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نجح فريق الأهلي في تحقيق الفوز على الاتحاد، بنتيجة 1-0، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من بطولة الدوري السعودي “دوري روشن” للموسم الحالي.

كما فاز فريق النصر على نيوم، بنتيجة 3-1، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من بطولة الدوري السعودي “دوري روشن” للموسم الحالي.

وانتصر الهلال على النجمة في المباراة التي جمعتهما أمس الجمعة، ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين، برباعية مقابل هدفين.

ويتصدر النصر ترتيب الدوري السعودي برصيد 24 نقطة، ثم التعاون 21 نقطة، والهلال ثالثا 20 نقطة، والقادسية رابعا 17 نقطة، ثم الأهلي خامسا 16 نقطة. جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي

1- النصر – 24 نقطة

2- التعاون – 21 نقطة

3-  الهلال- 20 نقطة

4- القادسية – 17 نقطة

5- الأهلي- 16- نقطة

6- الخليج- 14 نقطة

7- نيوم – 13 نقطة

8- الاتحاد – 11 نقطة

9- الفيحاء – 11 نقاط

10- الخلود – 9 نقاط

11- الاتفاق- 9 نقاط

12- الرياض- 8 نقاط

13- الشباب- 7 نقاط

14- الحزم- 6 نقاط

15- الفتح – 5 نقاط

16- الأخدود – 4 نقاط

17- ضمك – 4 نقاط

18- النجمة بدون نقاط

يمكنكم متابعة ترتيب الدوري السعودي، بشكل محدث باستمرار من هنا.

Sofyan Amrabat has hailed Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes as a “real winner” and one of the best players he’s ever shared a dressing room with. The Moroccan midfielder, now at Real Betis, looked back fondly on his time at Old Trafford, singling out the Portuguese playmaker for his leadership, talent, and professionalism despite enduring his own difficult loan spell.

• Fernandes receives huge praise

  Amrabat, who spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Manchester United, has spoken glowingly about his former teammate Fernandes. The Moroccan international praised the United captain’s quality and mentality during an appearance on the YouTube show Bij Andy in de Auto, describing him as “truly fantastic” and “a real winner.” Amrabat’s comments come more than a year after leaving Old Trafford, where he made 30 appearances across all competitions before moving to Fenerbahce and later joining Real Betis.

  The 28-year-old midfielder reflected positively on his short time in England despite an underwhelming individual campaign. He joined United on transfer deadline day from Fiorentina for a €10 million (£8.6m) loan fee under Erik ten Hag but was not retained permanently after the season ended. Still, Amrabat insisted he learned valuable lessons from his time at Old Trafford and particularly admired Fernandes’ professionalism and influence on the pitch.

  His praise comes at a time when Fernandes continues to polarise opinion among fans and pundits. While his technical brilliance and attacking output are rarely questioned, his visible frustration and demanding leadership style have often been criticised.

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  Amrabat lavishes praise on Portuguese

  Speaking on Dutch YouTube show Bij Andy in de Auto, Amrabat said: “It was really quite something. United is still a truly massive club in every way.”

  “He’s a truly great player, truly top-notch. Is he my best teammate ever? I’ve played with a lot of good players, and I don’t want to discredit anyone, but he was truly fantastic. He was also a good guy, very helpful, and a real winner.”

  Amrabat’s heartfelt comments underline the respect Fernandes commands within the dressing room, even among those who only shared it briefly. His words offer a different perspective to the public narrative around Fernandes, focusing on his leadership and human qualities rather than the occasional emotional displays that draw criticism. For Amrabat, who has played in multiple leagues and represented Morocco at the World Cup, such praise carries considerable weight.

• Transformative Fernandes

  Fernandes’ impact on Manchester United since joining from Sporting CP in January 2020 has been transformative. The Portuguese international has amassed 299 appearances, scoring 100 goals and providing 87 assists across all competitions. Operating as the team’s creative lynchpin, Fernandes has been directly involved in nearly every major attacking sequence during his tenure, combining technical precision with an unrelenting competitive edge. His influence extends beyond statistics. Fernandes has lifted both the EFL Cup and FA Cup while also claiming multiple Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year awards, a testament to his importance and consistency.

