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Nuno Espírito Santo is still waiting for his first win as West Ham manager since taking over from Graham Potter last month, and the January window could represent a lifeline amid their torrid state of affairs.

West Ham fall to another defeat with January looking vital

Last Friday, it was Leeds United’s turn to inflict yet another damaging defeat on West Ham.

Early goals from Brenden Aaronson and former Tottenham defender Joe Rodon piled more misery on Nuno, with a late consolation from summer signing Mateus Fernandes coming as too little, too late for the Portuguese’s side.

Nuno is still tinkering with his West Ham team as he looks to discover the best formula to steer them away from this season’s relegation dogfight.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

After raising eyebrows with his rather questionable team to play Brentford last Monday, Nuno opted to play Lucas Paqueta as a false nine yet again at Elland Road, with Andy Iriving and Tomas Soucek chosen to start in midfield, similar to their defeat a few days prior.

Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman were also called upon once more to play as the starting centre-back pair, but just like their defeat against Brentford, they had no joy as Leeds gave West Ham a mountain to climb early doors.

Nuno apparently doesn’t fancy Callum Wilson or James Ward-Prowse, with the latter excluded from all of his matchday squads so far and a January exit appearing likely for the Englishman.

It is becoming abundantly clear that West Ham may not have a good-enough squad to compete at this level, so reports have begun flooding in that chairman David Sullivan and co are planning to be active when the transfer window reopens.

In a bid to save their season, it is believed that Nuno has urged both Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady to sign a new defender, midfielder and forward in January, with Sky Sports also reporting funds will be available for West Ham to spend.

Niclas Fullkrug’s injury problems have been a thorn in West Ham’s side since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund last year, and the need for a reliable goalscorer is evident given Nuno’s reported stance on Wilson.

Callum Marshall is another option to lead the line, but so far, Nuno is still reluctant to hand the Northern Ireland international a chance to prove himself as he reaches for makeshift options like Paqueta.

Taking this into account, West Ham are in the market for a new number nine this winter, and Real Madrid starlet Endrick is believed to be a key target.

The Brazil international, thanks to a combination of fitness issues and competition for places, has struggled to establish himself as a Real regular, despite firing them to a Copa del Rey final last season before Los Blancos eventually lost out to Barcelona.

Endrick was a target for West Ham last January on loan, and their long-term interest has remained.

According to some reports, West Ham have already held talks with Real about signing Endrick on a temporary deal ahead of January, and the Hammers are also fond of his teammate, Gonzalo Garcia.

Endrick preparing to leave Real Madrid after alleged West Ham talks

Now, as per reports from Spain, Endrick is “preparing to leave” Real amid these alleged West Ham talks, but it is no guarantee that the teenager chooses a switch to east London amid a growing clamor for his services.

Endrick, who is still widely regarded as one of Brazil’s brightest upcoming talents, could also make a move to Brentford.

Keith Andrews’ side are named as a “clear” candidate for his signature, while La Liga sides like Real Sociedad and Sevilla are also keen on snapping up the ex-Palmeiras sensation who cost Real £53 million to sign back in 2022.

While West Ham are firmly in the mix, they’ll need to move quickly ahead of what looks likely to be a scramble for Endrick when the January window opens.

However, going by Carlo Ancelotti’s past praise of the striker, it could definitely be worth the effort.

Tempers flared at the end of a feisty Clasico clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu, with Vinicius Junior at the heart of the post-game brawl. Security personnel were forced to step in as players and coaches from both teams became caught up in an unsightly scuffle. Angry words were also exchanged on the field, with Blaugrana wonderkid Lamine Yamal attracting unnecessary attention.

• El Clasico chaos: Bench brawl after Real Madrid win

  The game in question finished in a 2-1 victory for the hosts, with Real getting one over on arch-rivals after enduring a tough time against foes from Catalunya during the 2024-25 campaign. Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham got the goals for the Blancos as they picked up three priceless points.

  Emotions ran high throughout the latest Clasico, with it never going to take much for a fuse to be lit. Brazilian superstar Vinicius reacted petulantly to being replaced 18 minutes from the end, as he headed straight down the tunnel. He was back on the touchline when the final whistle blew, allowing a confrontation with the opposition bench to be sparked.

