shoot, instead taking the more challenging option of finding a defence-splitting pass.

Odegaard’s creativity is second to very few in Europe’s top divisions but to be considered elite, to be considered one of the best players in his position, a Kevin De Bruyne type, he needs to start scoring more goals.

He needs to get back to the type of form we saw in 2022/23 and to do that, he needs to take a leaf out of Merino’s book.

Merino had never been a prominent scorer until 2025 but he’s mastered the art of arriving late in the box and emerging in the nick of time to sweep the ball home from the edge of the area. Odegaard trademarked that sort of goal two seasons ago and he looked like one of the best in Europe as a result.

He needs to find the same level of instinctiveness when it comes to finding the net that Merino currently has. Once colleagues at Sociedad, there is no doubt a great level of respect between the two but the elder statesman is certainly the better finisher as it stands.

A duel monster Odegaard is not, but that’s not what we’re asking of him here. He’s never going to emulate Merino in that regard. However, we know he can emulate him in the goals department; we’ve already seen that during his early days in red and white.

If the 26-year-old can rediscover that level of performance again, then it won’t be long before he’s being recognised among some of the finest attacking midfielders to play in the Premier League.

Hale End prodigy left Arsenal for £0, now he's better than Gyokeres & Isak

Arsenal could have saved a lot of hassle in the transfer market with a decision at Hale End.

By
Matt Dawson

Sep 7, 2025

West Indies have missed on the Women’s ODI World Cup by a fraction – literally – after they successfully chased 167 against Thailand in 10.5 overs but still needed to score the runs a little quicker to overhaul Bangladesh’s net run-rate. West Indies needed to reach 167 in 9.6 overs or win with a boundary that would take them to 171 in 10.5 overs. In the end, their net run-rate was 0.013 behind Bangladesh’s, which denied them a place at this year’s World Cup.This is the first time in six editions, since the year 2000, that West Indies will not be part of a Women’s World Cup and comes after they finished as losing semi-finalists in 2022. Bangladesh, who qualified ahead of West Indies, will play in their second successive World Cup despite losing to Pakistan by seven wickets in the final fixture of the qualifier. Bangladesh also lost to West Indies in their campaign while West Indies’ opening defeat to Scotland and 65-run loss to Pakistan were ultimately responsible for them falling short.Related

• Chinelle Henry to miss West Indies tour of England

• Pakistan will not travel to India for 2025 Women's ODI World Cup

• Sana's all-round heroics take Pakistan to ODI World Cup

After Pakistan secured their World Cup spot on Thursday, the final place was decided in the last match in dramatic fashion. West Indies chose to field first, while Pakistan were chasing 179 against Bangladesh. Pakistan reached the target inside 40 overs but had they taken 45 overs to get there, West Indies would have no possible scenario to go past Bangladesh’s net run-rate while chasing. West Indies also gave themselves far more to get than they would have liked after they had Thailand 85 for 6 in the 27th over and a target of 120 looked possible.Natthakan Chantham kept the tail together for partnerships of 33, 14, 19 and 15 for the seventh to tenth wickets as Thailand batted until the 47th over to set West Indies a target of 167. Afy Fletcher’s career-best 4 for 20 will be but a footnote in a painful chapter of West Indian cricket’s history.By the time West Indies’ chase began, they knew exactly what they needed to do to qualify for the World Cup and it was a tough task. To leapfrog Bangladesh, they had to score 167 runs in ten overs, with a little bit of wriggle room. If the West Indies hit a six when the scores were level, they could have taken 11 overs, which meant their scoring rate had to be at least 15.64.Thailand started with a no-ball in an over that also included a dropped catch (Hayley Matthews on 3) and a wide but West Indies got no boundaries off Phannita Maya initially and the required run-rate was already pushing past 17.5. Matthews hit the third ball of Nattaya Boochatham’s first over for six and so began a parade of boundaries. Matthews was on 22 when she was caught off a no-ball and got to fifty off 21 balls, one more delivery than the world record in women’s ODIs held by Deandra Dottin while Qiana Joseph contributed 26 off 12 balls before she was caught at fine leg, trying to clear the boundary. By then, West Indies were 81 in the sixth over and, with Matthews still there, on track to break Bangladesh’s hearts.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Big-hitting Chinelle Henry was promoted to No. 3 and took two balls to get her eye in before hitting her first six. She combined with Matthews for 24 runs off nine balls and West Indies seemed in control but when Matthews was caught at short third, the nerves started showing. West Indies needed 62 runs off four overs when Matthews was dismissed.Shermaine Campbell joined Henry and understood her role was to rotate strike but the singles only added pressure. Henry smashed 20 runs off five balls in the ninth over to leave West Indies needing 31 off six balls to qualify. They got nine off the first three balls before Campbell was run out and the pressure cooker close to exploding. Henry closed out the over with a six and a four and West Indies ended the Powerplay on 156 for 6, 11 runs away but with balls running out.They took a single off the first ball of the 11th over and then Henry was run out which meant they needed to score more than the target in order to surpass Bangladesh’s net run-rate. After Aaliyah Alleyne hit a four off her first ball, she took a single, which put West Indies on 162 after 10.4 overs. A four off the next ball would have tied the match and then they would have needed six of the final ball to get to 172 and past Bangladesh. Instead, Stafanie Taylor hit the next ball for six to end the game with West Indies’ total on 168. She punched her bat straightaway as West Indian tears flowed and their World Cup dream ended.Scant consolation will be that no team before them had even scored ten runs an over in an innings in Women’s ODI history (over 1400 matches). Only one team has scored 15-plus runs per over in an innings in men’s ODI history (nearly 5000 matches) – 15.83 by New Zealand against Bangladesh in 2008, who scored 95 for 0 in six overs to finish a chase of 94. That they managed to score at 15.50 and still fell short of a World Cup will be difficult to digest in days to come.[File photo] Muneeba Ali top-scored in Pakistan’s chase•Asian Cricket Council