  His leadership qualities, however, often split opinion — some view his visible frustration and vocal demands as signs of passion and accountability, while others see them as signs of poor temperament. Regardless, his productivity and durability have been indispensable, making him one of United’s most impactful midfielders of the modern era.

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  What comes next?

  Fernandes continues to serve as Manchester United’s on-field leader under Ruben Amorim, who has built his system around the Portuguese playmaker’s vision and work rate. The midfielder remains integral to United’s attacking blueprint, orchestrating transitions and dictating tempo in key matches. Despite occasional scrutiny over his temperament, Amorim and his coaching staff have publicly supported their captain, describing him as “an example of professionalism and intensity.”

  As for Amrabat, his journey has taken him from Old Trafford to Real Betis, where he is attempting to rebuild his form and reputation after mixed spells in England and Turkey.

After scoring their fifth consecutive late winner to secure all three points against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Arne Slot have received another boost on the injury front.

Slot praises Liverpool in "different" Atletico Madrid win

The Reds haven’t done things the easy way so far this season. They needed Federico Chiesa’s late winner against Bournemouth, Rio Ngumoha’s stoppage time winner against Newcastle United, Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick against Arsenal and Mohamed Salah’s late penalty against Burnley to make it four from four in the Premier League.

Not Salah or Van Dijk: Liverpool star is now "one of the best in the world"

Liverpool left it late once more to collect a Champions League victory at Anfield over Atletico Madrid.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 18, 2025

Six minutes into Atletico Madrid’s visit, it seemed as though Slot’s side finally had take-off, however. It was about as scintillating a start as Anfield is likely to see, with goals from Andy Robertson and a vintage Salah finish seeing Liverpool race into a 2-0 lead. Their dominance only continued from there, but complacency – as was the case against Bournemouth and Newcastle – soon arrived.

Diego Llorente’s brace, which featured a deflected effort to equalise in his fourth Anfield goal, soon had the visitors level and Liverpool in need of another late goal. This time, it was the captain who stepped up to head home in the 92nd minute to keep his side rolling on and the late show featuring another guest star.

Although the trend of late winners continued, Slot was quick to claim that victory against Atletico was “different” to Burnley and Arsenal, thanks to the amount of chances that Liverpool created.

He told reporters: “Everybody will probably talk again about the late game winner, which I understand because that is the story of this game and the story of the last five games. But for me it was a different game than the ones we have played before.”

Another Anfield win followed more good news on the injury front too, which will see one player make his return for the Merseyside derby this weekend.

Curtis Jones set to return for Merseyside derby

As confirmed by Slot, Curtis Jones is on course to return from injury in time to face Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday afternoon, in what is a fitting way for the academy graduate to make his comeback.

The midfielder missed games against Burnley and Atletico Madrid, but will now hand Liverpool a boost in the middle of the park with his return. It is against another side that will sit deep that his ability to progress play will come in use for the Reds, as the full impact of his ability is potentially felt across Anfield in what could be a frantic affair.

Praised as “complete” by Slot, Jones remains an underrated player who is gradually beginning to make his mark in Merseyside.

If you are planning to visit Estadio BBVA for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we've got you covered!

Nicknamed (The Steel Giant), CF Monterrey’s home ground Estadio BBVA is one of the three Mexican host stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside the historic Estadio Azteca and Chivas’ home, Estadio Akron.

For the tournament, the venue will be referred to as Estadio Monterrey due to sponsorship regulations.

Having already hosted numerous matches for Monterrey as well as the Mexican national team, 2026 marks a new chapter for this modern and striking stadium.

Estadio BBVA will host a total of four World Cup matches, including both group stage and knockout games.

