Tag Futebol

Newcastle United have undergone a sweeping transformation this summer – though that is away from Eddie Howe's first-team squad.

The Tyneside outfit might have seen significant structural movements, but little has happened on the transfer front. Lewis Hall's loan move has been completed on a permanent basis and Lloyd Kelly has been landed on a free transfer following his departure from Bournemouth, but the backline requires more work and a wide forward is also pursued.

St. James' Park has gone from strength to strength over the past several years, following the PIF-backed club takeover, and now there is a chance to overcome last season's hiccup, stemming from the injury-plagued nature of the Magpies' year, and mount a campaign back toward the Champions League.

Fans are understandably yearning for some added impetus in attack – and the pointers suggest that they will get their wish – but with Sven Botman's knee injury keeping him sidelined until the end of 2024, Howe is desperate to secure another centre-back to restore his side's imperiousness in defence.

Newcastle lining up another defender

The left-sided Kelly brings security and dynamism to the backline but more is needed on the central right. As such, there might just be something in reports that Newcastle are pushing to sign OGC Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo.

The French defender is Juventus' priority target this summer and rejected West Ham United despite the east London side agreeing a £27m deal to sign him.

Now, according to transfer specialist Graeme Bailey, the Toon are preparing to launch a move of their own after holding discussions with Todibo's representatives.

Newcastle’s new sporting director Paul Mitchell is seeking to hijack Juventus' hijack in what would be an extraordinary turn of events. There's a distance to travel but this one is cautiously encouraging.

Jean-Clair Todibo's 23/24 season in numbers

Todibo, standing at 6 foot 3, is a colossal defender with a steely protective ability and a remarkable level of technicality that speaks of his suitability in Newcastle's fluid, progressive system.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 18% of centre-backs in Ligue 1 last season for assists (0.07 per 90) and the top 10% for shot-creating actions (1.47 per 90), highlighting that inborn creativity that would open up a new dimension from deep.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has praised his "high-quality" presence in the rearguard and this is reflected in the all-encompassing nature of his game, with the 24-year-old also keeping 14 clean sheets from 30 Ligue 1 matches last season, completing 90% of his passes and averaging 1.9 tackles and winning 4.5 duels (at a success rate of 59%).

But the most eye-catching element of the former La Masia starlet's skillset is his athletic prowess, with the mobility and energy levels necessary to rule over the defensive third with an iron grasp – averaging 7.1 ball recoveries per game in the French top flight.

Todibo's influence is such that he wouldn't just improve his prospective defensive partners on Tyneside. With such a robust approach to his play, he might actually be the dream defender for Bruno Guimaraes.

Why Newcastle must sign Jean-Clair Todibo

Guimaraes has been linked with a move away from Newcastle this summer, though June's sales of Elliott Anderson and teenage winger Yankuba Minteh have eased the burden relating to the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules considerably.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United have all registered a vested interest of late but a clause in Guimaraes' contract relating to a £100m release clause has now expired, meaning that Howe and Co can demand any fee they see fit for the club's midfield linchpin.

Signed from Lyon for £40m in January 2022 – at the start of the Magpies' new wave of hope – the Brazil international has been lauded for his "world-class" skills by teammate Dan Burn and chalks up some staggering metrics each season.

Matches played

17

32

37

Matches started

11

32

37

Goals

5

4

7

Assists

1

5

8

Pass completion

86%

85%

85%

Big chances created

3

2

12

Touches per game

46.9

68.4

81.0

Key passes per game

0.7

1.3

1.7

Dribbles per game

1.3

1.4

1.9

Ball recoveries per game

7.0

7.7

6.5

Tackles per game

2.6

2.4

2.4

Duels won per game

6.2

7.0

7.7

The table above highlights Guimaraes' almighty stats across his two-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League. It's a lot to unpack, but illustrates the absurd level of roundedness that supercharges Newcastle's engine room.

He did struggle at points last season but this was largely down to the incessant injury problems that plagued his team – especially in defence. By placing Todibo behind him – a defender who unbelievably made more ball recoveries than him on average in his league last season – Newcastle could return to the fore.

