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حسمت 4 منتخبات تأهلها إلى الدور نصف نهائي بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للشباب تحت 20 عامًا، بينها منتخب مصر مستضيف المسابقة.

البطولة المقامة على الأراضي المصرية بمشاركة 13 منتخبًا، تستمر حتى يوم 18 مايو الجاري، وتقام في القاهرة والإسكندرية والسويس.

تشكيل منتخب مصر أمام غانا في كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عاماً

وكان منتخب نيجيريا أول المتأهلين لدور نصف النهائي بفوزه على السنغال بركلات الترجيح بنتيجة 3-1.

ولحق به منتخب مصر تحت القيادة الفنية للمدرب الوطني أسامة نبيه، بفوزه على غانا بركلات الترجيح بعد نهاية الوقت الأصلي والإضافي للقاء بنتيجة 2-2.

واستطاع منتخب المغرب العبور بعد فوز صعب على نظيره السيراليوني بهدف دون رد في لقاء امتد للأشواط الإضافية.

وأخيرًا حسم منتخب جنوب إفريقيا، المقعد الرابع في دور نصف النهائي من بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا بالفوز على الكونغو الديمقراطية بهدف دون رد.

الجدير بالذكر، أن الـ4 منتخبات المتأهلة إلى الدور نصف النهائي لبطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا، سوف تصعد إلى نهائيات كأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا تشيلي 2025. مواعيد مواجهات نصف نهائي كأس أمم إفريقيا للشباب

نيجيريا ضد جنوب إفريقيا، يوم الخميس 15 مايو، الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

مصر ضد المغرب يوم الخميس 15 مايو، الساعة 9  مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

Newcastle United have one foot in the Carabao Cup final and have returned to Champions League contention with their emphatic form over the winter period.

Here is a team completely comfortable in its own skin, delighting in exerting itself with robustness and physicality against opponents who, unless they meet fire with fire, are being turned over and picked apart by a ferocious mischief of Magpies.

Victory at the Emirates on Tuesday evening marked a seventh successive win in all competitions, with a winter turnaround changing the mood on Tyneside and rekindling the belief that greatness can be achieved under Eddie Howe’s wing.

However, Newcastle do need to ensure that their market dealings bear riper fruits than last year, with the 2024 summer window generally viewed disapprovingly.

Bolstering the frontline is high on the list of priorities, with United in the chase for an exciting target.

Newcastle to strengthen up front

The Telegraph believe that Harvey Barnes could be in line for a shock departure from St. James’ Park this month, with the prolific wideman’s prospective sale placating PSR and allowing for investment.

Thus: as per Spanish sources, Newcastle are looking to jostle with Manchester United for the signing of Paris Saint-Germain winger Lee Kang-in, who could be available for around €40m (£34m).

Lee, aged 23, is in his second campaign with the Ligue 1 champions but is not always a starter for the Parisiens and is keen on the idea of assuming an important role at a team like Newcastle.

Typically playing on the right, he would suit Newcastle’s plans perfectly and could find that United’s renewed Champions League hopes hold sway, with Manchester United toiling in the bottom half of the table.

Why Newcastle want Lee Kang-in

Lee is an athletic and fast-paced winger with a balanced approach to his attacking game, posting 11 goals and seven assists across 60 matches for PSG. In fact, his boss, Luis Enrique, has praised him as a “complete player.”

There might be a top partnership with someone like Alexander Isak in there, with the pace and technical assuredness certain to blend nicely with the Sweden striker’s qualities.

When looking at Isak’s influence on Newcastle’s improvements since December, you can see that Lee would be joining a frontline – including Anthony Gordon too – capable of wreaking havoc on defences across the country continent.

Alexander Isak 24/25 – Before & Since December

Before December

Since December

Games

13

9

Goals

5

10

Assists

2

2

G/A (per game)

0.54

1.33

Wins

7

7

Draws

2

1

Losses

4

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

Isak is quite simply the finest centre-forward in the business right, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher recently saying that he’s “the best striker in the Premier League.”