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• Pedri red provides spark: Tempers boil over on the bench

  A chaotic end to a meeting between old adversaries saw Barcelona reduced to 10 men in the closing stages as Pedri was dismissed. He lunged in on Aurelien Tchouameni, leading to a second yellow card and subsequent red being flashed in his direction. Unsurprisingly, players on opposing sides of the fiercest La Liga divide looked to pile in on one another.

  It was at that point that things got feisty on the sidelines. England international Bellingham, who had been replaced in the 90th minute, found himself at the centre of a crowded technical area. He was ushered away from proceedings, but Vinicius Junior remained very much part of the heated discussion.

• Yamal vs Courtois: Angry words exchanged at full time

  More cards were shown to those on the bench, with Alejandro Balde among the more incensed Barcelona players. Real Madrid’s back-up goalkeeper Andrii Lunin received a caution despite never making it onto the pitch. The game ended moments later, leading to more ugly scenes.

  Bellingham was back on the field for that dispute, with teenage forward Yamal attracting plenty of attention. Belgium goalkeeper Courtois was particularly upset with something that the Barca youngster said or did. He was still shouting in Yamal’s direction as players began to head towards the tunnel.

  Blancos boss Xabi Alonso stepped in a bid to calm his players and lead them towards celebrations in the middle of the pitch. Yamal wandered off waving his arms around in frustration, with Vinicius looking to enter into another discussion there – only to be held back. Raphinha, who played no part in proceedings, also had to be ushered towards the dressing rooms.

  Yamal had angered Real prior to a ball being kicked when saying of the Blancos in the build-up to a combustible clash: “Yes, they steal, they complain all the time…” He was always going to be reminded of those comments if Madrid came out on top. Dani Carvajal was caught on camera appearing to tell the Kopa Trophy winner that he talks too much.

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• Potential punishments: Will disciplinary action be taken?

  The skirmish eventually fizzled out, allowing Real to celebrate properly as a group. They saw French superstar Mbappe put them in front inside 22 minutes, having been teed up by Bellingham. The England midfielder then got in on the act himself, with Madrid fired back in two minutes before half-time after seeing Fermin Lopez level matters for the visitors.

  Alonso’s side are now five points clear at the top of the Liga table through 10 rounds of fixtures. It remains to be seen whether any disciplinary action will be taken against clubs or individuals – and what the potential punishments could be – on the back of a lively end to the first Clasico of the current campaign. Real are not due to pay a visit to Catalunya until late in the season, in the early part of May 2026, but more cup clashes could take place prior to that.

Liverpool may have to wait weeks before they begin to see the best of their record signing Alexander Isak following his protracted move from Newcastle. The disappointing projection has been blamed on that drawn-out transfer which saw Isak sidelined while the two clubs negotiated for almost two months, meaning he missed pre-season and was left well short of match sharpness.

• Cautious Liverpool start for Isak

  Isak has made a steady, if unspectacular, start to his Liverpool career. He missed Newcastle's pre-season and his fitness has been a key focus. Manager Arne Slot and the club have carefully eased him into the team, balancing his minutes between starting and substitute appearances. Isak himself acknowledged the gradual build-up needed after his disjointed summer preparations. Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has praised Liverpool's handling of Isak's fitness, noting his improved condition but admitting uncertainty about his ability to play a full 90 minutes.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Lengthy road to full fitness expected

  reporter Lewis Steele, who covers Liverpool, said in his vlog: "The road to full fitness is a little bit longer than expected, and there’s a report from one of the Newcastle guys, saying they expect it to be three months until he’s fully fit. And that is probably about right. He’s been at Liverpool now for four or five weeks, so maybe we are now probably another three or four weeks away from seeing Isak at his best. There have been glimpses, lovely assist on Saturday and he got his goal against Southampton, to be fair he’s got to score that, but he had to be in the right place at the right time. But, the road to full fitness does seem a bit bumpier than me or Slot predicted. But, as I said with Salah, if he gets a bit of confidence, it should be all good."