If you are planning to visit the stadium soon or during the 2026 World Cup to support your team, this guide is for you. GOAL has got you covered with all the essential information before you visit the stadium. 

Getty Images SportEstadio BBVA Stadium overviewCapacity53,500Year opened2015Tenant(s)CF Monterrey (Liga MX)Addressv. Pablo Livas 2011, La Pastora, 67140 Guadalupe, N.L., MexicoAdvertisementGetty Images SportHistory of Estadio BBVA

Estadio BBVA, originally opened as Estadio BBVA Bancomer in 2015, became the new home of CF Monterrey, replacing the historic Estadio Tecnológico, which had stood since 1950.

In its opening match, Monterrey defeated Portuguese side Benfica 3–0 in a friendly. The stadium is considered a marvel of modern architecture, featuring stunning visuals and world-class facilities.

In addition to Monterrey’s home games, Estadio BBVA has hosted Copa MX finals, CONCACAF Champions League finals, and Mexican national team matches.

It is also a regular venue for major cultural events in Mexico, including concerts by world-renowned artists such as Coldplay, The Weeknd, Shakira, and more.

At the 2026 World Cup, Estadio BBVA will stage four matches, including three group stage games and one Round of 32 clash.

Getty Images SportWhich teams play at Estadio BBVALiga MX side CF Monterrey is the only tenant at the Estadio BBVA TeamLeagueCF MonterreyLiga MXENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty Images SportHow to get to Estadio BBVA

How to get to Estadio BBVA by public transport 

To reach Estadio BBVA by public transit, you can take Metrorrey Line 1 (L01). This metro line stops at Exposición Station, which is about a 10-minute walk from the stadium.

Several bus routes also stop close to the venue, including routes 214, 223, TME, and 093. The Pablo Livas (Estadio BBVA) stop is just a couple of minutes’ walk from the stadium.

How to get to Estadio BBVA by car 

Both Avenida Constitucion (Highway 85D) and Carretera Miguel Aleman (Highway 54D) lead toward Estadio BBVA. Exits onto Avenida Pablo Livas or La Pastora are clearly marked with signs directing fans to the stadium on event days.

After a dismal 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season, it was vital that the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy invested money into the first-team ahead of 2025/26.

Thomas Frank was the man to fill the void left by Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal, with the Dane being handed the funds as a result to try and transform the Lilywhites’ top-division fortunes.

He’s so far landed duo Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons for a combined £107m, subsequently bolstering the options at his disposal within the attacking department.

Joao Palhinha has also arrived on loan, whilst Mathys Tel also made his loan move permanent – after spending the second half of the previous campaign in North London.

However, with just a couple of days remaining in the transfer window, the new boss will still want further additions to help him in his quest for success during his tenure at the club.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions before deadline day

Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo has been a surprise target for Spurs over the last couple of days, with the player himself wanting a temporary move away from Old Trafford.

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The Lilywhites hierarchy have held talks with Ruben Amorim’s side over a potential move before Monday’s deadline, but it’s unclear if a move could materialise given the Red Devils’ reluctance to offload the youngster.

However, he’s not the only Englishman currently in their sights, with Atlético Madrid star Conor Gallagher once again appearing on their radar, according to CaughtOffside.

They claim that Frank’s side are preparing a £35m-£40m bid for the 25-year-old, with the Spanish outfit prepared to let him leave if an acceptable offer is presented. Man United are also in the race, although Spurs are said to be the frontrunners.

It also states that Diego Simeone’s side would want as much as £45m this summer, potentially being the third big-money addition for Spurs during the current window.

Why Spurs’ £52m target would be perfect for Simons

The recent transfer of Simons to Spurs has injected added excitement into the fanbase, and understandably so when delving into his numbers from last season.

The Dutchman registered 10 goals and seven assists for Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, and ended the year as one of the most threatening attacking options in the division.

Chelsea seemed destined to land the former PSG youngster at one stage, but Frank’s men swooped in at the 11th hour, with the move finally ending their hunt for a new attacking midfielder.