More than just a goalscorer, he’s been the driving force behind his outfit’s success over the past few months, also averaging 1.7 key passes and 1.4 successful dribbles per Premier League match in 2024/25, as per Sofascore, which makes a telling comment on his roundedness, pushing forward, making intelligent movements and creating for his teammates.

That final part is of particular importance as far as Lee is concerned, for the South Korean sensation could hone his own ball-striking game on English shores, benefitting from the multi-functionality of a player who, at his core, is a deadly marksman. It would create fluidity and angles, something that has worked a treat for Gordon on the left flank.

While Lee has struggled to cement a moveless starting berth in Paris, this is hardly to the detriment of his exciting skill set. After all, his numbers in the French top flight this term make for compelling reading if you are of a Newcastle persuasion.

As per Sofascore, the South Korea international has scored six goals and added two assists across just nine starting outings in Ligue 1 this term, creating nine big chances, completing 91% of his passes and averaging 2.2 key passes and 2.6 successful duels per game.

He’s also impressing in the Champions League this season, a competition that the Magpies are looking to build a nest in permanently.

Not only does this demonstrate his confidence and big-game ability, but Lee is also proving that he can play well across a variety of environments, having previously cut his teeth at Valencia in La Liga.

As per FBref, Lee ranks among the top 1% of positional peers in Europe’s distinguished competition this season for pass completion (86%), shot-creating actions and progressive passes, as well as the top 10% for progressive carries and the top 4% for tackles (all metrics per 90 minutes).

His high-level technical quality has even seen him recorded against Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior – with FBref noting the pair as similar players – whose own Champions League campaign this season has seen five goals and an assist chalked from just five matches, including an emphatic hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund.

If Newcastle were to get their hands on a star of Lee’s ilk, operating in the same vein as one of the game’s biggest superstars in Vini Jr., there’s every chance that Howe’s project would enter a new level, one even more exciting than the current iteration that has brought so much joy to Tyneside.

PSG have been reported to have an interest in Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and could even look to complete a deal this month. This would only bloat their wide ranks further and, maybe, see the green light sparked for a stunning Newcastle swoop for Lee.

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INEOS have sent scouts to watch a “complete” striker ahead of a possible Manchester United transfer, according to a recent report.

Man Utd transfer news

If Ruben Amorim had his way, this January transfer window would be very busy for the Red Devils, but due to financial fair play rules, the Premier League side have to be very careful with what business they conduct, and it mainly relies on players leaving Old Trafford first.

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Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes is someone that United are very much keen on signing this month. Mendes worked with Amorim at Sporting, and given he has refused to sign a new contract in Paris, it means he is open to a move and is said to be keen on reuniting with the Portuguese manager at Old Trafford.

But again, his arrival will depend on which players, if any, leave United in the coming weeks. It has now been claimed by Sky Sports that Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof, Casemiro, and Antony could all leave Man United this month, as the club are open to offers. Eriksen and Lindelof are out of contract at the end of the season, and Casemiro and Antony are players who have fallen out of favour. The Red Devils are looking to move them on as they don’t have a future at the club and are open to permanent as well as loan offers.

Man Utd send scouts to watch "complete" striker

As United wait to see what players may leave this month, it hasn’t stopped them from putting their own transfer plans in place. According to the Daily Mail confidential, relayed by United in Focus, Manchester United sent scouts to watch Porto striker Samu Omorodion in action on Saturday ahead of a possible transfer.

Samu, who has been described as “complete” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, joined Porto during the summer transfer window from Atlético Madrid after being linked with a move to Chelsea. The forward is only 20, and he has been in sensational form in Portugal after his protracted move to Stamford Bridge fell through at the final moment.

The Daily Mail reports that United had scouts in place for Porto’s game against Boavista on Saturday, and it is believed they were there to watch him in action. The scouts would have left the game impressed, as the forward netted twice and Porto won 4-0 to continue their charge to catch Sporting.