• How the Isak summer saga played out

  Isak faced considerable delays and complications, with several factors contributing to the transfer saga. Newcastle's desire to retain their star striker, particularly after a successful 2024-25 season where Isak was instrumental in their Carabao Cup victory and Premier League performance, was a primary hurdle. They also valued him at a higher price initially, and were not under immediate pressure to sell due to his existing contract. Isak publicly expressed his wish to leave Newcastle, citing "broken promises" and a desire for a change. While he had a contract with Newcastle until 2028, his conduct, including training separately and missing pre-season fixtures, placed pressure on the club. The Magpies struggled to land their primary targets throughout the summer, including Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike (who also eventually joined Liverpool), delaying Isak's departure. Despite Liverpool's substantial offers, Newcastle's state-backed ownership may have initially been reluctant to sell their talisman due to the potential reputational damage of losing a key player and the difficulty of replacing him. Ultimately, the transfer was finalised on deadline day after the Magpies secured Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart and Yoane Wissa from Brentford, clearing the path for Isak's move to Anfield.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What comes next?

  So, what happens if Isak is still struggling for full fitness in a months’ time? The calendar is packed and, after the current international break ends, the Reds have fixtures against Manchester United, Eintracht Frankfurt, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and the hotly-awaited clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League. For Liverpool fans, a fully fit Isak cannot return soon enough.

Rajasthan Royals will have Wanindu Hasaranga available for selection against RCB

Shashank Kishore12-Apr-20253:26

Can Archer continue his wicket-taking streak?

Big picture: RR, RCB look to bounce back from defeatsIf adapting to one home venue has been a challenge for some of the teams, imagine being in Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) shoes – they have to adapt to two. After completing their initial matches in Guwahati, they return to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, nearly three weeks into IPL 2025, hoping to bounce back from an inconsistent start.And they run into a team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), that has been in exceptional away form: they beat Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede for the first time in ten years, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk for the first time in 17 years, and have also taken down defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens.RCB average 39.6 per wicket and score at 10.5 an over when on the road, while at home, these numbers come down to 22.1 and 8.3, respectively. With the ball, too, they have shown great control (average 21.2) when away, as against a leaky 56.4 at home. They had time to acclimatise during their travels earlier this season but they face a short turnaround now. It’s only been two nights since their loss to Delhi Capitals (DC).Related

Samson backs himself to lead Royals youngsters to IPL glory

The horror! You have to graft for runs at the Chinnaswamy now

Team combination continues to be a problem for Royals

RR, too, suffered a tough loss to Gujarat Titans (GT), but their bowling jigsaw is slowly coming together. Their powerplay bowlers have improved as the season has progressed, with Jofra Archer looking far more potent. Sandeep Sharma has also been a lot more consistent and, crucially, has the wood over Virat Kohli, having dismissed him more often than any other bowler in the IPL – seven times in 16 innings.Apart from those sub-plots, the Indian firepower on offer from the two sides could make this a compelling contest: Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Nitish Rana and Dhruv Jurel on one side, and Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma on the other.Form guideRajasthan Royals LWWLL
Royal Challengers Bengaluru LWLWWTeam news and likely XIIsSamson said Wanindu Hasaranga rejoined the team last night and is available for selection.Rajasthan Royals (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (capt, wk), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Dhruv Jurel, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Tushar Deshpande/Kumar Kartikeya, 11 Sandeep Sharma, 12 Fazalhaq FarooqiRCB are unlikely to tinker with their combination right now, although Jacob Bethell offers a left-hand option in the middle order if they feel the need to replace the patchy Liam Livingstone.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Liam Livingstone/Jacob Bethell, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Tim David, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Yash Dayal, 12 Suyash Sharma2:15

Is 2025 finally going to be RCB’s year?

