All posts by h716a5.icu

Snoop Dogg set to attend Swansea game for first time for crunch clash against Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac's Wrexham

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Snoop Dogg is reportedly set to make his first appearance at a Swansea game when a derby date with Welsh rivals Wrexham is taken in. The Red Dragons are co-owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynold and Rob Mac, who have made a habit of inviting celebrity guests to EFL fixtures down the years. Rap icon Snoop is now poised to make his bow with the Swans, having become a minority stakeholder.

Getty Images/GOALStar investors: Snoop & Modric involved with Swansea

The legendary musician bought into the Swans back in July. He then helped to front the launch of the club’s home kit for 2025-26, with his global appeal being put to good use. Snoop is not the only familiar face to figure on Swansea’s board, with Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric – who is now with AC Milan after severing ties with Real Madrid – another with financial ties to the Championship outfit.

Modric is otherwise engaged at present prolonging his playing career in Italy at 40 years of age, making trips to South Wales difficult. Snoop is, however, finding space in his schedule to take in that journey. The 53-year-old is a big sports fan and has previously been spotted at NBA matches and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

AdvertisementDerby date: When Swansea face Wrexham in the Championship

Another change of scenery is about to be taken in, with Swans star Liam Cullen revealing that Snoop is due in Wales for the most glamorous of fixtures. There is no word on whether Reynolds and Mac will be joining him for a meeting between two geographical rivals.

Cullen told the BBC when asked about Snoop’s ties to Swansea: “I've not seen him yet. I think he's actually coming over for the Wrexham game. That's what I've heard. So I'm looking forward to seeing him."

Wrexham are due at the Swansea.com Stadium on December 19. Snoop could be on hand to deliver early Christmas presents, with Swans CEO Tom Gorringe having already talked up the commercial benefits that he brings to the club.

Cullen added on embracing famous faces: “With the new investors in Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric, it adds a few more eyes on the club, and with the investment there's a higher expectation now, which is good for us. It's a good thing to have the expectation of going and needing to do well.”

Getty/GOALSnoop warning: Urged to remain behind the scenes

Snoop’s son, Cordell C Broadus, has paid a visit to Swansea, taking in a 1-1 draw with Watford on August 23. He stopped by the dressing room to mingle with players and coaches, and his father has admitted that he is readying a “pep talk” for his trip to the United Kingdom.

While Swansea are delighted to have Snoop involved, he has been urged not to interfere with team affairs. Experienced Welsh manager Tony Pulis has told sports betting site BetVictor: “Would I be pleased if someone like that came into a football club? Yeah, as long as they didn't poke their nose in and start picking the team and picking the players and picking the tactics, it'd be no issues to me.

“I've met Luka Modric. What a wonderful, wonderful man. An absolutely fantastic player. Top, top player. And I mean a top, top player, but he's a fantastic lad as well. Having Luka around would be unbelievable. Snoop Dogg, I don't even know what he sings!”

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Swansea target: Celebrity board brings added pressure

Swansea have enjoyed a solid yet unspectacular start to the 2025-26 campaign. They have picked up 12 points from nine games that have delivered three wins, a trio of defeats and a few draws. They remain within three points of the play-off places in a congested Championship table – with Wrexham only two points behind them.

Alan Sheehan is the coach charged with the task of generating positive results, with a permanent contract being passed his way after initially taking the reins on a caretaker basis in February. He is cutting his managerial teeth in a demanding division, with the presence of Snoop and Modric behind the scenes bringing with it added pressure. The Swans will return to action after the latest international break when taking in a trip to Southampton on October 18.

Leeds star who's "struggled" is in danger of becoming Farke's new Spence

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Leeds United play host to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at Elland Road on Saturday in their last match before the international break.

Their clash with Spurs means that there will be a reunion for Daniel Farke and some of the players with former Leeds loanee Djed Spence, who has emerged as a regular starter at full-back for Thomas Frank.

The England international spent the first half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Elland Road from the Premier League side, but it did not quite work out for him in West Yorkshire.

Why it did not work out for Djed Spence at Leeds

After playing just seven matches in the Championship, Leeds opted to send him back to Spurs in the January transfer window and Farke suggested that his professionalism played a part in that decision.