Samu Aghehowa’s 24/25 Porto stats

Apps

21

Goals

18

Assists

2

A move this month hasn’t been ruled out, but it could be one that materialises in the summer, when Amorim will hope more funds are available. The United boss will be aware of Samu’s attributes, as he will have seen him closely in Portugal before he moved to Manchester. He is under contract until 2029 at Porto, and in this current form, the Portuguese side are going to play hardball when it comes to keeping their star striker.

In a potential boost on the transfer front, a Champions League side are now reportedly willing to listen to offers for a Newcastle United target who could complete Eddie Howe’s midfield.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies have been the definition of inconsistent so far this season, as their frantic 3-3 draw against Liverpool and 4-2 defeat against Brentford just days later showed. Their struggles stem from a difficult transfer window, in which Paul Mitchell spent months chasing Marc Guehi only to miss out on the defender’s signature and opt out of turning to any alternatives.

So, when the January transfer window opens and, of course, when the summer arrives, Newcastle should be one of the clubs to watch. Those at St James’ Park have already been linked with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo in recent weeks, whose quality they need no reminding of after he scored against them this weekend. But it remains to be seen whether they’ll splash the cash as early as this winter.

It’s not just their attacking options that the Magpies want to boost, as they’ve reportedly been handed quite the boost on that front. According to CaughtOffside, Borussia Dortmund are now open to offers for Felix Nmecha, who Newcastle have recently scouted and are interested in signing in 2025.

Newcastle now interested in beating Man Utd to sign "huge talent" for Howe

He’s one for the future.

1 ByTom Cunningham Dec 8, 2024

The Champions League club are reportedly open to offers in the region of €40-45m (£33-37m) to leave the ball in Newcastle’s court. With Manchester United and Aston Villa also seemingly interested in the former Manchester City gem, the Magpies cannot afford to wait around and deliberate over a move. If they want to complete Howe’s midfield by signing Nmecha, they should make a swift move.

As for Nmecha himself, he could yet get the chance at Premier League redemption.

"Exceptional" Nmecha could earn PL chance

Like Jadon Sancho, Nmecha has played his best football since leaving Manchester City amid a struggle to break into the senior side at the Etihad.

The midfielder first impressed at Wolfsburg before completing a move to Borussia Dortmund. Now, he could earn come back to haunt Manchester City by finally excelling in the Premier League.

The Man City academy graduate has certainly earned plenty of fans at Borussia Dortmund, including manager Nuri Sahin, who lauded the 24-year-old’s “exceptional profile for a midfielder” back in November.

He said: “I can only judge him based on the last ten or eleven months. But I think he has everything, he has an exceptional profile for a midfielder.”

The Bundesliga giants could be left with no choice but to bid farewell to their midfielder if Newcastle come calling, however. The Magpies could form a mouth-watering midfield trio between Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Nmecha in 2025. If they want to take Howe’s side back to the Champions League, that midfield would certainly be a start.

When 2025 arrives, Newcastle must make up for the summer transfer window and welcome a number of much-needed reinforcements – potentially starting with Nmecha.

Reduced to 27 for 3 after being sent in, Super Giants recovered to set a target of 170, and Sunrisers stumbled at the end of the chase