In the spotlight: Jofra Archer and Liam LivingstoneJofra Archer has found his rhythm in the last few matches, consistently bowling at speeds in the upper 140s kph and showing hostility with the new ball. After a poor start – he went at 16.8 runs per over in his first two games – Archer has redeemed himself by taking five wickets in the three subsequent matches, maintaining a much-improved economy rate of 6.2.Liam Livingstone started the season with plenty of promise with bat and ball but has suffered a slump since. He is coming off scores of 0 and 4 in his last two games. With the ball, he has bowled two overs across the last three matches. RCB would hope for a revival from Livingstone to shore up what has otherwise been a robust middle-order.The big questionPitch and conditionsThe temperature in Jaipur can go up to about 38 degrees Celsius, which will make this an energy sapping afternoon game (3.30pm start). The challenge for the curators would be to ensure the surface isn’t too dry, unless that’s the instruction from the home team, which, going by the events at the IPL this season so far, may or may not be heeded.Stats and trivia Kohli is one fifty away from becoming just the second batter after David Warner to reach 100 T20 half-centuries. He’s also one short of matching Warner’s record of 66 IPL fifties. RR boast the best powerplay run rate this season – 10.7 per over. Kohli is RCB’s all-time highest run-scorer with 8614 runs. No other Indian features in the top six before we find Rahul Dravid (1132 runs). Patidar and Padikkal are just 15 and 37 runs away, respectively, from getting to the 1000-run mark.Quotes”We’d like to stick in and respect the conditions and do what the condition requires. We don’t want to end up being a team that’s only good at defending totals. We also want to win games while chasing, not just while batting first.”

Tottenham Hotspur sealed a dramatic last-minute summer deal for playmaker Xavi Simons in a £52 million deal from RB Leipzig, with the Dutchman preparing to make an imminent Premier League debut.

Following botched deals for Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, Spurs finally ended their summer search for a creative midfielder by signing Simons on a five-year deal with the option of a further two years — one of the longest player contracts in Tottenham’s history.

Appearances

25

Minutes played

2,157

Goals

10

Assists

7

Bookings

5

Shots at goal per 90 minutes

2

Passing accuracy

82.9%

Average match rating

7.32

via WhoScored

Fresh off the back of two seasons impressing in the Bundesliga with Leipzig – initially on loan before signing permanently for them earlier this year – it didn’t take long for Simons to swiftly seal another move, this time to England.

Chelsea appeared set to sign the former PSG sensation at one stage, but their dilly-dallying over a deal handed ex-Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy a chance to hijack the Blues’ talks and sign Simons for Spurs.

In one of his final acts as chair before resigning last week, Levy backed Thomas Frank with the addition of a highly-rated attacker who’s set to step into the injured James Maddison’s shoes.

Simons bagged 22 goals and 24 assists in 78 total appearances for Leipzig, and was a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before he moved to PSG in his youth.

Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard claims that Spurs supporters will be a fan of Simons, but recently hinted at some concerns surrounding his attitude after reports he’s heard in the German media.

With Maddison out until 2026 after rupturing his ACL, and Dejan Kulusevski not named in Tottenham’s 22-man Champions League squad as he continues his recovery from a knee problem, Simons could prove to be an absolutely vital addition for Frank.

What Rafael van der Vaart has already said about Xavi Simons

Bearing in mind the excitement around his potential debut against West Ham on Saturday, it is worth pointing out what Tottenham fan favourite Rafael van der Vaart has already said about Simons in the past.

Speaking to Studio Voetbal in 2023, the ex-Spurs star was adamant that Simons could be sensational, saying very few players can do what he can do when showed footage of the 22-year-old striking the crossbar.

When asked if he could be world-class, Van der Vaart said:

As well as Simons, fellow new signing Randal Kolo Muani could also play against West Ham, so this is gearing up to be one of the most exciting London derbies against the Hammers in some time.

Mohammed Kudus is also braced for a return to his former club, and it will be very interesting to see the kind of reception he gets.