When asked about why Spence’s loan was cut short, Farke said: “Listen, in the summer we came here in order to create and to bring new values and to create a new culture within the club and when we speak about a player if he’s on here on a permanent or a loan deal, we have expectations and these expectations are in several topics important.

“Obviously it’s important, the potential and the quality of the player but also it’s professionalism, it’s discipline, it’s workload on and off the pitch and also the soft skills, so also if he’s positive and committed, good for the group and engaged with these topics, paint then more or less a picture.”

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Whilst Spence’s professionalism may have been one of the reasons behind why the loan did not work out, the form of Archie Gray at right-back and Junior Firpo at left-back also played a major role because it meant that the loanee could not break into the XI.

Now, there is a player in the current Leeds squad who is in a similar situation and is in danger of becoming Farke’s next Spence at Elland Road.

The Leeds player who is in danger of becoming the next Djed Spence

The Championship champions agreed a deal worth up to £10m to sign James Justin from Leicester City in the summer transfer window to add quality to their full-back department.

Up to £10m on a 27-year-old back-up full-back may not have been the best allocation of funds, given that the Whites did not sign any right-wingers or number tens to bolster their attack in the window.

Speaking on talkSPORT, presenter Jeff Stelling said: “James Justin has been a very good player, good enough to win England caps, but he’s struggled for form in the last couple of seasons, I think it’s fair to say.”

He added: “I think they need to bring a Jack Grealish type figure in, someone who you know, the fans can really get excited about.

“And however well Justin does, the fans are not going to get excited about signing a full-back.”

The comment from Stelling about the defender’s struggles was interesting. Justin made two errors that led to goals as Leicester were relegated from the Premier League last season, per Sofascore, which shows that Leeds were not signing a player who was in great form or full of confidence.

Bournemouth

0

N/A

Wolves

12

0

Fulham

0

N/A

Newcastle

10

0

As you can see in the table above, the English full-back has only played 22 minutes of football since being signed for an initial fee of £8m from the Foxes.

Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jayden Bogle appear to have the full-back positions locked down, as Gray and Firpo did when Spence was at the club, and Justin is in real danger of struggling for minutes throughout the campaign unless injuries present him with an opportunity.

This is why the former Leicester man may follow the same path that Spence and Isaac Schmidt, who left to join Werder Bremen on loan this summer, followed as back-up full-back options under Farke.

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Justin will be hoping that he can get a chance to impress and nail down a place in the starting XI by producing quality performances, to avoid getting to January and having to make a decision about his game time, as Spence and Leeds had to do in 2024.

'Mum meets Leo!' – David Beckham shares his mother's heartwarming first meeting with Inter Miami & Argentina icon Lionel Messi

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

David Beckham has shared images of the heartwarming moment in which his mother met Inter Miami and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi for the first time. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been in the United States since 2023, with a stunning move being made to South Florida, but he has only just rubbed shoulders with members of Beckham’s immediate family.

American dream: Messi has been in the States since 2023

Messi is in America alongside his wife Antonela and their three sons. They settled quickly in Miami after taking the decision to bid farewell to Europe. Messi enjoyed a record-shattering spell with Barcelona, before then spending two years in France with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.

A large Spanish-speaking community in the Sunshine State has made adjustment easier for the Messi clan, with the World Cup winner enjoying freedom in his personal life that was often denied him at Camp Nou and Parc des Princes.

AdvertisementMessi settled in America around friends and family

Manchester United and England legend Beckham helped to make Messi’s switch to the USA possible, as he is a co-owner of Inter Miami. He has also been able to bring in Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul – as Messi finds himself surrounded by close friends.

Alba and Busquets have announced that they will be retiring at the end of the 2025 MLS campaign, with Inter Miami readying themselves for the start of another play-off quest, but the expectation is that Messi will be sticking around.

He has enjoyed mingling with the Beckhams in Florida – including former Spice Girls popstar Victoria – and was among those to attend a lavish 50th birthday celebration for ex-Three Lions captain David.

Messi has now met up with Beckham’s mother, after seeing Sandra attend a Herons training session. The Argentine GOAT was happy to pose for pictures as Becks posted on social media – with everybody full of smiles: “When your Mum meets Leo for the first time.”

How Beckham talked Messi into MLS move

Beckham has previously said of talking Messi into making a move to MLS: “All he was interested in is a place where his family could come enjoy and have a great life. That was really important for Leo. I mean, from day one, from the moment he put his foot down in Miami, it's been a dream, honestly.