Karthik Krishnaswamy04-Apr-2022Deepak Hooda, KL Rahul and Avesh Khan led the way as Lucknow Super Giants came back from behind with bat and ball to complete a 12-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, continuing the reversal of fortunes for teams batting first in IPL 2022.Reduced to 27 for 3 after being sent in, Super Giants recovered to set a target of 170, and Avesh took two powerplay wickets to put them firmly in front. But Sunrisers took the initiative with quickfire knocks from Rahul Tripathi and Nicholas Pooran; at one stage, they needed 27 from 17 balls with six wickets in hand. But Avesh turned it around once again with two wickets in two balls in the 18th over, and two more solid death overs from Andrew Tye and Jason Holder, playing his first game of the season, completed the job.Washington dominates powerplay
Sunrisers didn’t open the bowling with Washington Sundar in their first match against Rajasthan Royals, but they had a clear case to do so against Super Giants. One of their openers, Quinton de Kock, was a left-hander, and the other, KL Rahul, has struggled to score quickly against offspin of late, his strike rate against that style of bowling dropping from 176.66 until the end of 2019.Washington made an even bigger impact than Sunrisers may have hoped for. He dismissed de Kock by denying him room to hit inside-out, and took out another left-hander in Evin Lewis, who fell in the dangerous pursuit of sweeping every ball from a bowler who targets the stumps incessantly. With Rahul and Manish Pandey – another right-hander who starts slowly against spin – taking no chances against him either, Washington ended the powerplay with figures of 3-0-11-2.Romario Shepherd’s hard lengths took out Pandey, meanwhile, after he had conceded a six and a four earlier in the over, and Super Giants finished the powerplay at 32 for 3.A partnership of contrasts
In both 2020 and 2021, Rahul came in for plenty of criticism for his low-risk approach in the powerplay and middle overs, which brought him plenty of runs but also left the feeling that his franchise at the time, Punjab Kings, frequently ended up with lower-than-ideal totals even when they didn’t lose too many wickets. That approach was more understandable in this game, given the situation Super Giants got themselves into.At the other end, Hooda adopted a different approach, after taking 12 balls to get his eye in. The rapid Umran Malik bore the brunt of the punishment, with three fours and a six pinging off Hooda’s bat. It wasn’t that Malik bowled particularly badly: Hooda played some exceptional shots off him, including an open-faced slice to steer a near-yorker past backward point and a whipped six off a short ball angled in to tuck him up for room. There was also a ramped six that the leaping third man fielder – stationed fine for exactly that shot – got a hand to but couldn’t grab hold of.Rahul also hit two fours off Malik, and his second and third overs – the 10th and 14th of Super Giants’ innings – went for a combined 36. Even with Sunrisers’ other bowlers doing decently through this phase, Super Giants’ recovery was firmly on track.Bhuvneshwar and Natarajan nail the yorkers
Malik’s poor night forced Sunrisers into using Washington’s fourth over – which they probably weren’t planning to bowl – in the 17th over. Rahul and Ayush Badoni – who replaced Hooda following his dismissal in the 16th over – took it for 17.Badoni and Holder then took 17 off Shepherd in the 20th over, but in between, Bhuvneshwar and T Natarajan ensured Sunrisers wouldn’t be chasing too steep a target, with expert use of the yorker – if they erred, they sent down low full-tosses rather than half-volleys, and they always followed the batters’ movements with their line, ensuring they seldom got room to free their arms. Super Giants only took a combined 15 runs off the 18th and 19th overs, and lost Rahul and Krunal Pandya in the process.Avesh, part one
Sunrisers began their chase solidly enough, getting to 21 for no loss after three overs, with Kane Williamson picking up an eye-catching six behind the wicket with a scoop over the keeper off Holder in the third over.But just when Williamson’s form was beginning to look ominous – he punched Avesh to the cover point boundary at the start of the fourth over – Avesh got him out, another attempted lap over short fine leg ending up in the hands of the fielder.Abhishek Sharma, the other opener, fell in Avesh’s next over, miscuing an attempted big hit off a slower ball, and Sunrisers ended the powerplay at 40 for 2.KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda put up a half-century stand for the fourth wicket•BCCIOne way, then the other, and back
The middle overs seesawed this way and that. Rahul Tripathi clattered 44 off 30, including taking three fours off the eighth over, delivered by Andrew Tye – the highlight a deft ramp over the keeper off a rising short ball. But Krunal took both him and Aiden Markram out, leaving Sunrisers needing 75 off 41 with six wickets in hand and two new batters at the crease.Pooran began not just slowly but also most unconvincingly, as Ravi Bishnoi beat his outside edge three times in four balls with his wrong’un allied to his across-the-left-hander angle. But he muscled Krunal for a leg-side six in the 14th over and hit Holder for two fours in the 15th, before ending the 16th with a glorious drive to bisect extra-cover and long-off, off Bishnoi, to leave Sunrisers needing 41 off 24. The match was turning once again.Avesh, part two
Tye’s changes of pace and ability to land the ball wide of the left-handers’ hitting arc ensured he only conceded eight runs in the 17th over, with its one boundary coming via a lofted drive from Washington.Then, with Sunrisers needing 33 from 18, Pooran miscued a pull off Avesh only for the ball to carry all the way for six. The luck turned two balls later, as Pooran hit a full-toss straight into long-off’s hands.Then Avesh nicked off Abdul Samad first ball, delivering another blow to Sunrisers’ chances, before closing out the over with two dots and a wide, backing the wide line outside off to Shepherd.Tye delivered another superb over in the 19th, but just when Sunrisers seemed to be slipping out of the contest with 22 required off 8, an attempted yorker turned into a full-toss that Shepherd launched for a straight six.Sixteen of the last over was possible, though difficult. And it proved even more difficult thanks to the new rule regarding batters crossing over. Looking to hit the first ball for six, Washington was caught on the long-on boundary. Where Shepherd may have taken strike next ball in previous seasons, he now had to watch Bhuvneshwar from the other end.Two singles followed, before Bhuvneshwar holed out. Again, Shepherd couldn’t take strike, and with two sixes needed just to tie the game, the match was all but over.