It was far less complicated for Pakistan, who completed a stellar run of five wins from five with their most comprehensive performance in the last game. They were especially untroubled by Bangladesh, who they had on the ropes at 21 for 3 inside seven overs and 178 for 9 after 50.Bangladesh had no individual half-centuries or partnerships worth more than 44 and posted their first score under 200 of the tournament. Fatima Sana was excellent with the new ball and struck twice. She bowled Fargana Hoque and then had Nigar Sultana out lbw for 1 to finish with 12 tournament wickets, the joint second-most of the qualifiers behind Matthews.Ritu Moni’s 48 and Fahima Khatun’s 44* ensured Bangladesh got past 150 but they needed much more. Marufa Akter gave them a good start when she removed Shawaal Zulfiqar lbw with a pinpoint inswinging yorker but it was all Pakistan from there.Sidra Amin and Muneeba Ali put on a second-wicket stand of 80 and Muneeba scored her second half-century of the competition before Muneeba and Aliya Riaz shared a 74-run third wicket partnership. Riaz’s fifty was her third of the tournament and suggests her promotion to No. 4 could be permanent.Pakistan reached the target after 39.4 overs which brought Bangladesh’s net run-rate down from 1.033 to 0.639. They had no idea then how crucial it was that they didn’t dip any lower. It will doubtless concern Bangladesh that they did not beat either of Pakistan or West Indies but those are worries for another day as they celebrate reaching the World Cup.The ICC has confirmed to ESPNcricnfo that the tournament will follow a hybrid model, in line with the agreement reached by the BCCI and PCB earlier this year. Pakistan will play their games outside India.For West Indies, it will be a long trip home with the 2026 T20 World Cup next in their sights.

After a summer of perhaps foolish optimism, any such positives have been hard to find for Manchester United in the early weeks of 2025/26, amid what has been the club’s worst start to a Premier League season since the inaugural campaign in 1992.

One notable ray of light has been the displays of summer signing, Bryan Mbeumo, however, with the Cameroonian – signed from Brentford on an initial £65m deal – having scored twice in five games, while denied a third by the sprawling Gianluigi Donnarumma last time out.

There is evidence to suggest that the Red Devils shouldn’t get too carried away by such a promising start. Indeed, £86m flop Antony scored in his first three league outings for the club. Dan James, meanwhile, netted three times in just his first four top-flight games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

That said, the silk and speed of Mbeumo is difficult not to be heartened by, with both he and fellow new arrival Matheus Cunha seemingly relishing their new status in Manchester, rather than being burdened by it.

The question remains as to whether Mbeumo and co now have the right manager to get the best out of them, with talk rife over the future of Ruben Amorim.

