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The wheels are in danger of coming off for Chelsea this season, if they haven’t already.

Enzo Maresca’s side have looked a shadow of the team that demolished Barcelona over the last week or so.

First, they lost to Leeds United, then drew with Bournemouth, and then, to make matters even worse, they threw away a one-nil lead and lost to Atalanta on Tuesday night in the Champions League.

It’s a run of form that should see the board reflect on who is and isn’t good enough to represent Chelsea, and there is one player who has been even worse than the underwhelming Jamie Gittens and therefore shouldn’t play another minute this season.

Chelsea's poor performers vs Atalanta

Unfortunately for Maresca, although he bears a great deal of responsibility for the loss, more than a handful of Chelsea players were seriously poor against Atalanta on Tuesday night.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Gittens, for example, once again put in a performance that should seriously worry fans as he was utterly ineffective against the 12th-placed Serie A side.

Somehow, the former Borussia Dortmund gem remained on the pitch for the full 94 minutes, despite doing nothing of any note on or off the ball.

For example, he registered a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.26, lost seven of his ten duels, failed to take a single shot on target and played just a single key pass.

To say it was an underwhelming showing from the Englishman would be an understatement, and therefore the 5/10 match rating he received from the Standard’s Dom Smith was more than justified.

The journalist gave Benoit Badiashile the same rating, and it’s hard to disagree.

Sure, the French centre-back made a few good interceptions and tackles in the first half, but he was partly responsible for Charles De Ketelaere’s winner, as he kept backing off from the Belgian before he shot.

It was also a really disappointing night for Enzo Fernández.

The World Cup winner has been crucial for the Blues at times this season, and a source of goals from the middle of the park.

However, against the Bergamo outfit, he was hugely frustrating, as while he did get into dangerous positions on more than one occasion, he either fluffed his lines or made the wrong decision.

Minutes

67′

Expected Goals

0.01

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.42

Assists

0

Key Passes

1

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (0)

Passes (Accurate)

24/33 (73%)

Lost Possession

15

Dribbles

0

Duels (Won)

10 (3)

Now, there is an argument that all three of these players should be dropped for this weekend’s game, but there is another player in the squad, someone who’s been worse than Gittens, who should probably never play for the club again.

The Chelsea flop who cannot play another minute for Maresca

While there are a few Chelsea players who need to be sold in the upcoming transfer window, the first one out the door should be Tosin Adarabioyo.

Now, it should be said that he was far from the worst player on the pitch on Tuesday night, but he still managed to disappoint in the 18 minutes he spent on the pitch.

For example, he lost 100% of his ground duels, committed a foul, lost the ball four times and didn’t even make a tackle, despite the hosts pushing more in the closing minutes.

However, the defeat to Atalanta is not the sole reason the 28-year-old should no longer be getting any minutes for the team, as he has cost the side on multiple occasions this season.

The most recent example of this came in the game against Leeds United.

It was at Elland Road that, under very little pressure, he lost the ball in the Blues’ penalty area, which led directly to the hosts scoring, and content creator Tom Overend calling him “utterly embarrassing.”

Moreover, the statistics from his season overall do not make for pleasant reading.

In the four Champions League appearances he’s made this season, the former Fulham star has averaged just one point per game and conceded eight goals.

Games

9

5

1

Starts

5

3

1

Minutes

557′

239′

90′

Goals

0

0

0

Assists

0

0

0

Points per Game

1.78

1.00

3.00

Then, in the Premier League, he has averaged just 1.78 points per game across nine appearances, five of which have been starts.

Finally, FBref have ranked him in just the top 38% of centre-backs in the league for tackles won per 90, but the top 13% for tackles attempted, meaning he simply isn’t winning enough of them.

Ultimately, Gittens has been disappointing this season, but he’s still young and could come good.

However, Tosin is an experienced defender who has directly cost Chelsea points and, given he was signed for free, should be sold as soon as possible.

Watch out Delap: Chelsea set sights on "one of Europe's most in-form CFs"

The free-scoring forward could spell the end of Liam Delap at Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 3 days ago

Can England swallow their pride and settle for stalemate in the second Test?