West Ham United are eyeing a move for an England international as they look to rebuild under Julen Lopetegui, it has been claimed, with the Hammers in desperate need of reinforcements.

West Ham lose again

After an impressive 2-0 win over Newcastle United, West Ham’s feel-good factor was promptly shattered as they were thrashed 5-2 by Premier League hopefuls Arsenal at the London Stadium. The Gunners were 4-0 up inside 36 minutes, and despite a small West Ham fightback before half-time, they never looked like giving up that advantage as plenty of home fans left early in disgust.

And, speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Neville slammed Lopetegui’s tactics, dubbing them utter madness: “It’s just utter madness. When you’re 3-0 down against Arsenal just hit it long into Antonio. They can’t get out. I just don’t understand it.”

The result leaves the Hammers languishing in 14th place in the Premier League, with defeat to Arsenal being their sixth already this season, the same number as Everton, Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town.

Lopetegui, already the holder of the unwanted record of being the first West Ham boss to lose each of his first three home games in the Premier League, is under pressure ahead of a run of fixtures in which the Hammers will be expecting to pick up plenty of points from sides around and below them.

Leicester City (Away)

Wolves (Home)

Bournemouth (Away)

Brighton (Home)

Southampton (Away)

Now, West Ham are reportedly keen to bolster a defence that has conceded 24 goals so far this season, the joint fourth-most in the division.

West Ham eye cut-price England international

That comes according to reports in Italy, which put West Ham firmly in the frame to sign AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori in 2025. The England international has seen his stock fall at San Siro, and has lost his place in Paulo Fonseca’s starting XI, seeing just 11 minutes of action across the last six Serie A games as Malick Thiaw and Matteo Gabbia have overtaken him in the pecking order.

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With two and a half years left on his £72k a week deal in Milan, Tomori could well be sold in a bid to raise funds to strengthen elsewhere, and all of Juventus, Newcastle United, West Ham and Aston Villa are credited with an interest in the 26-year-old centre-back.

Though Milan demanded 30m euros (£24m) to part ways with the defender in the summer, it is claimed that the Rossoneri ‘could settle for less’ now after failing to attract a bidder.

A return to the Premier League could offer Tomori a better chance of returning to the England squad, where he has been consistently overlooked since his move to Milan, and West Ham could offer him regular first team football in his home-city.

Tomori would certainly add strength to the Hammers’ backline, which has looked increasingly fragile in recent weeks despite the summer arrivals of Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, neither of whom have been huge successes in the early stages of their West Ham careers.