After all, while the £160k-per-week midfielder's combative nature holds together the middle of the park with steely resolve, it's his ball-playing mastery that would benefit the most from such a sturdy defender behind.

Indeed, Guimaraes ranked among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues last season for assists and shot-creating actions and the top 13% for progressive passes per 90, emphasising that fact.

Todibo would provide security and stability, yes, but also his own progressive style to thread through to Newcastle's main man, in turn enhancing the collective fluency of the side.

Juventus might feel that they are the favourites to sign Todibo, but Newcastle are seemingly set on disrupting the party in Turin. If they pull it off, it really will be quite the signing.

The end for Almiron: Newcastle offered deal to sign £50m "magician"

The Magpies are looking to improve their forward line this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 20, 2024

Now that the summer's international tournaments have wrapped up, focus on the transfer window will be accentuated, though, much to the frustration of the fanbase, all remains quiet at Liverpool.

Arne Slot is assessing his newly inherited squad and still awaits the returns of multiple first-team stars following international commitments, with sporting director Richard Hughes revealing that business is more likely to be conducted later down the line.

However, FSG are always willing to move for a shrewd deal, and there's one such market opportunity that might just prove to be too good to turn down.

Liverpool transfer news

According to Calcio Mercato, Juventus are struggling to meet Atalanta's demands in the pursuit of centre-midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, which could see Liverpool steal ahead.

The Merseysiders are long-time admirers of the Netherlands international, who played under Slot at AZ Alkmaar, and while Juventus are hoping to seal the deal, finances are proving to be a sticking point.

Liverpool are understood to hold the funds to complete a deal, however, and given that Atalanta are holding for €60m (£50m), the Reds may yet find themselves in the driving seat, having already moved ahead to learn conditions of a possible transfer.

What Teun Koopmeiners would bring to Liverpool

A multi-functioning midfielder, Koopmeiners is creative in possession and crisp and combative out of it, with a wide range of technical strengths that could see him excel in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old was forced to watch his nation's Euro 2024 campaign from the sidelines after picking up an injury on the cusp of the tournament, though there's no question that he earned his stripes last season, instrumental in Atalanta's Europa League triumph – ending Bayer Leverkusen's record unbeaten streak to lift the trophy and defeating Liverpool on the way to the final.

He was described as "very versatile" by his Serie A manager, Piero Gian Gasperini, though he spent much of the 2023/24 campaign in a forward-driving midfield position, scoring 15 goals across 51 appearances and adding seven assists.

Teun Koopmeiners: 2023/24 Statistics

Statistics

Serie A

Europa League

Matches played

34

12

Matches started

29

10

Goals

12

0

Assists

5

2

Pass completion

82%

79%

Big chances created

9

4

Touches per game

54.0

55.5

Key passes per game

1.8

1.1

Ball recoveries per game

4.4

4.0

Dribbles per game

0.6

0.8

Tackles per game

1.1

1.8

Duels won per game

3.2

3.8

Stats via Sofascore

Marvelling at the player's ability, his former coach Pascal Jansen has said: "His stamina is amazing. His pressing and chasing abilities when out of possession, I would almost say they are inhuman."

It's almost like he's tailor-made for Slot's high-octane, control-focused system, even ranking among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Italian top flight last term for passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Why Liverpool need Teun Koopmeiners

Liverpool are well-stocked in the centre of the park, though if Slot and Co opt against signing a specialist No. 6 it is highly likely that Alexis Mac Allister will operate in a deeper-lying role, as he did on many occasions under Jurgen Klopp last year. Wataru Endo enjoyed a solid campaign last term too but the 31-year-old has his limitations.

Despite the wealth of talent at Slot's disposal in the middle of the field, Koopmeiners could make a marked impact on the squad, not least because he embodies many of Thiago Alcantara's standout attributes.