To be able to say that we've signed the world's greatest ever player to ever play the game. Everybody's got their opinion on who they think is the best player of all time – whether it be Diego Maradona, Pele, all of these great players.

“But to say that we have in the MLS, in Miami, the greatest player to play the game, it's just like a dream, you know? It's a dream every time that I'm there. If I go for the whole of the summer, which I went for four weeks this summer, I go into training every single day because, personally, I can't believe we've got Leo. Secondly, I just want to watch what he does. And that's a special thing for us.”

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GettyTrophy target: Messi chasing down more silverware

Messi helped Inter Miami to their first piece of major silverware within weeks of his arrival, as the 2023 Leagues Cup crown was captured. In 2024, the Herons savoured Supporters’ Shield glory when posting the highest regular season points tally that MLS has ever seen.

They have graced the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup since then, but have been unable to secure more domestic or continental honours. Collective sights at Chase Stadium are locked on landing the MLS Cup.

Messi will have a leading role to play in that quest, having claimed the Golden Boot for 2025 with a 29-goal haul. He also registered 19 assists, with records continuing to tumble around the South American superstar.

A contract extension has been lined up for the evergreen 38-year-old – which may take him beyond his 40th birthday, as he emulates the achievements of eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo who is still going strong at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. Beckham, who is now a Sir after being knighted in King Charles’ Birthday Honours List, will be helping to thrash out those fresh terms.

Wolvaardt signs two-year WBBL deal with Adelaide Strikers

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The South Africa captain becomes the club’s pre-draft overseas player

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2025Laura Wolvaardt will continue her association with Adelaide Strikers in the WBBL after becoming their pre-draft signing on a two-year deal.In 71 matches for Strikers over five seasons, South Africa captain Wolvaardt has made 1726 runs at 27.83 and a strike-rate of 110.92.Strikers were aiming for a hat-trick of titles last season but struggled with just three wins in 10 matches to finish seventh.”The club has become a second home to me, and I’ve made so many incredible memories here, especially our back-to-back championship wins,” Wolvaardt said. “While last season didn’t go as we hoped, I’m incredibly excited about the future and determined to help bring more success to the Strikers and our amazing fans. I can’t wait to get back to Adelaide with the team.”Strikers head coach Luke Williams said: “Laura is a world-class player and a vital part of the Strikers family, so we are ecstatic to have her sign on for two more years.”Her skill with the bat, combined with her leadership and experience, is invaluable. She has consistently performed under pressure and played a huge role in our previous championship successes. We know she will be a key pillar for us as we build towards a strong WBBL|11 season and beyond.”The overseas draft for the WBBL and BBL will be held on June 19. All clubs can pre-sign one player with Melbourne Renegades now the only club not to have filled that slot for the WBBL.

Magical Mitchell turns lost cause into a win for Texas Super Kings

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

MI New York fell three runs short in an MLC 2025 contest of major twists and turns

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2025If Finn Allen’s record-breaking 51-ball 151 made the opening game of MLC 2025 memorable, the second of the season matched it for excitement, with two teams – whose better-known siblings have waged many battles at the IPL – playing out a thriller that had as many twists and turns as a 40-over contest can possibly have.Chasing 186 for victory against Texas Super Kings, MI New York looked out of the contest, then roared right back, then lost their way, found it again, but then stopped three runs short as Daryl Mitchell, who had triggered the previous turning point in the game, bowled a last over of yorkers and slower deliveries to concede just five to the ninth-wicket pair of Tajinder Singh and Naveen-ul-Haq.It was a special comeback from TSK, as they turned the result their way despite MINY needing 27 from 20 balls with six wickets in hand.Monank Patel made a 33-ball fifty•Sportzpics for MLCThe chase had started direly for MINY with the with the scoreboard reading 32 for 3 after the powerplay. It wasn’t a huge chase, but you wouldn’t want to lose Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran, as well as Agni Chopra, that soon. But that is what happened thanks to Adam Milne and Noor Ahmad. The innings needed rebuilding, so Monank Patel, the No. 3, and Michael Bracewell, possibly MINY’s best bowler earlier, took it upon themselves to do that.They needed to steady the ship first, which they did, only one four – hit by Bracewell – came between Pooran’s dismissal and the end of the seventh over. But then a little impetus was needed, which came as they scored 11, 16, 15, 14 and 17 in the next five overs. And suddenly it was even stevens – 76 needed from 48.Monank had gotten to his half-century, off 33 balls, by then, and Bracewell looked good to join him at the mark, but Milne’s reintroduction provided the next twist in the tale, though it really was Faf du Plessis’ wicket more than anyone else’s. Milne bowled short outside off, Bracewell gave it a thwack, du Plessis leapt and plucked the ball out of the air one-handed at wide mid-off.