If he can replicate such numbers in 2025/26 for the Lilywhites, he would be a phenomenal pickup, having the tools to star immediately – but also improve further, given he’s just 22 years of age.

However, should Simons want to be a success in North London, he will need to be aided in any attempts, which could prompt the hierarchy to land Gallagher in the coming days.

The Englishman, who is a former Chelsea first-team member, would be the perfect box-to-box option, that’s if he can replicate the numbers he produced in LaLiga throughout 2024/25.

Gallagher, who’s been labelled “sensational” by journalist John Cross, could offer a presence at the heart of the side which could free Simons up to cause carnage in attacking areas and show why the club forked out £52m for his signature.

The Atlético star ranked in the 89th percentile for tackles won (1.8) and in the 90th percentile for recoveries made (5.9) – showcasing his ability to regain possession for the side.

However, he would need to help transition the play after winning the ball – something which he demonstrated in abundance in Spain throughout 2024/25.

He made an average of 3.5 progressive passes per 90 at a pass completion rate of 85% – allowing him to do the ‘dirty work’ before finding the Dutchman with his line-breaking ability.

Whilst a deal for Gallagher would be an expensive addition, he would be one who could help transform Frank’s side for the better between now and the end of the Dane’s reign.

If he can strike up a partnership with Simons in 2025/26, it would be a worthwhile investment and one that can complete the summer overhaul of the midfield department.

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A Kudus repeat: "Incredible" £70m ace now wants to join Spurs after Simons

Tottenham Hotspur could now complete another deal after landing Xavi Simons earlier today.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 29, 2025

Everton have started the Premier League season poorly after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Leeds following a controversial penalty decision for a handball by James Tarkowski. This defeat comes after spending over £75 million in the transfer window and bringing in Manchester City’s Jack Grealish on loan.

One area in particular that has been a focus for Everton in the transfer market is attacking midfield – David Moyes’ side lacked depth in this area. So far this window, they’ve brought in Kieran Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea and Carlos Alcaraz from Southampton on a permanent deal after he spent the back half of last season on loan at Everton.

Moyes is now looking further back in his midfield ranks, as the club is considering a move for a Premier League-proven midfielder in order to ensure defeats like this don’t become a habit.

Everton considering move for Tottenham midfielder

Everton are considering a move for Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma. The 28-year-old has made 191 Premier League appearances and joined Spurs on a £55,000-per-week contract in 2022. Reports from Tottenham insider Paul O’Keefe have revealed how much Daniel Levy would charge Everton for Bissouma.

This fee is less than half the £30 million they paid Brighton for the midfielder in 2022, but if Spurs don’t sell Bissouma this year or extend his contract in the next 12 months, then he will be allowed to leave for free next summer.

Everton’s interest is thought to currently be in the preliminary stages, with O’Keefe saying: “I understand Everton are considering him, but not really concrete enough to say they’re going to make a move.”

West Ham were also previously interested in the Europa League winner, but that deal has not developed as of yet. On the player’s side of the move, it is believed to be his desire to remain in England for at least one more year, as he would become eligible for UK citizenship.

Bissouma is a gamble, but he may be worth it for the price

Given the “peanuts” that they would be paying, a gamble on Bissouma may be worth it. Whilst he lacks versatility, what he is good at, he excels at, with the only major red flags being his attitude towards training and his on-field disciplinary record.

Last season, Bissouma ranked among the top 17% of Premier League midfielders for his tackle success rate. He was also reliable on the ball with a pass completion rate of 89%. Where Bissouma struggled was going forward; in 100 matches for Tottenham, Bissouma has only registered two goals and no assists.

As a midfielder who is constantly making challenges, Bissouma often finds himself in the referee’s book. Last season, he averaged a booking almost once every 180 minutes of play, but he did avoid seeing red in the League. One contributing factor to his poor disciplinary record last season may have been Ange Postecoglou’s style of play, as it saw his team playing high up the pitch and often needing to take drastic measures to avoid being caught on the counterattack.