Vithushan Ehantharajah03-Jul-2025

Ben Stokes prepares to bowl on day two•Associated Press

Michael Jordan did not always take clutch shots.Arguably his most famous passing on a moment came at the end of game six of the 1997 NBA Finals against Utah Jazz. In the final seconds, Jordan kicked the ball out to Steve Kerr on the edge of the key, who drained the game winner.”Well, I guess I gotta bail Michael out again,” joked Kerr afterwards. For all his qualities, Kerr knew this was more Jordan’s bag. But even a man who prided himself on being him – one such Jordan make in a playoff game against Cleveland Cavaliers is immortalised simply as “The Shot” – saw the value of going against his nature.Of course, to not feed Kerr in that moment would have been irresponsible. Sure, Jordan is Jordan. But swarmed by defenders, taking up the option of a trusted alternative was a no-brainer. He might have a brand to preserve, but he’s a winner first.Related

'We want to play exciting cricket, but it's all about winning'

India's quicks cause damage after Gill's epic 269

Gill walks the talk even as India stumble to unforced errors

Stats – All the records Gill broke during his historic 269

On Thursday evening, as Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj swarmed all over England’s top-order batters, you wondered if they may finally try and kick one out to the reliable free man. One that, while they have never used, has been a handy crutch of pretty much every other team to make a success of Test cricket. The draw.In 37 Test matches since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum joined forces to revolutionise the Test side, England have not once chosen to play for the draw. The sole stalemate in that sequence came during 2023’s Ashes, the result of almost two days of rain being dumped on Manchester. Now, trailing in the first innings by 510, with three days to go, they might have to embrace it.It’s as much an ideological stance as a placebo. Ahead of the summer, Stokes, when handed a scenario of a chase of 400 in 40 overs during an Ashes by Nasser Hussain, joked, “well, Adelaide is short square”, without actually answering if maybe that would be the time to shut shop.That same bolshiness filters to the team, and in creating a belief that the win must be pushed for at all costs, you get situations like last week in Leeds when 371 is chased with little fuss.1:39

Aaron: English bowlers were way off their mark

Now, though, we might be on the cusp of England needing to hold on to what they have. Not only do they have a 1-0 lead, but it is one they earned in one of Jasprit Bumrah’s three scheduled appearances. Given the storm that played out on day one following India’s decision to rest Bumrah, they should be wary of offering the tourists a more straightforward route to victory without their frontman. This could be a momentum-shifting equaliser for them.Typically, even in the short history of this England team, there are crumbs to nourish them. While this is only the fourth time in Test history that England have won the toss, bowled, and conceded 500, it is the second time they have done so in the Stokes-McCullum era.That first time came against New Zealand in that 2022 summer, when they strolled down a target of 299 in Nottingham. And while they do not have a Jonny Bairstow anymore, they do have unusually short Test boundaries – none longer than 65 metres – to offer some Trent Bridge-like qualities. It is also worth noting the other two times a team has scored 500 in their first innings – both Pakistan (Rawalpindi 2022, Multan 2024) – England have won.

“What happens tomorrow – and I suppose what happens every day – is a big direction-turner in terms of how we approach the game. I think we’ll have a little think about it tonight and we’ll see how tomorrow pans out, especially that first session”Jeetan Patel

As such, you can forgive the optimism Jeetan Patel brought to the end-of-the-day press conference, particularly with Joe Root and Harry Brook resuming on Friday morning.”Oh, 100%,” England’s assistant coach immediately answered when asked if winning remained a possibility. “I’ve said this many a time in front of all of you and you keep laughing at me,” Patel added, referencing similar utterances two years ago, midway through the Hyderabad heist, and in Multan, when Pakistan had put on 328 for 4 on the opening day of the first Test in 2024.”We’ll just try and find another way to get over the line. And I think that’s the beauty of the team that we have and the players that we have.”There’s still three days of cricket left, there’s lots of cricket to go and, on a fast-scoring ground, I think you never know what can happen… And we’ve got two of the greatest batters in the world at the crease at the moment.”1:11

How significant will the Jadeja-Gill partnership prove to be?