Thiago has recently retired from football after his Liverpool contract expired last month. The 33-year-old is one of the game's superlative technicians, distinguished across the globe, though his final professional term was wrecked by injuries that limited him to just five minutes of action, coming in a defeat against Arsenal in February.

Still, while his Liverpool career didn't reach the heights dreamily envisaged, Thiago still excelled across his 98 appearances, with talkSPORT host Tony Cascarino even remarking that he's "up there with the very best".

Statistical data from the 2023/24 campaign is negligible, but the previous term illustrates quite clearly how good the maestro was, despite suffering significant injury issues again. He ranked among the top 2% of Premier League midfielders in 2022/23 for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 11% for successful take-ons and the top 10% for tackles per 90, showcasing how he was one of the most complete midfielders around.

Once praised as the "complete" midfielder by Dutch legend Ruud Krol, Koopmeiners could prove to be a brilliant Thiago replacement, not quite stylistically identical but carrying some of the Spaniard's principal ball-playing characteristics – and a sharp intelligence besides.

It would be unjust to say that the Anfield side need a Thiago replacement: he didn't play last season. That said, one can only imagine the heights that could have been reached with the midfield magician pulling strings from the heart of the field, perhaps instilling the perfect chemistry and coherence through his passing prowess to have seen Liverpool swerve the late-season slump that unravelled Klopp's swansong.

Slot is working hard to drill his philosophy into the Red Merseysiders, and while he's lost one of the Premier League's brightest midfield talents in Thiago, he could swiftly replace him with a player he knows well: Koopmeiners. The Dutchman is tenacious and supremely talented, willing to chip in defensively and boasting the motor requisite for success in the fast-paced Slot system.

Whether FSG decide to make such a move this summer remains to be seen, but there's no doubting Koopmeiners' quality, and there's no question that he would be a credit to Slot's outfit.

Related Liverpool favourites to sign "insane" £50m Guehi alternative

This dynamic defender could even be the perfect Van Dijk successor.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 16, 2024

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A equipe Sub-15 do Vasco empatou em 0 a 0 com o Madureira, na tarde deste sábado, pela Taça Guanabara da categoria.O próximo compromisso dos Meninos da Colina será no sábado, dia 18, diante do Volta Redonda, às 9h, no Estádio Nivaldo Pereira.

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Ao longo da partida, as equipes se entregaram bastante, mas não conseguiram tirar o zero do placar. A primeira grande chance do Vasco aconteceu aos 13 com uma cobrança de escanteio fechada que quase surpreendeu o arqueiro do Tricolor Suburbano.

+ Confira e simule a tabela da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro

Seis minutos depois, foi a vez de Kauã Kelvin levar perigo à meta adversária ao bater cruzado. Matheus Ferreira também tentou uma finalização, mas não levou perigo. Ainda no primeiro tempo, o Madureira ficou com menos um e os visitantes pressionaram, mas não conseguiu furar o bloqueio.

Na volta do intervalo, depois de um cruzamento,Matheus Ferreira rolou para Louback acertar o travessão. Em outro momento, Paulo Roberto fez uma grande jogada e obrigou o arqueiro tricolor a fazer boa defesa.Matheus Ferreira chegou a balançar a rede no segundo tempo, mas o árbitro assinalouimpedimento. No fim, Gustavo acertou a o travessão, e apesar da pressão, o resultado terminou empatado.

Confira a escalação do Vasco Sub-15 contra o Madureira

Phillipe Gabriel, Kauã Kelvin (João Victor), Wanyson, Thiago Queiroz (Gustavo Guimarães) e Williver; Noronha, Matheus Ferreira e Riquelme Avellar (Paulo Roberto); Lucas Oliveira (Moroni), Kevin Taylon (Daniel) e Louback (David Vitalino) – Técnico: Douglas Coelho

Leeds United were left disappointed last month as they lost 1-0 to Southampton, thanks to a goal from Adam Armstrong, in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

The Whites narrowly missed out on automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking as they finished third in the division, and still had a chance to finish in the top two going into the final game of the regular season.