What Postecoglou can’t be blamed for is Bissouma’s training tardiness. The Mali international was left out of Tottenham’s squad for the European Super Cup, and Frank explained his absence: “Bissouma isn’t here because of disciplinary reasons. He has been late several times, the latest one too many.”

Moyes and the Everton board will have to decide whether or not they think Bissouma’s strengths outweighs these issues. For less than £14 million, he may be worth the gamble.

اعترف لاعب نادي كيرات الماتي، أن فريقه يمتلك خطة بالفعل لإيقاف نجم نادي ريال مدريد، كيليان مبابي، قبل مواجهة الفريقين في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا ثقيلًا على كيرات الماتي في كازاخستان، لحساب منافسات الجولة الثانية من دوري أبطال أوروبا في الدور المعروف بمرحلة الدوري.

ويسعى كيرات إلى خلق المفاجأة وتحقيق الفوز على ريال مدريد، خصوصًا وأن المباراة سوف تقام على أرض الفريق الكازاخستاني المشارك في دوري أبطال أوروبا لأول مرة في تاريخه.

اقرأ أيضًا .. مدرب كيرات: سنلجأ إلى بعض الحيل أمام ريال مدريد.. ولن ننظر إلى خماسية أتلتيكو

وخلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص باللقاء والذي نقلته صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”، أشار مدافع كيرات، إيجور سوروتين، إلى أن فريقه درس جيدًا نجوم ريال مدريد وخصوصًا مبابي.

وقال سوروكين: “مراقبة مبابي جهد جماعي وجهزنا خطة لإيقافه، سنبذل قصارى جهدنا لجعله يشعر بعدم الارتياح على أرض الملعب، ريال مدريد ناد كبير وسندفع ثمن أي خطأ غاليًا”.

كما أكد سوروكين على جاهزيته بجانب بقية لاعبي كيرات لمواجهة ريال مدريد، حيث أضاف: “الأجواء متوترة، ليس بسبب الخوف بل بسبب التركيز والوعي بأهمية اللقاء”.

وعن مفتاح الخروج من مواجهة ريال مدريد بنتيجة إيجابية، اختتم سوروكين في حديثه: “الانضباط هو المفتاح لاستغلال فرصنا في لقاء الغد، الكرات الثابتة ستكون عاملًا حاسمًا ضد ريال مدريد”.

اعترف لاعب نادي برشلونة السابق، أنه قد تفاجأ من خسارة فينيسيوس جونيور، نجم نادي ريال مدريد، لجائزة الكرة الذهبية العام الماضي.

وكان الجميع ينتظر فوز فينيسيوس جونيور بجائزة الكرة الذهبية العام الماضي، وذلك بعد الموسم الاستثنائي الذي قدمه الدولي البرازيلي مع ريال مدريد.

فينيسيوس لعب دورًا كبيرًا في فوز ريال مدريد ببطولة الدوري الإسباني وكذلك دوري أبطال أوروبا في موسم تاريخي للفريق الملكي.

لكن على عكس التوقعات خسر فينيسيوس سباق الكرة الذهبية واحتل المركز الثاني خلف رودري، نجم مانشستر سيتي، الذي توج بالجائزة.

أقرأ أيضًا .. اختيارات صادمة.. لمن ذهب صوت العرب في جائزة الكرة الذهبية 2025؟

وأشار إينيجو مارتينيز، مدافع برشلونة السابق والنصر السعودي الحالي، إلى أنه كان شبه متأكدا من فوز فينيسيوس جونيور بالكرة الذهبية.

وقال مارتينيز في مقابلة مع صحيفة ماركا: ”في العام الماضي توقعت فوز فينيسيوس جونيور بجائزة الكرة الذهبية. بالنسبة لي كان فيني جونيور هو الأفضل في العالم”.