If that had a whiff of a turning point, the real one came a few overs later. Kieron Pollard, 38 and replaced as team captain by Pooran, went 4, 6, 4 and 4 against the gentle medium pace of Mitchell to make it 27 needed from 20. Till Mitchell’s sprint to midwicket, pick-up-turn-and-throw-the-stumps-down play sent both Pollard and Monank back off successive deliveries.That was the proper turning point. Only three fours came in the last three overs, two more wickets fell, and Mitchell’s last over, where just one big hit could have finished off the game, had just three runs off the bat, plus a bye and a leg-bye.Devon Conway scored a steady half-century•Sportzpics for MLCEarlier, till the halfway stage of the Super Kings innings, it didn’t look like they would get anywhere near a strong total. Sure, Devon Conway was around, on 36, but he had taken 26 balls to get there. And three wickets had fallen at the other end.That became five by the end of the 12th over, and Conway was still only on 38 from 28.Which is when things started to change. Calvin Savage, the one-time South Africa Under-19 man and now a USA player, joined Conway and showed his skills with the bat. The 13th over began with a four from Savage off Bracewell, who had picked up two of the five wickets to fall at that stage, and Conway struck the fourth six of his innings two balls later. It wasn’t frenetic, but by the end of the 16th, Super Kings had 140 on the board.Sixes seemed easier to come by than fours as Conway and Savage helped themselves to quite a few, and the partnership reached 79 before Conway, who got his half-century off 35 balls, was run-out for a 44-ball 66. Savage got to his fifty before time ran out, too, ending unbeaten on a 34-ball 53. Between them, the two hit nine sixes. Super Kings scored 110 runs in boundaries. MINY scored 114. Both innings had a dot-ball percentage of 33. Almost nothing to separate them but holding your nerve and winning the key moments.

Arsenal monster is quickly usurping Eze & Odegaard as Arteta's best creator

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

In stark contrast to this time last international break, the mood around Arsenal is incredibly positive.

Mikel Arteta’s side are unbeaten in the Champions League, and more importantly than that, sit atop the Premier League table a point clear of Liverpool.

Moreover, it’s not as if the Gunners have ground their way to the top, as they have not only conceded fewer goals but also scored one more than the Reds.

Mikel Arteta has his side playing fun, exciting football. Yet, even though you might expect Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze to be their most creative players, it’s someone else who holds that title at the moment – someone far more surprising.

Odegaard vs Eze last season

Before getting to the player currently leading the team in a creative sense this season, it’s worth looking back at how the club’s chief creators got on last year.

Eze was still plying his trade with Crystal Palace at the time, and ended up having the season of his life, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists in 43 appearances.

In contrast, Odegaard was only able to amass a tally of six goals and 12 assists in 45 appearances for the Gunners, in a season in which some in the fan base felt like he underachieved.

However, when taking a look at their underlying numbers from last season, which midfielder ends up looking like the better creator?

Well, it might come as something of a surprise to many, given the way their respective campaigns were viewed, but when it comes to purely creative metrics, it’s the Norwegian who came out on top last year.

Progressive Passes

9.11

3.37

Progressive Carries

3.54

2.40

Expected Assists

0.25

0.16

Key Passes

2.36

2.01

Passes into the Final Third

4.61

1.70

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.85

1.35

Shot-Creating Actions

4.73

4.69

Goal-Creating Actions

0.69

0.35

Successful Take-Ons

0.95

2.33

For example, across all competitions, he performed better in various aspects, including progressive passes and carries, expected assists, passes into the penalty area, key passes, and more, all per 90.

Now, there are likely a couple of reasons why he performed so much better than the Englishman, such as the team they both played for and the fact that that Oliver Glasner relied on his former star to be more of a goalscorer. However, these numbers still prove Odegaard is a creative tour de force.

With all that said, neither he nor Eze top the list of creative Arsenal players this season.