When previous post-Fergie managers were sacked

There are mixed reports over whether Amorim is actually under real pressure or not, with recent claims suggesting that he retains the backing of the board. Other reports, however, have claimed that he could have just three games left to save himself, with Chelsea, Sunderland and Brentford to come before the next international break.

Should a change occur by the time that October hiatus comes around, it would make the Portuguese coach the manager to have been sacked the quickest into a new season in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, even ahead of his predecessor Erik ten Hag.

In the case of the Dutchman, a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United – which included a glaring Diogo Dalot miss and a controversial late penalty for the Hammers – spelt the end for his turbulent Old Trafford reign, with the ex-Ajax boss relieved of his duties on 28 October.

The permanent manager that Ten Hag had replaced – Solskjaer – was given his marching orders on 21 November 2021, with a 4-1 defeat away to Watford sparking what appeared an inevitable exit, in the wake of prior defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool.

The Norwegian had himself been parachuted in mid-season three years earlier, with Jose Mourinho dismissed in December 2018, a 3-1 defeat away to Liverpool proving the final nail in the coffin.

As for Louis van Gaal, the enigmatic veteran did at least see out the season before his 2016 dismissal, albeit with news of his departure unfortunately filtering through as he celebrated his FA Cup triumph on the Wembley turf.

David Moyes – the man to endure the briefest permanent tenure to date – lasted just ten months into his six-year deal, prior to being given the boot in April 2014.

Erik ten Hag

28 Oct 2024

West Ham 3-1 Man Utd

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

21 Nov 2021

Watford 4-1 Man Utd

Jose Mourinho

18 Dec 2018

Liverpool 3-1 Man Utd

Louis van Gaal

23 May 2016

Man Utd 2-1 Palace

David Moyes

22 April 2014

Everton 2-0 Man Utd

Amorim could well be the next victim of such ruthlessness, with a potential replacement already being lined up…

Why Andoni Iraola could be a perfect Amorim replacement

According to reports relayed by Caught Offside, among the leading candidates to replace the former Sporting CP man in Manchester is Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, with tension in the Old Trafford boardroom said to have reached “boiling point”.

The report claims that there is a potential plan in place to carry out an “international reset” in the next break, should results not drastically improve, with Iraola among the top targets being lined up amid his fine work on the south coast. This comes amid reports that Sir Gareth Southgate may also be in the mix.

In an era of managerial excuses and complaints, the Spaniard has set himself apart by simply cracking on with things at the Vitality Stadium, be it despite a raft of injuries last term, or numerous key exits this summer.

Indeed, the Basque-born tactician has thus far guided the Cherries to fourth in the table in 2025/26, despite having lost four members of last season’s back five, including Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi.

The only defeat thus far came on the opening night away at Anfield, although with the expensively assembled hosts needing two late goals to see off their spirited visitors and the lively Antoine Semenyo in that 4-2 thriller.

Iraola – who has overseen respectable 12th and ninth-place finishes in the Premier League – has been particularly key in taking that man Semenyo to a whole new level, registering 36 goals and assists in 83 games under Gary O’Neil’s successor, as per Transfermarkt.

That includes three goals and two assists already this season, with the Ghanaian thriving as part of a relentless and dynamic front line. Such an approach appears tailor-made to get the best out of Mbeumo, with the pair deemed to be statistically and stylistically similar players among those in their position in Europe, as per FBref.

Like Semenyo, the United man is an adept goalscorer and creator, while mirroring his Bournemouth counterpart in being able to operate off the right flank or centrally.

That ability was evident last term, with Mbeumo racking up 27 goals and assists in the league, while creating 17 ‘big chances’ and averaging 1.8 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

Semenyo, for context, registered 17 goals and assists of his own, while creating 11 ‘big chances’ and averaging 1.2 key passes under Iraola’s watch.

For the ex-Bristol City man to have flourished with the in-demand coach at the helm, just imagine the heights that Mbeumo could reach in such a front-foot, aggressive attacking set-up.

He is an “incredible” manager, as lauded by Pep Guardiola, with it likely to be intriguing to see if the 43-year-old could translate such success at United.

He’s young, Premier League proven and with a knack for getting results despite the circumstances and chaos surrounding him – sounds perfect, right?

Time running out: 5 ways that Ruben Amorim can save his job at Man Utd

INEOS are running out of patience.