After being out with an injury that has left doctors and surgeons “mindblown”, Johnson picked up four wickets against Perth Scorchers

Tristan Lavalette27-Dec-2024Spencer Johnson’s toe injury – which he has called “bizarre” – has left several sports physicians and surgeons baffled.He snapped a tendon in the middle toe of his right foot during South Australia’s Sheffield Shield game against Western Australia last month. Johnson, 29, bowled 45 overs in the match, just the sixth first-class appearance of his career, on the back of playing four white-ball games against Pakistan in the span of eight days.It had kept him on the sidelines for a month and he missed defending BBL champions Brisbane Heat’s opening two games of the season. He, however, showed no visible signs of discomfort in an outstanding return on Boxing Day, where he claimed career-best BBL figures of 4 for 20 in Heat’s 33-run loss to Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium.”To be honest, we still don’t really know how it’s happened or why it’s happened,” Johnson told reporters after the match. “I think four surgeons have looked at it, four sports doctors have looked at it, and they are all mindblown.”I think we just manage it and look after it and hopefully it will be all good.”

“It’s such a bizarre injury, I could wake up tomorrow and it could be all right. We’re looking after it, we’ll manage it”Spencer Johnson

The pain is not constant but strapping is required, which is unusual for a toe and involves a rather complicated process. “It’s pretty hectic,” Johnson said of the strapping. “It really only hurts when I curl over or claw over. We’ve sort of stopped it from curling over [with the strapping] and that seems to work.”We’ve come up with a decent method to strap it and hopefully that will be all right for the rest of the season. It’s such a bizarre injury, I could wake up tomorrow and it could be all right. We’re looking after it, we’ll manage it.”Given the situation, Johnson’s comeback against Scorchers was made even more impressive. He relished bowling on Optus Stadium’s hard and fast surface, unleashing a hostile spell with the new ball where he dismissed opener Finn Allen for a duck.In what has become a trademark, Johnson consistently hurried the batters on a back of a length. He claimed the wickets of Cooper Connolly, Ashton Turner and Ashton Agar with short deliveries in the backend of Scorchers’ innings. Johnson, importantly in white-ball cricket, is also adept at being a defensive bowler with his accurate full-pitched deliveries hard to score off.The 5 for 26 against Pakistan in Sydney last month was Spencer Johnson’s best day out in Australia’s colours•Cricket Australia via Getty Images”It was nice being back in the Brisbane Heat shirt,” Johnson said. “It [toe] felt good out there.”Having starred in the BBL over the past couple of years, including a match-winning 4 for 26 in last season’s final against Sydney Sixers, Johnson is on the fringes of Australia’s white-ball teams – he has played ten white-ball internationals since debuting in South Africa in August 2023. Johnson produced his best international performance when he claimed 5 for 26 against Pakistan in the second T20I at the SCG – the best figures by an Australian quick in the format.”Five wickets for Australia… sounds a bit weird,” grinned Johnson. “Doing it at the level above helps [build confidence].”After a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign this year, an ageing Australia might go through a transition ahead of the format’s next showpiece event in early 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. If his troublesome toe doesn’t flare up, and he can stay fit, Johnson should be an appealing option.”I think for me, just staying on the park and keeping my body healthy is the main thing,” he said. “Hopefully the performances will keep coming.”

Scott Borthwick has stepped as Durham captain but will remain an integral figure at the club after signing a two-year player-coach contract.Borthwick, 34, came through the Durham academy and played a key role in their 2013 County Championship title win. He left for Surrey in 2016, winning another Championship down south, before returning to Chester-le-Street as captain in 2021 and overseeing the club’s return to Division One.Borthwick averaged 19.77 in the Championship last season, with two fifties, but scored a maiden one-day hundred. He will continue to be available to play across formats, while taking on coaching responsibilities with the academy, pathway teams and both men’s and women’s professional squads.”I’m delighted to be taking on this new role as player-coach,” Borthwick said. “I’ve been fortunate to achieve so much as a player with this club, from an 11-year-old in the academy to being club captain – so there is nowhere I would rather start my coaching journey than with Durham.”I’m grateful to Marcus [North], Ryan [Campbell] and the coaching staff for providing me with this opportunity and I’m looking forward to learning from the talented coaches and staff we have across our teams, whilst training hard and remaining available to play and be the best possible player still.”Durham has given me so much in my career so far and I can’t wait to get started on this new chapter.”Marcus North, Durham’s director of cricket, said: “Scott has been an integral part of Durham Cricket for many years and his love for the club remains as high as it ever has been. After conversations following the 2024 season, and looking ahead to the future, Scott will now move into the next stage of his career with a player-coach role, something which we see as the perfect fit as a club and for Scott.”His leadership qualities and knowledge of the game will benefit the wider club which is exciting for the players he will be working with, albeit he will remain available to play for the first team.”Scott will add real value to our support staff throughout our professional teams and pathways for both the men and women alongside his playing contributions. We look forward to playing a part in his coaching career over the next few years.”Scott’s return to club as captain back in 2021 was a critical factor in us achieving promotion back to Division One. I would like to thank him on behalf of Durham Cricket for his tremendous contribution during his four years as captain.”