Arsenal's most creative player this season

So, with Eze and Odegaard already out of the running, you might have expected Bukayo Saka to be Arsenal’s most creative player this season, or maybe even Noni Madueke before he went down injured.

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However, you’d once again be wrong. Moreover, even though Declan Rice tops the list for chances created in the Premier League, that is primarily down to his set-pieces.

With all that said, who has been Arteta’s chief creator this season?

Surprisingly, it’s been Jurrien Timber, who, according to Squawka, has created the most chances from open play in the entire team this season, clocking up eight chances at the time of writing.

The Gunners’ “game-changing signing,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has been exactly that so far this season, marrying his most monstrous defensive displays with this newfound creativity.

Perhaps the best display of this came in the game against Newcastle United, as he not only kept the Toon quiet on his side of the pitch but also continuously got forward to help create chances for his team.

It’s not just the eye test where the Dutchman impresses, though, as his underlying numbers really help to demonstrate just how complete he is as a player.

Goals

0.34

Top 2%

Goals + Assists

0.52

Top 2%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.34

Top 2%

xG: Expected Goals

0.31

Top 2%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.31

Top 2%

Progressive Passes

6.38

Top 2%

Shots on Target

0.86

Top 2%

Passes into Penalty Area

2.07

Top 2%

Through Balls

0.86

Top 2%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.28

Top 2%

SCA (Shot)

0.69

Top 2%

GCA (Shot)

0.17

Top 2%

GCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.17

Top 2%

Tackles Won

2.41

Top 2%

Tackles (Mid 3rd)

1.55

Top 2%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

1.03

Top 2%

Tkl+Int

5.34

Top 2%

Touches (Att 3rd)

23.10

Top 2%

Penalty Kicks Won

0.17

Top 2%

According to FBref, he sits in the top 2% of full-backs in the Premier League for actual and expected non-penalty goals, shot-creating actions, progressive passes and tackles, the top 7% for total shots and pass completion, the top 11% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, even though he doesn’t get quite as much attention as some of the other stars in the team, Timber is undoubtedly one of Arsenal’s most important and now creative players.

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'Check his DNA!' – Liam Delap set to make Chelsea return after injury but Enzo Maresca doubts striker has inherited throw-in gene from father Rory

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Liam Delap has recovered from his injury and could be in Chelsea's matchday squad for their Carabao Cup fixture against Wolves on Wednesday. The Blues boss also jokingly expressed doubt over whether the English striker could take long throw-ins like his father and former Premier League star, Rory.

Maresca's pointed comments on teams using long throw-ins

Ahead of Chelsea's shock 2-1 defeat at home against Sunderland in the Premier League last weekend, Maresca opened up on his team's vulnerability when it comes to defending long throw-ins. The Italian coach had explained why he does not prefer to deploy such tactics himself, as he told reporters: "Knowing that at this moment most teams in the Premier League – but also in other leagues – are using long throws, we try to find solutions and learn how we can deal with that. It’s difficult. Most of the long throws go inside the six-yard box, so it’s complicated. We have reviewed the goal Brentford scored against us not only this week, because we are playing Sunderland, but other teams we faced after Brentford who use a long throw.

"If we don’t do it, it’s probably because I don’t like it, but you need to evolve in football, so probably one day I will do it. In this moment, we don’t plan to play with throw-ins, but it’s a matter of evolution and probably one day we will. If clubs do it, it’s because they think it’s good to do. Long throw-ins now are more or less like ten or 15 years in England – and Liam’s dad was the king of long throw-ins! In case we decide to go for long throw-ins, we will take out Liam and bring on his dad."

Chelsea conceded to a long Sunderland throw and this led to Maresca commenting: "It is always difficult to just bring seven or eight players inside the box. Almost inside the six-yard box. It is difficult to deal with that. We tried to prepare that but it can happen."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportChelsea asked to check 'Delap's DNA'

At a press conference on Tuesday, Maresca was asked to clarify these comments and whether the club would need to check Delap's 'DNA' to see if he could take long throws the same way his father, Rory, did. "No, I said many times that as a human being you can say something, but then you have a million people that can interpret it in a different way," Maresca replied. And what I can control is what I say. What I cannot control is the mind of people, how they can interpret it. I said that in this moment we are not looking for a long throw-in. Because I'm a manager, I love to evolve. Probably one day I will use that. These are my words.