ByTom Cunningham Sep 17, 2025

Former England allrounder tells Disney+ documentary of the sport’s role in his recovery from life-changing crash

Valkerie Baynes24-Apr-20251:45

‘Flintoff’ on Disney+: An exclusive look at Freddie’s story

There’s a point in , the Disney+ documentary released on Friday about the life of England allrounder Andrew Flintoff, that stands out from a cricket perspective.Amid harrowing, never-seen-before images of the devastating injuries he suffered in a car crash just over two years ago, interspersed with footage from the highs and lows of a storied career, Flintoff’s wife, Rachael, says it first: cricket saved him.In the most confronting examples imaginable of cricket’s influence on his life, and the accident itself, Flintoff describes his instincts during the crash while filming the TV series in December 2022 as being like the split-second decision a batter makes on how to deal with a delivery hurtling towards him.As the open-topped three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 he was driving around Surrey’s Dunsfold Aerodrome overturned on that fateful day, he believed that if he turned his head a certain way, he would likely break his neck or die. So he made the decision to fall face first.He was left with broken ribs and serious facial injuries, which required extensive reconstructive surgery and left him with noticeable scarring.Related

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England Lions suffer heavy defeat in one-off tour match

Andrew Flintoff 'remembers everything' about near-fatal crash in Disney+ documentary

“You get 0.4 seconds to make your mind up where the ball’s going, what shot are you going to play, how are you going to move your feet,” Flintoff says. “As it started going over, I looked at the ground and I knew if I get hit on the side, I’m going to break my neck. If I get hit on the temple, I’m dead. My best chance is go face down. I thought my face had come off. I was frightened to death.”And perhaps it is his cricket background that has contributed to the difficulty he has experienced healing the psychological scars of the accident.As a player, he says, he was able to not just visualise performing a particular skill, but to feel like he was living it. In the documentary, he likens that experience to the intensity of the nightmares and flashbacks he has of the crash, remembering everything in vivid detail. It left him battling anxiety which kept him housebound for months except for medical appointments early on in his recovery.”After the accident, I didn’t think I had it in me to get through,” Flintoff says. “This sounds awful, part of me thinks I should have been killed. Part of me thinks I wish I had died. I didn’t want to kill myself. I wouldn’t mistake the two things. I wasn’t wishing, I was thinking: that would have been so much easier. Now I try to take the attitude, the sun will come up tomorrow and my kids will still give me a hug. I feel in a better place now.”Andrew Flintoff says cricket has played a pivotal role in his recovery•ECB via Getty ImagesAgain, cricket has played a pivotal role in Flintoff reaching this point, finding comfort and purpose in his role as head coach of England Lions.”The common theme through my life is obviously my family – parents, brother, grandparents, Rachael, the kids – but then it seems almost everything comes back to cricket,” he tells friend and former England rugby player now presenter Martin Bayfield in a Q&A session after the film’s premiere in London.”That’s been the one constant thread through my life. It’s probably the one thing, like Rachel again said, probably saved me. I’ve been welcomed back into that fold and I’m loving it. I’ve got the opportunity now to coach. Who would have thought a 31-year-old me would be put in charge of kids, the next-best England players? And I absolutely love it.”So for everything that’s happened, I think sport has been the one thing that’s given me the coping mechanisms to get through pretty much anything, because some of the lows in cricket were so low, and you have to come back. It was resilience, it was passion, surrounded by people you love and people you trust. It was probably one of the most important things in my life after my family and my friends.”One of the friends most instrumental in Flintoff’s return to cricket is Rob Key, a former team-mate who is now director of England men’s cricket.In a moving scene in the documentary, Key sheds rare tears talking about how cricket has helped to look after his mate of nearly 30 years. The film reveals how, after the accident, Key would invite Flintoff to attend England Test matches in virtual secrecy, watching from a secluded area and visited by a select few mutual friends as he began to venture out of the house after so long.Key is now also effectively Flintoff’s boss, overseeing the Lions coaching role he has held since last October. And Flintoff was eager to bat away a question from Bayfield about progressing to the England head coach role, held by another friend, Brendon McCullum.”As a player, you’re always looking for the end of the game,” Flintoff says. “It’s about making decisions now, make a good decision now, and make a move, and then put yourself in a position to win a cricket match. I was guilty of that with a lot of things. You do a TV job, and it’s, ‘what’s the next job?’ It’s always chasing something.”We have got an exceptional England coach who is incredible. I’m so happy with where I’m at now. I’m not looking for the next job, I’m coaching the Lions, and I think for me, that is the perfect place for me to sit.”I can work with these young lads. You’re not just coaching them as cricketers, you’re trying to help them navigate through a career, through life, to be better people. I don’t see it as a stepping stone, I see it as the perfect job for me at this moment in time. I hope I am the perfect choice for them.”Flintoff says he will also continue to work in television from time to time.The crash interrupted filming a second series of Flintoff’s programme, where he teaches a group of young men from his hometown of Preston about cricket as a positive influence on their lives and which he has since finished and seen go to air. He also filmed a special edition of the gameshow with plans for more to come.But cricket is very much back as an integral part of his life again. Perhaps it never left.‘Flintoff’ is available exclusively on Disney+