The ex-Manchester City star came up trumps late on, while Portugal's captain and Manchester United's skipper put in contrasting displays in a thriller

Joao Cancelo's cracking late goal secured Portugal a topsy-turvy 3-2 World Cup qualifying win over Hungary on Tuesday as Roberto Maetinez's side to made it two wins from two on their road to 2026 in North America.

Hungary took the lead against the run of play in the 21st minute when Barnabas Varga guided in a terrific header from Adam Nagy's floated cross. Debutant Balazs Toth then made two stunning saves to deny Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Neves, but he was powerless to stop Bernardo Silva lashing the ball past him from eight yards nine minutes before half-time.

Portugal took the lead in rather fortuitous fashion after the break as Loic Nego handled in the box from Ronaldo's shot, and the 40-year-old, who now has three goals in two games in his country's qualifiers, perfectly placed his spot-kick into the corner in the 58th minute.

The home fans went wild six minutes from time when Varga scored another brilliant header past the helpless Diogo Costa, but their joy turned into despair less than two minutes later as Cancelo curled in a clinical strike from 20 yards.

GOAL rates Portugal's players from Puskas Stadium…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Diogo Costa (6/10):

Hungary scored from their one shot on target in the first half as Varga's inch-perfect header went in off the post. Nothing he could do about Varga's second, either.

Ruben Dias (7/10):

The centre-back looked very assured at the back as Hungary were mostly restricted to counter-attacks. Popped up with some timely interceptions, too.

Ruben Neves (7/10):

The Al-Hilal man was a surprise pick at centre-back, given he is a midfielder, but his ball-winning abilities still came in handy.

Nuno Mendes (7/10):

Played on the left of a back three, so didn't get forward as much as usual. Did still pose a threat going in attack as well as being solid in defence.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Joao Neves (6/10):

The dinking and darting midfielder tested the keeper on a couple of occasions. Left gaps in midfield on the transition, though.

Vitinha (6/10):

The Paris Saint-Germain star picked out beautiful pass after beautiful pass but did allow Varga a bit too much room for his wonderful opener. His midfield was a bit too open at times, too.

Bruno Fernandes (5/10):

A lot of the things he was trying just didn't stick in the first half, especially with misplaced passes. Came off shortly after the hour mark in what was an underwhelming display.

Joao Cancelo (8/10):

He may not have known too much about it as he stuck out a leg to try and control the loose ball, but the Al-Hilal man's touch set up Silva for Portugal's equaliser. Then scored a centre-forward-like goal to secure all three points.

AFPAttack

Bernardo Silva (7/10):

Took his goal in emphatic fashion to level proceedings. Other than that, did a few nice tricks and flicks and retained the ball well.

Cristiano Ronaldo (7/10):

Was brilliantly denied by Hungary's keeper and strayed offside on quite a few occasions, but won his side a penalty, which he converted with aplomb. A solid if unspectacular outing.

Pedro Neto (6/10):

Whipped in a number of decent-looking crosses but didn't take on his opponent nearly enough.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Francisco Trincao (7/10):

Added a bit of spark off the bench, which was needed as Hungary sensed an equaliser in the final quarter of the game.

Joao Palhinha (6/10):

The Tottenham loanee was brought on to add a bit more control, but it is debatable whether he achieved that.

Joao Felix (6/10):

Dawdled a bit in possession but nearly scored a goal in the game's dying embers.

Antonio Silva (N/A):

No real time to have an impact.

Goncalo Ramos (N/A):

Came on at the death.