They then beat Daniel Farke's former side Norwich City 4-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the play-offs before their loss in the final in the capital.

The Yorkshire-based outfit are now preparing for a second season in the second tier and this means that there will be changes to the playing squad, with players coming in and moving on.

One player who is set to return to Elland Road is attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, who is going to be reintegrated into the squad after talks with Farke, having spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan with Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.

Despite that, the Whites are reportedly looking into a deal to add another playmaker to their group during the summer transfer window, which officially opened for business on Friday.

Leeds United's interest in Championship magician

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a swoop to sign Coventry City attacking midfielder Callum O'Hare on a free transfer.

The English whiz has turned down the chance to sign a new contract with the club and is now set to become a free agent when his deal expires at the end of this month.

At the age of 26, any team wanting to snap up the talented playmaker would not have to pay any compensation to the Championship outfit, and would only need to worry about wages and a signing-on fee.

The report claims that Southampton, who have just been promoted to the Premier League, and Burnley, who were recently relegated from the top-flight, are also keen on a deal for the former Aston Villa prospect.

TEAMtalk adds that Leeds have been keeping tabs on the Coventry star's situation and that they are now 'ready' to join the race for his services this summer.

The outlet states that the club are looking to bolster their attacking options this summer as Crysencio Summerville has attracted interest from Chelsea, Fulham, Brighton, and Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Wilfried Gnonto is reportedly pushing to seal a permanent exit from Elland Road over the coming months, and would like to return to Italy to play in his home country.

O'Hare could now be brought in to potentially replace one of those key stars or to complement them if the Whites keep hold of Gnonto and Summerville.

The free agent target could also come in and be Farke's new version of Todd Cantwell, who thrived under him in the Championship at Norwich.

Todd Cantwell's Championship brilliance for Farke

The German head coach brought the attacking midfielder through from the academy at Carrow Road and gave him his first run of first-team matches in Norfolk during the 2018/19 season.

Norwich won the Championship that year but Cantwell was largely a bit-part player as he only started 18 games and played 24 in total of their 46 league clashes.

He scored one goal and provided two assists in those 24 matches before going on to rack up six goals and two assists in 30 starts in the Premier League the following year.

The Yellows were then relegated from that top-flight at the end of the 2019/20 campaign and that provided Cantwell with an opportunity to drop down to the second tier and thrive as a key player.

That is exactly what he did as the English forward, who operated down the left flank with a license to drift into central positions as a natural attacking midfielder, caught the eye and Norwich won the Championship title again.

2020/21 Championship	Todd Cantwell
Appearances	33
Sofascore rating	7.17
Goals	Six
Assists	Six
Key passes	53
Dribbles completed	53
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Canaries academy graduate showcased his ability to score and assist goals, whilst also providing quality on the ball as a passer and a dribbler.

Farke could now find his next version of the right-footed gem, who currently plays for Glasgow Rangers in Scotland, by landing O'Hare ahead of Southampton and Burnley.

Why Callum O'Hare could be Todd Cantwell 2.0

Firstly, the 26-year-old star could play a similar tactical role for the Leeds boss as he is a right-footed attacking midfielder by trade who could be deployed on the left from the start, but with the freedom to come infield to operate in his favoured – central – area of the park.

He could either start on the flank and come inside to cause havoc in the final third if Summerville moves on from Elland Road this summer, or the Coventry ace could simply play in the number ten role from the start.

The Whites target, who EFL presenter Gab Sutton claimed "offers that bit of stardust", also has the quality on the ball to make a Cantwell-like impact at the top end of the pitch.

O'Hare missed 37 matches due to a knee injury during the 2022/23 campaign but had racked up eight goals and 16 assists in the previous two Championship seasons combined.

The 5 foot 9 magician has come back to fitness this term and caught the eye with a return of six goals sand three assists in just 18 league starts.

23/24 Championship	Callum O'Hare
Appearances	31
Starts	18
xG	4.06
Goals	6
Big chances created	4
Assists	3
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the mercurial playmaker was efficient in front of goal as he outperformed his xG by roughly two goals in the division.