Michael Antonio is reportedly training at a Premier League club after his release from West Ham as the striker bids to battle back from a horror car crash. The 35-year-old Jamaican forward, who just months ago was battling to walk again after a devastating car crash in Epping Forest, has stunned fans by returning to training.

• Antonio's journey: From twisted metal to training ground miracle

  It’s the comeback story no one saw coming. In December last year, Antonio’s £200,000 Ferrari spiralled out of control before smashing into a tree. Emergency services were forced to cut him free from the wreckage after a 45-minute ordeal that left the striker’s femur shattered in four places. Few expected him to kick a ball again. But less than a year later, the iron-willed forward is proving everyone wrong. Antonio’s miraculous recovery saw him back training just four months after the crash, though his time at West Ham eventually came to an emotional end, after the club and player failed to agree on new terms when his contract expired in the summer.

  In August, the Hammers confirmed Antonio would still have access to their training, facilities, and medical care, stressing that discussions were ongoing over a possible non-playing role at the club. For one last hurrah, Antonio even pulled on the shirt for West Ham’s Under-21s, showing flashes of the power and passion that once terrorised Premier League defences. But now, it’s Brentford offering him a new home, at least for training.

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  Brentford throw open their doors

  The Bees have quietly opened their gates to Antonio, allowing him to train under Keith Andrews’ watch. The striker lives nearby, making it an easy arrangement, though insiders say there’s no contract on the table. It’s a lifeline nonetheless, giving Antonio the environment to rebuild his strength and form while he explores his next move. Andrews is understood to have no immediate plans to sign him, but Antonio’s professionalism and determination have reportedly impressed everyone at the club’s Jersey Road base.

  Antonio’s emotional comeback took shape in the summer when he featured in Jamaica’s 1-0 loss to Guatemala in their CONCACAF Gold Cup opener, his first appearance since the accident. Before that, he trained with the national side during Unity Cup preparations, impressing coaches with his fitness and leadership. However, just as things were looking up, Antonio suffered another cruel blow. Jamaica boss Steve McClaren confirmed the striker picked up a calf injury during training, ruling him out for the next few weeks. 

  "Michail Antonio has been training with Brentford, doing very well," McClaren said. "Unfortunately, he has pulled a calf and will be two of three weeks out. He is still training with Brentford so hopefully something will work out with that."

• West Ham have already replaced Antonio

  Antonio’s departure has opened the door for Callum Wilson, released by Newcastle, to join the Hammers. Wilson, plagued by inconsistency and injuries himself, now inherits the role Antonio made his own for nearly a decade, leading the line with brute strength and heart. Meanwhile, Antonio has reinvented himself off the pitch, joining TNT Sports’ new punditry team alongside Gareth Bale, Fara Williams, Jen Beattie, and Anita Asante for the Premier League season. But the striker claimed that he’s not hanging up his boots just yet to focus on punditry.

  "No, definitely not," Antonio told "I'm speaking to clubs right now to see where the best offer is for me to go, and we'll just see how it goes. To be honest, there's a mixture, we're talking to clubs here, we're talking to clubs abroad, but I'm going to leave it very vague – talk to clubs in England and abroad."

  Antonio has his eyes on one last dream, representing Jamaica at the 2026 World Cup in North America. 

  "That's one thing I've not managed to achieve for myself, to be playing in the World Cup, and Jamaica are very close to it," he said. "It's not just that, I just wouldn't want my career to come to an end by a car crash, literally. So I've got something to prove to show that I can come back, I can come back and play well, which I was doing for the last 10 years. Even before I did the car crash, I was starting for West Ham, so it shows I've still got that ability about me and I can do it again."