Roberto Martinez (7/10):

Even though his team went behind, they didn't panic, continued playing the same way, and got themselves out of a hole. His substitutes had a mixed impact, but a win is a win.

India lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Chennai by 280 runs

Hemant Brar26-Sep-20242:23

Manjrekar: I will play Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test

Big picture: Another stern test awaits BangladeshBangladesh came into this series riding on the high of winning 2-0 in Pakistan. It peaked when they had India 144 for 6 in the first innings in Chennai. But then India once again showed why they are arguably the strongest home side in Test history and went on to steamroll Bangladesh by 280 runs.It was a show of India’s depth in both batting and bowling. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli managed only 34 runs between them across four innings, but India had three centurions and two half-centurions. When it came to bowling, their seamers shared eight wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings and the spinners nine during the second.Things will not get easier for Bangladesh in Kanpur, where New Zealand’s tail had held on to secure a draw the last time a Test was played here. There is also some uncertainty about the pitch. The ground staff were preparing two surfaces and, as of noon on the eve of the match, it was not clear which one would be used.Related

Green Park's C stand deemed 'unsafe' for India-Bangladesh Test

Shakib 'eligible for selection' for Kanpur Test against India

Ravindra Jadeja, the quick and the deadly

Kanpur generally offers good Test-match pitches that help fast bowlers on the first morning before flattening out and assisting spinners on the last two days. However, the weather could be an issue this time, with rain forecast on the first three days. That could impact not just the pitch but also the toss decision and team compositions.But all is not bleak for Bangladesh. In their second innings in Chennai, their openers gave them a solid start, followed by Najmul Hossain Shanto’s return to form with 82. In their first innings, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz all got starts. But to be competitive against this Indian team at home, you have to be at your best for much longer periods. Can Bangladesh do that?Form guideIndia WWWWW (last five Tests, most recent first)
Bangladesh LWWLL0:48

Manjrekar: Bangladesh attack lacks quality and experience

In the spotlight: Shubman Gill and Shakib Al HasanShubman Gill knows his ceiling. Even after scoring 452 runs with two hundreds in the home series against England earlier this year, he recently said he was yet to fulfil his expectations as a Test player. Gill got out for a duck in the first innings of the Chennai Test against Bangladesh but scored a stroke-filled unbeaten 119 in the second. Given India are to face tougher opponents in the coming months – New Zealand and Australia – Gill would be keen to fine-tune his game at No. 3.When is Shakib Al Hasan not in the spotlight? While batting in Chennai, he was seen biting a black strap, wrapped around his neck, to keep his head from falling over. When it was time to bowl, there were murmurs about his workload, ineffectiveness and discomfort with the spinning finger. And after Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe confirmed Shakib’s availability for the second Test, he dropped a bombshell about his future on the eve of the match.Team news: Wait and watch?There was no indication from the Indian camp whether they would play three spinners. Even if they do, it may not be a straightforward choice. If the pitch is too slow, Axar Patel could be handy with his pace and attacking the stumps. But India already have a similar spinner in Ravindra Jadeja. In Kuldeep Yadav’s favour, this is his home ground. So he is a tempting option, too. If India play one of Axar or Kuldeep, Akash Deep could be the one to miss out.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 KL Rahul, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Kuldeep Yadav/Axar Patel, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed SirajIf Bangladesh go with three spinners, Taijul Islam could replace Nahid Rana. That could also help with Shakib’s workload, if required.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Zakir Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Litton Das (wk), 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Taskin AhmedGautam Gambhir and Abhishek Nayar inspect one of two pitches in consideration for the Kanpur Test•AFP/Getty ImagesPitch and conditions: Slow and low bounce?The red-soil pitch in Chennai had decent bounce for both seamers and spinners in the first Test. Kanpur will be different. The two pitches being considered for the match are black-soil surfaces. They are likely to be flatter, with lower bounce, and are expected to become slower as the Test progresses. All that could change if it rains as forecasted, and bad light could become a factor too towards the end of each day.Stats and trivia: Jadeja double on the cards For the first time in their Test history, India have more wins (179) than losses (178). Jadeja is one short of becoming the seventh Indian to take 300 Test wickets. When Jadeja gets there, he will also complete the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets. If he does it in Kanpur, in his 74th Test, he will be the second fastest to do so after Ian Botham (72). Virat Kohli is 129 short of 9000 Test runs. Taijul is five short of 200 Test wickets. Only Shakib (242) has more Test wickets for Bangladesh. Quotes”We don’t particularly pattern bad pitches. But we try to make sure the conditions are tough enough so that the players are challenged. A lot of these guys have played for so many years. Only if they’re challenged are they going to get better. So sometimes the thought process is just to challenge them differently so that your game and you, organically and mentally, grow.”