وأضاف المدافع المخضرم في حديثه: ”في النهاية، هذا هو التصويت سواء كان عادلاً أم لا”.

كما أثنى مارتينيز على قدرات زميله في النصر والأسطورة البرتغالية، كريستيانو رونالدو، حيث أوضح: “رونالدو لاعب متسلح بعقلية الانتصار وذو روح تنافسية عالية. كل جهوده منصبة فقط على الفوز والنتيجة”.

واختتم: ”إنه لمن دواعي سروري وشرف لي أن ألعب في الفريق مع شخص رائع كهذا. عندما تلقيت عرضًا من النصر كان أحد اهتماماتي الرئيسية هو فرصة اللعب إلى جانب كريستيانو. لقد أعجبني نشاطه واستعداده الدائم لمساعدة زملائه في الفريق منذ اليوم الأول”.

Sri Lanka’s head coach Rumesh Ratnayake has described his team’s performance at the T20 World Cup as “not acceptable”, and a consequence of skill “failing us” after they were knocked out of semi-final contention by India. Sri Lanka have lost all of their three matches so far in the World Cup, and cannot advance out of the group after coming into the event with the expectation they could go after an impressive last 20 months.Since the last T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka have won series in England and South Africa, cruised through the World Cup Qualifiers in Abu Dhabi undefeated, and beaten Pakistan and India on their way to becoming Asia Cup champions. But Sri Lanka lost to both those oppositions and defending champions Australia in the first week of the tournament, which Ratnayake put down to overall underperformance.”It was bad playing through and through this tournament,” he said after Sri Lanka lost to India by 82 runs. “They’ve been doing poor cricket, and that is not acceptable. We’ve been talking about it, we’ve tried to come out of it and we’ve tried various things, we’ve been fearlessly doing things, freely doing things, and I think the skill has failed us when it has been really important.”Related

• Pakistan to 'move on and bring new faces' in batting unit after group-stage exit

• Harmanpreet, bowlers demolish Sri Lanka to hand India big NRR boost

• Scenarios: How can India make it to the semi-finals?

• Harmanpreet serves up a reminder of Harmonster

Though he did not specifically say it, Ratnayake must have been talking about Sri Lanka’s batting. They have not crossed 100 in any of their three innings, whether batting first or chasing, and their collective form has directly mirrored their captain’s. Chamari Athapaththu has been dismissed in single figures in each innings for a total of ten runs at the tournament thus far. It is her worst return at a World Cup, and stands in stark contrast to the last two editions, in South Africa and Australia, where she scored over 100 runs in each event.The singular focus on Athapaththu can be traced back – probably much further, but for our purposes – to the start of Sri Lanka’s current bad patch, which started on their tour of Ireland in August. Athapaththu missed the two T20Is as she was playing in the Hundred, and though Sri Lanka started well in the first T20I and chased down 146 inside 17 overs to win comfortably, they could not reach a target of 174 in the next match. On Athapaththu’s return, for the ODIs, she notched up 0 and 22 as Sri Lanka went 2-0 down, before managing 48 when they claimed a consolation win.”From the second match up to the fifth match [in Ireland], there were situations where we were on top and we faltered,” Ratnayake said.One such situation was in the second T20I, where Sri Lanka were 101 for 2 in the 13th over but then lost 5 for 56 in five overs to lose by seven runs. Still, Ratnayake was happy with the work they did back in Sri Lanka.”Our preparation was really good back home,” he said. “We played on various types of wickets. We simulated some of those similar situations, but winning those moments, winning those appropriate situations, decision-making along with the skill hasn’t been backed up. The skill did not come through as it did as you said in the finals of the Asia Cup. So that’s something which we need to work on, rethink and come back.”Sri Lanka’s form in the World Cup has reflected that of their captain Chamari Athapaththu•Getty Images