The quick bowler is due to make his first appearance on December 27

Tristan Lavalette07-Dec-2021

Pakistan quick Haris Rauf will return to injury-hit Melbourne Stars in a signing coup hoped to bolster their inexperienced attack, which copped a hammering against two-time defending champion Sydney Sixers in the BBL season opener.Having originally caught the eye bowling at speeds over 90mph/145kph for Lahore Qalanders, Rauf enjoyed worldwide attention during the 2019-20 BBL season, where he quickly became a fan favourite after claiming 20 wickets from 10 matches.Admirably filling the shoes of an injured Dale Steyn, he consistently bowled with great pace to become a talisman for Stars and a headliner in the competition highlighted by a famous hat-trick against Sydney Thunder in his MCG debut.Related

'A superstar Pakistan deserves': The rise and rise of Haris Rauf

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Those heroics powered him into Pakistan’s national team and he made his international debut during a T20 match against Bangladesh in January 2020. He has played eight ODIs and 32 T20Is overall and was a key cog in Pakistan’s strong T20 World Cup campaign with eight wickets from six matches.Rauf did struggle during his brief appearance for Stars last season with just one wicket from three matches. However, he’s hoped to shore up an attack that leaked 213 runs from 20 overs against a ruthless Sixers at the SCG in the biggest defeat in the competition’s history.Missing towering quick Billy Stanlake, fellow quick Liam Hatcher and Marcus Stoinis, the Stars deployed an inexperienced attack featuring debutants Sam Elliott, Brody Couch and young spinner Syed Faridoun, who like Rauf hails from Lahore Qalanders.”We can’t wait to see Haris Rauf back at the Stars. His addition brings experience, energy and quality to our fast-bowling stocks,” Stars coach David Hussey said.Rauf is set to make his season debut against Brisbane Heat on December 27 and will be available for the rest of the tournament.In the meantime, Stars will be out to rebound against Sydney Thunder in their home opener at the MCG on Friday.

Ben Stokes has allayed concerns about the knee injury that hampered his bowling at Brisbane last week, after coming through an energetic nets session at Adelaide ahead of Thursday’s second Ashes Test.Stokes, 30, bowled just 12 overs in England’s nine-wicket defeat in the series opener, and was in obvious discomfort during his latter spells after appearing to jar his knee while chasing a ball to the boundary.However, he was back to full pace in the Adelaide nets on Tuesday, where he bowled for an hour under the supervision of head coach, Chris Silverwood, and also struck England’s captain Joe Root on the helmet and the arm in a lively display.”We will find out over the next couple of days,” Root had said before the net session. “He obviously had a bit of a jar in his knee in the last game. Hopefully it’s something he’s shaken off now, and he can get back to full intensity and all options are on the table. We will have to manage that and see where we are at.”Writing in his column for the Mirror, Stokes confirmed that his knee had affected him at Brisbane, but also that it was not a new issue that had arisen during the match.”People will have seen me rubbing my knee from time to time when I was in the field, but rest assured I’m fine,” he wrote. “It is an old injury that flares up every now and again, but I know how to manage it.”It just gets a little bit uncomfortable every now and again in and around my cartilage. But it just looks worse than it is by the way I try and get off it as soon as I can.”The contest was Stokes’ first Test appearance since the tour of India in February, and his first competitive fixture since taking a lengthy break during the English season to manage his mental health in the wake of a badly broken finger. He made scores of 5 and 14 in his two innings, and also reprieved David Warner with a no-ball, after over-stepping while bowling him in Australia’s first innings.”Having a long break is going to show itself I guess, but there are no excuses from me,” Stokes added. “I didn’t do anything whatsoever except take a catch and bowl a few no-balls, so the one positive is that I probably can’t get much worse than that.”Stokes’ ability to play as a frontline seamer is crucial to England’s hopes of balancing their attack, and may offer a reprieve to the spinner Jack Leach, whose 13 overs were hit for 102 runs in the first Test. His selection for that match was described by the former England left-armer Phil Tufnell as a “hospital pass”.Related

• Anderson replaces Wood for Adelaide Test; Leach retained in squad

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England’s hopes of squaring the series at Adelaide may also be boosted by the impending recall of James Anderson, who claimed his first five-wicket haul in Australia in the corresponding day-night fixture four years ago, and who bowled for 40 minutes in the nets after sitting out the opening match.England have lost ten of their last 11 Tests in Australia, and have not won in the country since their victorious tour of 2010-11. No England team has bounced back from an opening Test defeat Down Under since Len Hutton’s men in 1954-55, but Stokes remains confident that they can buck the trend.”We have a good track record of bouncing back pretty well after a defeat early in a series,” Stokes added in his column. “We came back against South Africa to win, we came back against the West Indies last year to win, so we’ve done it before and we can do it again.”Now is not the time to panic. It is about keeping a clear head and staying calm and making sure that our cricket is at the level we want it to be.