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  A story of iron will and unfinished business

  From being cut out of twisted metal to running sprints at Brentford’s training base, Antonio’s story is pure inspiration. He could have quit, cashed in on media work, or faded quietly into retirement. Instead, he’s out there rebuilding, sweating, and dreaming of one more goal, one more roar, one more moment under the lights in the United States. However, for now, there’s no contract, no guarantees, no headlines of a new deal. Just Antonio, the man who refuses to give up, chasing one last chapter in a career forged by an unbreakable spirit.

New Zealand seamer’s four-for gives Worcestershire the upper hand on lively deck

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Apr-2025

Jacob Duffy and Matthew Waite took advantage of a seam-friendly pitch to skittle Essex for 179 in the Rothesay County Championship at Chelmsford.New Zealand’s Duffy led the way with a fine display of fast, accurate bowling that was rewarded with figures of 4 for 39 while Waite took out three middle-order wickets as Essex were dismissed inside 59 overs.Only Simon Harmer’s innings lasted more than 47 balls and 68 minutes – his obdurate 77-ball 28 spanned nearly two hours – as no one got to grips with a hybrid pitch that had plenty of grass on it and provided extra lift, carry and lateral movement. The toss was crucial and Brett D’Oliveira won it for Worcestershire.Not that the visitors fared much better when it was their turn to bat. Though Essex were without England pace prospect Sam Cook on instruction from the ECB, they still managed to reduce Worcestershire to 22 for 4 before they revived to 98 for 4 when bad light ended play with nine overs remaining.A knee injury to Michael Pepper, that necessitated a runner when he came back to bat, meant Jordan Cox had to take the wicketkeeping gloves earlier in the campaign that he had planned.Essex never recovered from a poor start. Paul Walter was the first to go when Duffy left just his leg-stump standing as he played across the line. Duffy had a second wicket in eight balls. Charlie Allison had already three times driven Tom Taylor exquisitely straight before playing around one to fall lbw.Cox might have gone in his first over from Tom Taylor, an involuntary edge sneaking through the slips for four. Unfazed, Cox then came down the wicket and lofted Ben Allison over his head for six.Tom Westley had earlier hit Taylor out of the attack with three boundaries in an over, but the bowler gained revenge when he returned to have the Essex captain caught behind after a 60-run partnership with Cox. Cox followed 10 balls later, though, beaten by one from Duffy that nipped off the seam and took a leading edge through to the wicketkeeper.Pepper was injured before lunch, but came out to continue his innings after the break but lasted one ball before rearing up in agony and immediately retiring hurt. It was 106 for 5 soon after that when Matt Critchley sauntered down the wicket to Waite and could only deflect the delivery that followed him. Waite collected a second when he had Noah Thain trapped by a straight one that hit his back pad.Shane Snater slammed Waite for 14 from an over, including a straight six. He was determined to repeat the feat but perished with a wild top-edge against Duffy to be caught at deep third.Pepper returned with Allison as his runner, but his dismissal initiated the beginning of the end of Essex’s innings as the last three wickets fell for two runs. Pepper was trapped lbw before Allison came to the party with two wickets in three balls. Harmer finally departed to a fourth catch at the wicket by Roderick, and then Porter lost his off stump to his former team-mate.The wickets continued to clatter when Worcestershire batted. Jake Libby pushed a delivery from Snater into Critchley’s right hand at third slip and Roderick fell to the same combination, though the catch was taken low down this time.Essex’s debutant overseas bowler Kasun Rajitha made an instant impact by knocking Roderick’s bat out of his hand with his second ball. The Sri Lankan had his first wicket soon after when Cox snaffled Rob Jones behind the stumps.Porter then had Kashif Ali taken by Thain diving forward at fourth slip, before Adam Hose and D’Oliveira pieced together the biggest partnership of the match so far with an unbeaten 76 added for the fifth wicket.

Kim Min-jae’s time at Bayern Munich could be nearing an end after struggling to earn regular minutes under Vincent Kompany. The former Napoli defender, now behind Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah in the pecking order, has emerged as a target for AC Milan and Juventus ahead of January. However, his €9 million salary could block a Serie A return despite growing frustration in Germany.

Kim's Bayern struggles continue

Once a key figure in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning campaign, Kim’s spell at Bayern has failed to take off as the South Korean defender, who joined for €57 million in 2023, has managed just six appearances this season, totalling 326 minutes. With Tah and Upamecano now the preferred pairing, Kim’s future in Bavaria looks increasingly uncertain. According to journalist Matteo Moretto, the centre-back could be on the move in January if his situation doesn’t improve.