"Now if people interpret it in the wrong way, I cannot control. I'm not here to control what people think. So I didn't ask Liam about a long throw-in. But again, not tomorrow. Probably one day we're going to ask Liam. I also said that we can swap Liam with this guy [Rory]."

Injury boost for Chelsea as striker returns

Delap, who joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town in the summer, picked up an injury in just the third match of the 2025-26 campaign as he limped off in the first half of the Blues' 2-0 win over Fulham on August 30. Since then, the striker has remained sidelined but is now on his way to return to action for the English giants.

Speaking on Delap's latest condition, Maresca said: "Yes, he took part in a complete lead session yesterday and is available for tomorrow. No, 90 minutes, no. It's I think two months now that he's out, so he needs gradually back to 100%."

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Getty Images SportMaresca likely to rotate squad against Wolves

Keeping in mind the hectic schedule until the November international break, Maresca might consider rotating his squad against a struggling Wolves side – who are yet to win a game in the Premier League – in their Carabao Cup fourth round tie. After the cup fixture, the Blues face Tottenham Hotspur in a difficult Premier League clash away from home on November 1. Before the international break, they play two further games, one against Qarabag FK in the Champions League and a home fixture in the league against Wolves.

'I'm in a really happy relationship' – Lionesses hero Mary Earps reveals same-sex relationship as she opens up on sexuality for first time in new autobiography

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Mary Earps has revealed she is in a same-sex relationship. The 32-year-old, who retired from international football earlier this year, was key as England secured Euros glory in 2022. Earps, who now plays for French side PSG having left Manchester United in 2024, revealed all in a statement to the BBC on Friday so that the revelation was shared on her own terms.

Getty Images EntertainmentEarps hoping to inspire others

Earps has chosen to disclose details to the BBC ahead of the publication of her memoir, of which an extract can be read on The Guardian. The goalkeeper felt it better to share details of her sexuality so it doesn't distract from other themes in the book, which includes her struggles with mental health.

Her manager, Tina Taylor, said Earps hopes that by being open about her life will inspire others to have the 'confidence to live authentically'. "After the World Cup, the outpouring of love and support really showed Mary the impact she's had, and she was deeply touched by it," Taylor said.

"By sharing details of her life away from football – something she's never done before – Mary is telling her story in her own way. It's honest and authentic."

Advertisement'I'm in a really happy relationship'

In a statement to the BBC, Earps said: "I've always tried to keep my personal life separate from my professional one, but it would have felt inauthentic not to include something so important to me in this book.

"I'm in a really happy relationship. The people closest to me have always known, and I feel ready and happy to share that with everyone else now."

In May 2024, she was handed an MBE by Prince William and spoke of the importance of being a "trailblazer" and a role model.

"I'm a very ambitious person, a very hard-working person, and I think to try and push boundaries and try and be a pioneer for change, in many ways, is something that I really enjoy doing, and hopefully I can do for the rest of my career," Earps said in an interview in August 2024.

"As Lionesses, one of the things that really sets us apart from other teams is how strong we are in our values and what we stand for."

Getty Images Sport'Bad behaviour is being rewarded'

In her autobiography 'All In', which is being serialised by The Guardian, Earps speaks candidly about Hannah Hampton and that "bad behaviour is being rewarded" when the rival goalkeeper was restored to the England squad for Euro 2022.

Earps says Hampton's "behaviour behind the scenes had frequently risked derailing training sessions and team resources" as England went the distance on home turf three years ago.

Earps played every game of Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup, while Hampton was a member of the England squad for both tournaments but dropped briefly following the tournament in England.

In an interview with The Guardian to accompany the serialisation, Earps said: "I think we had different ideas of what being a teammate should be. I think there was a mismatch, a misalignment, of values."

And when asked to elaborate on what the disruptive behaviour was, Earps replied: "I don’t want to go into the specifics because it’s not my place … She is a very good goalkeeper and I’ve tried to draw a line under all that. I have messaged her privately to say: ‘Look, no bad blood.’"

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'It was harder to find that fight in me'

Hampton revealed earlier this year that a story about the reasoning why she was dropped from 2022 almost saw her quit football. "It was harder to find that fight in me to prove people wrong, but somehow I managed it," Hampton told in June.