Ange Postecoglou heaped praise on his injury-plagued Tottenham squad despite their FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa.

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• Postecoglou praised his players
• Pointed out fatigue affecting the team's performances
• Outlined target for Spurs for the remainder of the season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After losing 4-1 on aggregate against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final last week, Spurs have now crashed out of the FA Cup after they were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa on Sunday. Jacob Ramsey put the Villans in front in the very first minute of the match before Morgan Rogers doubled their lead just past the hour mark. New signing Mathys Tel scored a consolation for Spurs in injury time.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite their eliminations from two cup competitions in consecutive games, manager Postecoglou praised his players for putting up a fight despite their fatigue. He also pointed out the number of first-team players he was missing in the clash, with Spurs currently dealing with no fewer than 11 first-team injuries.

• WHAT ANGE POSTECOGLOU SAID

  Speaking to reporters after the match, the 59-year-old said: "This group has done an unbelievable job for two and a half months. I can't praise them enough, playing twice a week since November. They'll get the chance to reset now and finish the season strong.

  "Europe is still very important to us, we're still in a great spot there, and we'll hope to get some players back over the next two weeks. We'll get players back which will help, we had 11 first-team players out today. Take that out of any team for one game and they would struggle – we've been doing that for two and a half months."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

  The North London side will be next seen in action on February 16 as they host Manchester United in a crucial Premier League clash.

MLS newcomer San Diego FC has added U.S. men's national team midfielder Luca de la Torre on loan with a future purchase option

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• De la Torre joins SDFC on loan
• USMNT midfielder is a 2022 World Cup veteran
• Had been with Celta Vigo since 2022
• Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of the club's first MLS season, San Diego FC has signed USMNT veteran Luca de la Torre on an initial loan from Celta Vigo, where he has played since 2022.

  The 26-year-old American made 67 appearances for the Spanish side since joining from Heracles in the Netherlands but has made just one La Liga appearance this season after missing time with an injury early in the season.

  De la Torre has 24 caps with the USMNT and was part of the 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar. Recently, he played four times for the national team in 2024 but hasn't featured since September under then-interim coach Mikey Varas, who will be his new coach with San Diego.

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• @sandiegofc
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  De la Torre, who was born and raised in San Diego, will be a key figure for the expansion side, who continue to fill out their squad ahead of their first season. He joins star winger Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano as a key piece of Varas' puzzle. In addition to Lozano, the club has also signed MLS veterans Andres Reyes, Anibal Godoy, and Emmanuel Boateng, Nottingham Forest product Alex Mighten, and longtime Middlesbrough defender Paddy McNair.

  “We’re thrilled to bring Luca home to San Diego,” said SDFC Sporting Director Tyler Heaps. “Luca’s journey – competing in some of the world’s top leagues and representing the USMNT – speaks volumes about his dedication and talent. But what makes this moment truly special is that he’s coming home to represent the city that shaped him. We’re excited for him to connect with our fans and community in a meaningful way and play an important role in our historic inaugural season.”

  The 26-year-old midfielder could wind up being a centerpiece for years to come if the club ends up taking up the purchase option included in the loan deal.

• Pete Norton
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  De la Torre played for local youth side San Diego Surf during his childhood before moving to England to join the Fulham academy in 2013. The move will be a full-circle moment for the 26-year-old, who returns home.

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• San Diego FC
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR SAN DIEGO?

  San Diego FC will open their first MLS season on Feb. 23, when they visit the defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy. After that, they'll host St. Louis City SC in their first home match on March 1.