AdvertisementSerie A comback on the cards?

Juventus and AC Milan are among the clubs monitoring "unhappy" Kim’s situation closely. The 29-year-old, nicknamed “The Monster” for his dominant physical style, is viewed as a proven Serie A performer after his stellar year at Napoli. Juve reportedly see him as a potential short-term solution amid Bremer’s ongoing knee issues, while Milan view him as ideal depth to solidify their backline. Kim had previously rejected offers from Saudi Arabia, determined to continue in top-flight European football, making Serie A an appealing destination to relaunch his career.

The major stumbling block remains Kim’s hefty salary as the defender currently earns around €9m annually at the German giants, a figure considered excessive by Italian standards, especially for a centre-back. The Bavarians, while open to a sale or loan, know few clubs outside the Premier League can match those wages. “The biggest obstacle remains his salary,” wrote , noting that any return to Serie A would likely require Kim to lower his financial demands.

World Cup could lead to January transfer

Despite limited game time, Kim Min-jae remains determined to fight for his place at Bayern. As per reports the Korean international insist he “will not give up on the competition,” but the looming World Cup could force a rethink if minutes remain scarce. Regular playing time will be crucial for South Korea’s key defender ahead of next summer’s international commitments. Bayern, however, are wary of losing defensive depth, with only Upamecano, Tah, and Kim forming the senior centre-back rotation under Kompany.

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AFPWinter transfer imminent for Kim?

With the January transfer window approaching, Kim Min-jae’s future is set to dominate headlines again. A return to Italy could revive his form and confidence, but the financial and competitive realities make a deal complex. Bayern are still chasing records in the Bundesliga and Champions League, and letting go of an experienced international mid-season could prove risky. For Kim, the coming weeks may determine whether he stays to fight in Munich, or heads back to Serie A to reclaim his status as one of Europe’s most reliable defenders.

علّق الإعلامي أحمد شوبير على تطورات أزمة مباراة الأهلي أمام إيجل نوار البوروندي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا، وتقدّم القلعة الحمراء بتظلم رسمي إلى الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف” ضد قرارات الحكم السنغالي عيسى سي التي أثارت الجدل.

وقال شوبير خلال برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الإثنين: “النادي الأهلي أعلن رسميًا تقدمه بتظلم إلى الاتحاد الإفريقي ضد قرارات الحكم عيسى سي، وطالب برفع الإيقاف عن جراديشار، لو حدث هذا الموقف في أوروبا، لتم رفع الإيقاف فورًا، وتوقيف الحكم أيضًا، لكن في إفريقيا لا يمكن ضمان أي رد فعل واضح”.

وأضاف: “التحكيم الإفريقي في منتهى السوء، وهذا ليس أمرًا جديدًا، شاهدوا ما حدث أمس في مباراة الاتحاد الليبي، حين اعتدى حارس المرمى على صلاح محسن، ولم يرد اللاعب بنفس القوة، ومع ذلك أنذر الحكم الحارس وطرد صلاح! نفس السيناريو يتكرر دائمًا في مباريات الأندية المصرية”.

طالع أيضًا | سيد عبد الحفيظ: سأتعاقد مع لاعبين من الزمالك وبيراميدز في حالة واحدة فقط

وتابع: “نصيحتي لصلاح محسن: أنت لاعب مهم للغاية في الوقت الحالي، لذا ابتعد عن الاحتكاكات والمشادات غير الضرورية، تجنّب المشاكل، فمثل هذه المواقف لا فائدة منها وغالبًا ما تكون نتائجها سلبية”.

وواصل: “في رأيي، سيكتفي الاتحاد الإفريقي بإيقاف جراديشار مباراة واحدة فقط في دور المجموعات، وسيتعرض الحكم أيضًا لعقوبة الإيقاف، خاصة بعد التغييرات الأخيرة في لجنة الحكام داخل (كاف)، التي لم تستقر بعد على نهج واضح في قراراتها”.

واختتم شوبير تصريحاته قائلاً: “أتمنى أن تنضبط الأمور قريبًا، لأن الوضع الحالي أصبح مزعجًا للغاية، والتحكيم الإفريقي يحتاج إلى وقفة جادة لإصلاحه”.