Epic innings surpasses List A previous best of 161, and backs up Championship hundred in May

ECB Reporters Network24-Jul-2024Warwickshire 328 for 3 (Barnard 173) beat Essex 324 for 7 (Browne 75, Hannon-Dalby 3-69) by seven wicketsEd Barnard continued his summer love affair with the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford, by hammering his highest score in List A cricket.Warwickshire’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup captain followed up his personal-best 165 in the Vitality Championship reverse in May by carrying his bat with a 140-ball 173 to underpin a seven-wicket victory over Essex. Barnard, whose previous best was 161, was ably assisted in match-defining stands by Rob Yates, Will Rhodes and Michael Burgess as last year’s semi-finalists eased home with 14 balls to spare.Essex, who won just one game in the 2023 campaign, were again on the receiving end after being put in a green-tinged wicket in front of a crowd of 2,462. And that despite Nick Browne claiming his fourth List A career half-century with seven fours, one of them all run, in an innings of 75 from 90 balls.The left-handed opener shared stands of 51 with Feroze Khushi, 71 with Robin Das and 55 with Charlie Allison, who went on to contribute a 72-ball 69 and engage in a swashbuckling partnership of 70 with Luc Benkenstein. Olly Hannon-Dalby, meanwhile, chipped in with three wickets in nine balls to finish with 3 for 69.Chasing a target of six and a half an over to record their highest successful List A run chase, Warwickshire had 97 on the board inside 16 overs when Yates played across one from Tom Westley and was lbw for 42. Both he and Barnard clubbed Noah Thain for sixes with Barnard pulling Ben Allison for another over square leg.Barnard reached fifty from 39 balls, three figures from a further 50 and 120 balls in t4otla for his 150. He was not finished there, adding a third maximum over long-off against the luckless Thain, and then bringing up the century partnership with Will Rhodes in a further 16 overs. A fourth six marked his 150.The stand had moved on to 107 when Rhodes, on 41, skied one from Jamal Richards so high that three players converged before debutant wicketkeeper Simon Fernandes put his name to the catch.Hamza Shaikh did not trouble the scorers, but Burgess was quickly into the groove by sweeping the wicket-taker Benkenstein for six in an over that eventually went for 18 runs. He repeated the dose with an enormous drive off Aaron Beard over long-on and another from a Ben Allison free-hit to bring up the century partnership for the fourth wicket. His own half-century took just 34 balls as he finished on 59 not out from 42 balls.Earlier in the day, Khushi had bought up Essex’s opening fifty by pulling Barnard for four and six off successive balls before he fell next ball to one that nipped back and bowled him.Barnard had a second when Tom Westley was beaten by a slower delivery and went lbw. Das hung around for 14 overs until he tried to swing Rhodes over midwicket for what would have been only a third four in his 52-ball 35 and was bowled.Browne reached his half-century from 60 balls and celebrated by executing an uncharacteristic reverse sweep for four. He was finally fourth man out with the score on 199 when he picked out midwicket halfway back to the boundary to give Rhodes a second wicket.Of the young guns who took over in the middle, Allison was particularly strong through extra cover where the majority of his seven fours came, while Benkenstein launched sixes over extra cover and long-off.Benkenstein had reached 44 from 27 balls when he wafted at Hannon-Dalby and didn’t wait for the umpire before turning on his heels and walking off. That was the first of the Warwickshire pace bowler’s quickfire treble with Thain and Allison perishing in the deep.