In the Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka successfully chased 166, and though Athapaththu scored a half-century, they also had runs in the form of an unbeaten 69 from Harshitha Samarawickrama, and a 16-ball 30 from Kavisha Dilhari. Both of those are players Athapaththu herself has identified as being key to the future of Sri Lanka cricket. Ratnayake also believed Sri Lanka are “almost closing the gap”, between Athapaththu and other batters with potential, and he continues to have faith in their development initiatives.”In the past 22 months, we’ve worked hard on creating an environment which is conducive for learning,” he said. “So we are not only building up in confidence but building up in confidence so that we would back ourselves with the skill as well.”But has that confidence spilled over into overconfidence, given Sri Lanka’s fighting talk before the series? Athapaththu spoke realistically of their chances of making the semi-finals at this tournament despite being in the tougher of the two groups, and Ratnayake backed that up when he said Sri Lanka “are here to win the World Cup,” and not just participate.”Overconfidence is a thing which is verbally not accepted in our environment, so I don’t think it’s overconfidence, but they are confident enough,” he said. “That is what we thrive on and that is what we emphasise on. It’s just that when needed, we haven’t won the moments.”Now, they also have no hope of winning the World Cup but Ratnayake continues to believe in the group of players he is working with. “This has happened and we will never give up, so that’s a very heartening and a very satisfying thing for a coach to see,” he said. “As much as I’ve created an environment, I’m quite privileged and honoured to be here because they are a super lot. I know we will come through this sooner rather than later.”Sri Lanka have two days before their final match, against New Zealand on Saturday, and Ratnayake has described it as a “prime objective” to “salvage ourselves” and win that game. They will be up against a New Zealand side who will feel the same way, after their chastening defeat to Australia, and with the match a must-win to keep their semi-final hopes alive. For Ratnayake, nothing less than an almighty fight will be acceptable.

West Ham United are now in talks over a deal for a “spectacular” midfielder, and they are leading their Premier League rivals in the race for his signature, according to a report.

West Ham set sights on midfielder amid Paqueta uncertainty

Lucas Paqueta has been one of West Ham’s key players over the past three seasons, picking up 18 goals and 14 assists during his time at the London Stadium, but it now appears as though the attacking midfielder could seek pastures new this summer.

Indeed, Paqueta now wants to leave the Hammers, amid interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Brazil, and the board are willing to cash-in, should they receive an offer in the region of £30m.

As such, Graham Potter’s side have now set their sights on a new attacking midfielder to replace the 27-year-old, with targets being identified from the Belgian Pro League and within the Premier League.

Target

Current club

League goal contributions in 24/25

Harvey Elliott

Liverpool

3

Mario Stroeykens

Anderlecht

10

Not only are the Irons keen on an attacking option, but they have also made progress in their pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach defensive midfielder Rocco Reitz, according to a report from TEAMtalk.

The report states that talks over a deal for Reitz are now underway, with the Monchengladbach ace expected to leave in this window, given that the £17m release clause in his contract is set to become active next summer.

Everton in race with West Ham to sign midfielder who can leave for £25m

Everton are now involved in a Premier League race to sign an experienced international midfielder.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025

The German side don’t want to lose the midfielder for such a low fee, and a transfer battle, which may drive up the price, could be on the cards this summer, with the likes of Brighton, Fulham and Inter Milan also keen.

A number of bids are now expected imminently, and the Hammers should be well-placed to win the race for the 23-year-old’s signature, given that they are thought to be ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Reitz could be "spectacular" signing for West Ham

England were ultimately triumphant in the U21 European Championships, defeating Germany 3-2 in the final, but the Monchengladbach gem impressed throughout the tournament, picking up two assists in five matches.

Not only that, but the German has flourished defensively over the past year, placing very highly across a number of key metrics, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Interceptions

2.61 (99th percentile)

Blocks

1.92 (95th percentile)

Clearances

2.90 (96th percentile)

U23 scout Antonio Mango has also been left impressed by the maestro in the past, singling him out for praise after his Germany U21s debut.

As such, Reitz could be a fantastic signing for West Ham this summer, and it is promising news they are leading the race for his signature.