"I had all my friends and my family around me at the time to guide me in the right direction
and keep me going. It’s worked out for
the best – I’ve got a lot to thank them for."

In April this year, England head coach Sarina Wiegman confirmed that Hampton was her first choice goalkeeper, which saw Earps dramatically retire from international football shortly before Euro 2025 in Switzerland.

England would go on to win the competition, beating Spain in the final 3-1 on penalties.

Van Dijk's new Matip: Liverpool now chasing "sensational" Guehi alternative

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Five years ago, Jurgen Klopp watched his Liverpool team crumble as injuries overwhelmed them. They had just won the Premier League, and the year before, christened what was to be a historic chapter when the boss led them to victory in the Champions League.

Lightning has struck twice. Arne Slot dominated the English game last year and won the title with such confidence, but Liverpool have fallen apart after a summer of significant spending, faulty across any number of areas and bereft of fluency and coherence.

There is maybe a need for patience, and for allowing these new cogs to connect with the Slot machine, but then the flip side of that would be that there is no excusing the error-strewn displays, and inability to react to opposition approaches.

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher called it a crisis, with the Merseysiders having lost four Premier League matches on the bounce.

And while many exciting attacking signings were made, with the full-back ranks reshaped, Liverpool are leaving so much to be desired defensively, and changes are surely needed.

Liverpool's need for centre-backs

Virgil van Dijk has for so long been a pillar of strength and leadership at Liverpool. Both things remain true, but the captain turned 34 in July and, while still immense, lacks the structure around him to give rise to his finest football.

To put that another way, Liverpool are a bit of a mess at the back, and Van Dijk has been carried along with the current across recent weeks.

Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes have overseen a stylistic restructure across Liverpool’s backline, and this has knocked things out of kilter. Questions must be asked of the strategy behind adding Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez to the ranks, neither of whom appear to be glove-tight fits.

And the fumbled deal for Crystal Palace centre-half Marc Guehi has aggravated the issue. Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah this summer, and Giovanni Leoni, 18, is out for the season after suffering an ACL injury on his debut. Guehi was needed, but Liverpool left it late, and the Eagles didn’t want to play ball after missing out on targets of their own.

With that in mind, it appears the Reds have set their sights on a bid for Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano. According to Spanish sources, Liverpool joined by Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid in angling for a move in 2026.

The France international is out of contract at the end of the term, and while the Bundesliga giants are desperate to seal his renewal, the 27-year-old may be tempted by lucrative offers from the Premier League and La Liga.

Why Liverpool want to sign Upamecano

Liverpool struck gold in the past when they landed a talented defender from the Bundesliga on a free transfer. Indeed, Joel Matip played a defining role in the Klopp era, playing 201 games for the club, scoring 11 goals and supplying six assists.

He won the Premier League and the Champions League among further honours, notably playing in Divock Origi for the Belgian’s conclusive goal against Tottenham in Madrid, six years ago.

It all started when the Cameroonian agreed to join Klopp’s nascent project in February 2016, arriving at the end of the 2015/16 campaign.

Van Dijk has had many partners at the back, but when Matip was fully-fit and firing beside him, Klopp’s behemoths formed quite the partnership.

Now, with Upamecano approaching the end of his journey at the Allianz Arena, FSG are desperate to capitalise once again.

Bayern signed the Frenchman from divisional rivals RB Leipzig in 2021 for a reported £38m fee. He had been described as an “elite talent and a joy to watch” by scout Jacek Kulig before his move to Bayern.

Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano

And he’s gone from strength to strength since. Indeed, the tough-tackling star has polished his skillset to a standard that would befit a starring, much-scrutinised role in Slot’s Liverpool side. Should Liverpool pull this off, they may even forget all about that botched bid for Guehi.

Hailed for his “sensational” defensive ability by writer Mohammed Butt, Upamecano has the experience, athleticism and technical quality to make his mark on the Premier League, perhaps even bringing a more complete brand than someone like Guehi.

Van Dijk will expect to captain Liverpool next season, and the Dutchman’s cultured shift into his veteran years suggests that, with a more stable framework around him, he could see his club achieve their goals.

Guehi might have the experience within the English game, but Upamecano would fancy himself a cut above, boasting a wealth of top-level experience and with much silverware in the bank.

In 2025, he has also, crucially, established himself as a starting centre-back for Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus side, and with the World Cup on the horizon, this tells much of his quality and the faith of those above him.