O'Hare also fired in four goals and one assist in three starts in the FA Cup, which meant that he ended the campaign with ten goals and four assists in 21 starts in all competitions.

Alongside Aaronson: Leeds must bring back star who's "too good" for the EFL

The Whites should bring the impressive central defender back to Elland Road next season.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 12, 2024

Therefore, the out-of-contract wizard could come in and be Farke's new Cantwell in an attacking midfield or wide position at Elland Road next season, as he is another versatile English playmaker who can offer quality as a scorer and a creator of goals at Championship level.

Back home in South Africa, Rhodes says the administrative chaos is affecting the side’s on-field performances

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Sep-2020

Jonty Rhodes will join Sweden as their head coach in November•Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Jonty Rhodes has signed up as head coach of the Sweden national side. According to a statement form the Swedish Cricket Federation, the move is part of the board’s broader plans to invest in junior cricket and high performance in the country. The statement also said, “Cricket is the second fastest growing sport in Sweden seeing a 300% increase in participation over the past two years.””I am really excited to relocate to Sweden with my family and work together with the Swedish Cricket community. This opportunity has come at a perfect time and I am grateful to be able to invest my energies in a completely new environment. I can’t wait to get started,” Rhodes was quoted as saying by .Rhodes, currently serving as the fielding coach of Kings XI Punjab in the IPL in the UAE, will join his new side in November and be based in Stockholm.”Our growth targets and key areas are directed toward junior cricket and high performance. Jonty will play a pivotal role in lifting our players as well as assisting in securing quality coaching framework for the future sustainability of the game,” Benn Harradine, sports director of the Swedish Cricket Federation, said. “I am delighted to have him as part of our small and ambitious team.”Rhodes’ move means that, for now, he is lost to his own country’s cricket board at a time when CSA has appointed a wide variety of coaches across the national structures.Recently, he had expressed concerns about the mounting administrative chaos in South Africa, a factor he felt was responsible for the results that the national team produced on the field. “The same mistakes are being made and there is not much accountability. It saddens me,” Rhodes told PTI. “It does impact on-field performance. Even though we have some great players, we have been lacking consistency in performance because of inconsistency off the field.”He was also vocal about the racial issues that continue to haunt his country, pointing out the difficulties that black children faced while growing up in South Africa.”This white privilege still extends and carries on generation after generation, it is difficult for young black children coming up in a disadvantaged community to have a better life than their parents just because of lack of facilities,” he said. “People keep asking me about white privilege and I keep saying that I grew up in a regime that was totally designed to ensure I had the best opportunity.”So, there is racial inequality, some people call that racism, and there has to be a level playing field.”

With the IPL finally due to start from September 19, the Delhi Capitals side assembled in Mumbai on Thursday before the squad departs for the UAE. And, according to a PTI report, three other teams – Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders – have already reached Dubai as the T20 tournament continues to gather steam.The Capitals players arrived in batches, keeping in mind the safety protocols against Covid-19. Led by their captain Shreyas Iyer, the others who landed were Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant and Prithvi Shaw.Despite being away from the game for more than five months, Rahane – who is a part of the Capitals for the first time – wanted to ensure the side was “very positive” after the time out.”There is no doubt that it will be a challenging trip for everyone involved,” he said. “But like everyone else, I’ve spent these last few months focusing on my physical and mental health, and taking care of my family. So the time I’ve managed to spend with them has put me in a positive frame of mind. However, this IPL will be a very different experience for all of us, and we need to make sure that we are all very positive when we hit the ground running. The key is to take one step at a time.”Young opening batsman Shaw, who hit 99 in a tied game against the Kolkata Knight Riders last season, was looking forward to gelling with his team-mates and utilising the training sessions available in the UAE.”We know people have a lot of expectations from us, but our focus will be on making the most of the training sessions we get in the UAE, and re-creating that fantastic team environment which made us so successful last year,” he said. “We also have the chance to gel with the new players and then set our sights on the IPL season.”The Kings XI, KKR and Royals players, who were already tested multiple times before departure, will now undergo a six-day isolation period with testing on day 1, 3 and 6. If they clear all the tests, they will be eligible to enter the tournament’s bio-bubble and start training.Subsequently, the players and support staff will be tested every fifth day of the tournament