Bayern Munich

164

5 (10)

RB Leipzig

154

4 (3)

France

34

2 (0)

FC Liefering

16

0 (0)

A ball-playing defender, data-driven platform FBref suggest that there is a likeness between Upamecano and former Anfield star Quansah, though Slot would hope to bring in a more refined and cultured presence than the up-and-comer he deemed unfit for a starring role in his project.

FBref reveal that, over the past 12 months, Upamecano ranks among the top 4% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion and progressive passes, the top 1% for passes attempted, the top 11% for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for recoveries made per 90. Clearly, he’s got the skills and physicality to succeed in the Premier League.

Though Liverpool remain in the mix for Guehi, his free agency will attract the biggest sharks across the continent.

Not only would the £166k-per-week Upamecano prove a worthy fallback, but he might even be the better pick.

The new Thiago: Liverpool "superstar" is becoming a "huge disappointment"

This Liverpool mainstay has flattered to deceive this season.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 29, 2025

Vaibhav Suryavanshi strikes fastest Youth ODI century as India seal series

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

As youngest Youth ODI century-maker, 14-year-old Suryavanshi’s 52-ball ton comes in 55-run win for India

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay05-Jul-2025India Under-19 363 for 9 (Suryavanshi 143, Malhotra 129, Home 4-63, Morgan 3-54) beat England Under-19 308 (Flintoff 107, Dawkins 67, Moores 52, Pushpak 3-63) by 55 runsFourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi struck the fastest ever Youth ODI century – from 52 balls – as India U19 beat England U19 by 55 runs in Worcester to secure a series victory.India’s total of 363 for 9 featured two brilliant centuries. Suryavanshi smashed a blistering 143 from 78 balls and Vihaan Malhotra compiled a high-class 129 from 121 as they built a second-wicket partnership of 219 in 24 overs.That left India, at 233 for 1 after 27 overs, eyeing 400-plus but England fought back well as Worcestershire’s Jack Home took 4 for 63 and Middlesex seamer Sebastian Morgan added 3 for 54.

England replied with 308 all out from 45.2 overs after they failed to build on a century opening stand from Kent’s Ben Dawkins (67) and Lancashire’s Joe Moores (52). Rocky Flintoff’s defiant 107 was thereafter largely unsupported against a well-drilled India attack with captain Thomas Rew perishing in the most unfortunate way for just 19, run out backing up.The victory leaves India 3-1 up in the five-match series which concludes back at Visit Worcestershire New Road on Monday.England chose to field and struck an early blow when Ayush Mhatre lifted James Minto to long leg. That paved the way for Suryavanshi who become the youngest ever Youth ODI century-maker with an onslaught which included 13 fours and ten sixes. His truly memorable innings contained no slogging, just a sublime exhibition of power, timing and placement.With Suryavanshi and Malhotra in full flow, the sky appeared the limit for India, but England hit back with a burst of three wickets for one run in 11 balls. Ben Mayes made the vital breakthrough by having Suryavanshi calmly caught by Joe Moores in the deep. That over transpired to be a wicket maiden which Morgan followed up in the next by bowling Rahul Kumar and Harvansh Pangalia with successive balls.Abhigyan Kundu helped Malhotra rebuild with a stand of 93 in 13 overs but Home, on his home ground, having taken some punishment in his first spell, applied a brake on the late-innings charge by taking four wickets in three overs.England’s reply was solidly launched by Moores and Dawkins who added 104 in 14 overs before spinner Naman Pushpak took wickets with successive balls.Moores lifted to long on and Mayes fell lbw, first ball. Dawkins, sketchy at first, passed 50 from 41 balls and was looking increasingly fluent when he hoisted Chauhan to long off.Flintoff and Rew crafted a promising stand of 60 in nine overs before Lady Luck intervened on the tourists’ behalf. Flintoff, having just reached a 41-ball half-century, straight-drove Yudhajit Guha who parried the ball on the stumps, leaving the luckless Rew stranded and run out.A very different run out followed when Albert perished having been called for an impossible single by Flintoff. A third successive run out – Albert scuppered by a direct hit by Malhotra – left Flintoff and the tail needing to find 105 from 10 overs. The Lancashire player reached an 88-ball century but India closed out victory with impressive and relentless efficiency.

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