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Um dos destaques da Seleção Brasileira feminina de futebol na estreia dos Jogos Olímpicos, a goleira Bárbara falou sobre o desejo de conquistar a medalha de ouro em sua última participação em Olimpíadas. Segundo a atleta, chegar ao time canarinho “é muito difícil”.

– É minha quarta e última Olimpíada e espero que seja com a medalha de ouro. É muito difícil chegar até a Seleção, mas permanecer é bem pior. Quem já passou por aqui e quem ainda está aqui sabe bem disso. A primeira luta é para estar aqui, e mais uma vez eu estou tendo essa oportunidade de disputar mais uma – disse Bárbara ao site da CBF.

+ Veja a tabela e os jogos das Olimpíadas

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Na goleada sobre as chinesas, Bárbara fechou o gol brasileiro e fez grandes defesas ao longo dos 90 minutos. A goleira também aproveitou para elogiar o trabalho da treinadora Pia Sundhage.

-No decorrer do tempo, a gente vai ganhando experiência. E, com esse novo trabalho que está sendo proposto, estamos renovadas. Acredito que a gente chega com uma metodologia totalmente diferente e tenho certeza que a gente vai em busca dessa medalha de ouro – disse Bárbara, que completou:

-As atletas já se conhecem, temos algumas meninas novas, com pouca experiência, mas um talento enorme, que vieram para agregar. Mas a Pia estar no comando hoje, modificando de forma tão profunda o trabalho que fazíamos, eu tenho certeza que é o nosso grande diferencial nessa Olimpíada.

+Veja as melhores fotos da Cerimônia de Abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de Tóquio

Aos 33 anos, a goleira relembrou as últimas edições dos Jogos Olímpicos e falou sobre as tristezas que teve ao não conquistar o título. Segundo ela, porém, estas lembranças dão a oportunidade de conquistar o objetivo agora.

-Em 2008, entrei logo no primeiro jogo, quando a Andreia se machucou. Pude jogar, ir até a final e conquistar a medalha de prata. Lembro como se fosse hoje. E, nos últimos Jogos, em 2016, quando não conseguimos chegar à final… isso é uma parte dolorida para mim.

– Ficou um desejo, uma sensação de que podíamos mais, de que podíamos ter chegado à final, e isso deixa uma angústia no peito. Tem esses dois lados. Mas a lembrança que não é tão boa nos dá a oportunidade de retornar em busca daquilo que deixamos para trás – finalizou Bárbara.

Graeme Smith backs Ganguly; CSA more cautious but open

Nagraj Gollapudi and Firdose Moonda21-May-2020

Getty Images

Is Sourav Ganguly a dark horse to replace his countryman Shashank Manohar, the outgoing ICC chairman?Ever since it emerged that Manohar would not stand for another term after his tenure ends with the ICC annual conference in July, the general perception was ECB chairman Colin Graves was the frontrunner to take charge as the new chairman of the global cricket body. However, with the Covid-19 pandemic stalling world cricket, the BCCI has taken the opportunity to test interests from several Full Members on whether they would support Ganguly.On Thursday, the former Indian captain got a firm thumbs-up from Cricket South Africa, whose representatives said “strong leadership” was necessary at ICC and Ganguly was “best positioned” to be at helm.CSA, however, backtracked somewhat* in an official press release issued later in the day, saying it did not want to “anticipate any candidates who may be nominated for this important position”.In 2016, Manohar became the first independent chairman of the ICC. The position of chairman had come into being in 2014 when N Srinivasan, another former BCCI president, had assumed that position unelected, though.In 2018, Manohar, the only candidate to file nomination, was re-elected unanimously by the ICC Board. As per the ICC constitution, Manohar is eligible for a third and final term. However, it appears as if he has decided to not take it up. That said, there remains speculation about whether Manohar might extend his term by a few months if asked by the ICC Board as world cricket grapples with the pandemic.It is understood that the ICC Board is yet to finalise the nomination process after which eligible candidates can pitch their hat in the ring. To be eligible, candidates needs to be a current or past ICC Director (one who attends the ICC Board meetings as a representative of the respective country).The 15 directors who sit on the ICC Board then are allowed to nominate one candidate. Nominees with two or more votes become eligible to contest the election. As it stands, the elections will happen at the ICC annual conference, which is scheduled tentatively for mid-July.Ganguly became eligible when he attended his first ICC Board meeting, in late March, via video conference. On May 28, he is once again scheduled to attend the next Board meeting where members would discuss the next step in contingency planning on resumption of cricket.Getty Images

‘He has the credibility’
On Wednesday, Ganguly led the BCCI team along with Jay Shah (BCCI secretary) and Arun Dhumal (treasurer) in their talks with CSA, who were represented by Jacques Faul (acting chief executive) and former South African captain Graeme Smith (Director of Cricket). After the meeting, Smith was unequivocal about his support for Ganguly should the former India captain contest the ICC chairman elections.”The president (sic, chairman) of the ICC now becomes a very key position going forward in terms of how the game can progress, and progress at the right level,” Smith said on media tele-conference on Thursday. “It would be great to see a cricket man like Sourav Ganguly get into the president (chairman) role of the ICC.”Now it’s even more important to have someone in a role that can provide leadership to cricket; that understands and can navigate the challenges in the game today. Post Covid-19 and with the things that are going to come our way, we need to have strong leadership and I feel like Sourav Ganguly is best positioned for that at the moment. I know him well. I feel that he has got the credibility and the leadership skills and is someone that can really take the game forward.”Smith’s comments come on the back of negotiations between the two boards for a three-match T20I series in South Africa in August. India have shown “willingness” to tour subject to relaxation of travel restrictions. The meeting itself was a result of discussions between Ganguly and Smith over the past few months. Incidentally, Smith had even delivered the 2018 edition of the Jagmohan Dalmiya lecture, organised by the Cricket Association of Bengal, of which Ganguly was president at the time.Smith is the second person from the player fraternity to talk up Ganguly for the role. Recently, former England captain David Gower said he would not be surprised if Ganguly became ICC head in future. Gower said one had to be a “deft politician” to “run” the BCCI.”Sourav has the toughest task imaginable in charge of BCCI, but so far I would say the signs are very good. He has listened, given his own opinion and has pulled strings gently,” Gower said on the fan chat show recently, organised by . “He is a very, very good man and has those political skills. And if you do a good job as BCCI chief in the future, who knows? Being head of ICC is an honour… but look at where the power is. BCCI is definitely the bigger job.”Getty Images

Ganguly has BCCI support
ESPNcricinfo understands that Ganguly would be the clear first choice to replace Manohar even among BCCI members. Srinivasan is another eligible candidate, although he doesn’t qualify to be elected as a representative (over 70 years old) under the existing BCCI constitution.Insiders say even Shah could be nominated as the BCCI’s candidate, although for that he would first need to attend an ICC Board meeting. Anurag Thakur is the other eligible candidate, having attended ICC Board meetings as former BCCI president. However being a minister in the Indian government automatically disqualifies Thakur, the elder brother of Dhumal, as per the ICC constitution.Ganguly was elected BCCI president last October, but his tenure technically ends in July after which he would need to undergo a three-year cooling off period. The same is applicable to Shah, who was previously an office bearer at the Gujarat Cricket Association. However in his case, it could not be confirmed when his cool-off period would start.A month after taking charge Ganguly’s administration approached the Supreme Court requesting the constitution be amended and norms concerning an office bearer’s tenure be relaxed. The court is yet to hear the matter.Neither Ganguly nor the BCCI has made any public comments on whether he would interested in contesting the ICC chairman’s position. The one person who could be surprised if Ganguly were to enter the fray would be Graves. Last December, the trio of Ganguly, Shah and Dhumal had travelled to London to meet the ECB hierarchy giving the impression that the BCCI would back Graves’ nomination.However, the BCCI has been desperate to retain its powerful position at the ICC Board, something it feels has been lost since Manohar became ICC chairman. In recent months, various cricket boards including Cricket Australia, CSA, New Zealand Cricket have had face-to-face discussions with BCCI wanting to explore bilateral engagements to boost their commercial revenue with an India tour.A person privy to the discussions BCCI has had with various boards said if Ganguly decides to contest, he could “sail through”. This person said that most Full Member boards outside of the ECB, PCB and possible Cricket Ireland would support a BCCI candidate. One has already said that in public now.Faul said that CSA was open to supporting BCCI, which it said had played a “leadership role” at the ICC. “We’ve always worked with closely with India and I think India must play a leadership role when it comes to the FTP and a responsible one for that matter,” Faul said. “Our engagement with Sourav has been very positive and he has shown willingness to help us.”We have checked this with the leadership of South African cricket if we would support an Indian candidate and at this stage, we would. But we also have to look at the integrity of the whole process. I don’t think there are any nominations, no candidates that I know of, so they are still in the process.”From a CSA point of view, we don’t see any problems supporting an Indian candidate. To be fair, we’ve got to look at who is nominated, bring it back to the board, and there’s got to be a mandate.”Hours after the comments of Smith and Faul went public, CSA sent out a release quoting its president Chris Nenzani.”We must respect both the ICC protocol and our own protocol in deciding which candidate to back,” the release said. “There have been no candidates nominated as yet and once such nominations have been made the Board of CSA will take its decision in terms of its own protocol and give the chairman the mandate to exercise his vote as an ICC Board Director accordingly.”We have the highest regard for the opinions of our Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith, who is a well-respected figure in world cricket and has already made an immense contribution in fulfilling his mandate to make our cricket teams world leaders again.”At the moment we don’t want to anticipate any candidates who may be nominated for this important position to lead the game we all love.”*GMT 18.45 The story was amended to include CSA’s official statement.

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É com essa mudança intensa de peças para o técnico Roberto Fernandes que o Santa segue buscando sua primeira vitória na Série C do Campeonato Brasileiro. A próxima oportunidade de acabar com esse jejum será no sábado (3) às 19h (de Brasília) recebendo em Recife o Paysandu.

Alejandro Garnacho reportedly insisted on returning early to Manchester United training after guiding Argentina to Copa America glory.

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Garnacho starred with Argentina in Copa AmericaHeaded back to Carrington earlier than expectedUnited staff were impressed with his commitmentWHAT HAPPENED?

According to the the 20-year-old winger, who played a pivotal role in Argentina's success, requested to return to training at Carrington sooner than expected. Despite the physical and mental toll such high-stakes competitions can take, Garnacho chose to forgo an extended break in favour of preparing for the Community Shield which speaks volumes about his professionalism.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Although Garnacho started the Community Shield clash against Manchester City on the bench, his impact on the game was undeniable. Introduced in the 59th minute, Garnacho turned the tide in United's favour by scoring in the 82nd minute, giving his team a crucial lead. The goal earned him a place in the history books as he became the youngest United player to score in the Community Shield since George Best achieved the feat in 1965.

DID YOU KNOW?

Garnacho's performance in the Community Shield was not an isolated incident. Last season, the young winger played over 400 more minutes than any other teenager in the Premier League, showcasing his importance to Erik ten Hag's squad.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR GARNACHO?

With the Premier League season opener against Fulham just around the corner, Garnacho is expected to start the match. His early return to training and impactful performance in the Community Shield suggests that he is more than ready to take on the challenges of the new season. United fans will be eager to see if Garnacho can build on last season's successes and continue his upward trajectory as one of the most exciting young talents in world football.