And yet, for all that Baz-zeal, there were nuggets of practicality on day two. Slivers of a more considered and less confrontational manner amid the toil, hinting at a more open view of preservation.Previously, Stokes might have hammered the short-ball tactic, and perhaps even flogged himself out of being able to fulfil his allrounder role fully in the third Test at Lord’s. Instead, he and Chris Woakes tried to eke something out of the new ball at the start of play.As soon as that trail went cold – England have this pitch down as a new-ball wicket, and could themselves have had India 20-odd for 3 on day one, as they themselves were on day two – neither Stokes (having bowled the 92nd over) nor Woakes (93rd) were seen again for the remaining 58 overs of the innings.Brook bowling five overs of filler, on the ground where he came on as first-change against Australia two years ago, could not have better summed up this shift from their galaxy-brain ideas. And though he later launched an aggressive retaliation when charging Siraj and clouting him back over his head for six – taking England to 50 for 3 – the 23 dots he and Root accumulated together as they saw out the final five overs were geared towards survival.1:24

Aaron impressed with Akash Deep’s pace

Prior to the start of this series, Stokes spoke about the need to be smarter in situations when the opposition are in control. And those final 13.5 overs, having been 25 for 3, spoke to that.”What happens tomorrow – and I suppose what happens every day – is a big direction-turner in terms of how we approach the game,” Patel said, perhaps hinting at a more open perspective to other results than he had previously let on. “I think we’ll have a little think about it tonight and we’ll see how tomorrow pans out, especially that first session.”There is a broad understanding within the England dressing-room that this chapter of their story should be about success. And they know their default style of play will fulfil the entertainment side of the deal, without having to force it.But the most loved Test teams are the ones that win series. And nothing will be cherished more than achieving those against India and then Australia.That might mean going against the brand from time to time. And this could play out as one of those times. The relentless pursuit of wins is not always a route to success. Even Jordan kicked a few out to someone else.

Henil Patel, Naman Pushpak and Udhav Mohan finish Australia off for 116 in their second innings to set up 81-run chase, which is knocked off in 12.2 overs

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2025Bowlers, faster ones and spinners alike, held sway right through the second four-day match between Australia Under-19s and India Under-19s in Mackay, which ended inside two days with the visiting side running out convincing victors.The Australian batting unit didn’t give a particularly strong account of its abilities in familiar conditions in Brisbane in the first game, scoring 243 and 127 to go down by an innings and 58 runs, but there were pockets of resistance. In Mackay, that was never really in evidence. It was only Alex Lee Young, the wicketkeeper, who showed his batting chops, but there was little to nothing around him.He scored the only half-century of the match, 66 in the first innings where Australia put up 135, while the second dig was even more abject, Australia folding for 116. That left India, who had taken a 36-run first-innings lead – handy in a low-scoring contest – with just 81 to knock off, which they did for the loss of three wickets.The second – and as it turned out, last – day began with India at 144 for 7 in their first innings after having bowled Australia out in 43.3 overs. Henil Patel and Deepesh Devendran, the overnight batters, were separated quickly in the morning when Henil fell, becoming Kasey Barton’s fourth wicket of the innings. But Devendran added 22 to his overnight 6 to take India to 171. For Australia, Charles Lachmund, Will Byrom and Julian Osbourne picked up two wickets apiece to go with Barton’s four.Alex Lee Young was the best batter across the two teams•Getty Images

Australia batted again, and were 9 for 3 inside seven overs, Henil picking up two of the wickets to fall and Udhav Mohan one. It never really got better for Australia, the 32-run stand for the sixth wicket between Jayden Draper (15) and Young (again the top-scorer with 38) their best as they lasted just 40.1 overs. Henil and Naman Pushpak picked up three wickets each, while Mohan got two as only four Australians got into double-digits.The chase to the finish wasn’t a big one, but with conditions giving the bowlers confidence, there was still a job to do. Vaibhav Suryavanshi couldn’t, falling for a first-ball duck to Lachmund in the first over. Ayush Mhatre, the captain, also didn’t last long, bowled by Barton for 13 off just six balls, including three boundaries. But Vihaan Malhotra and Vedant Trivedi, who have both had such a good series across formats on the tour, stitched together a 39-run stand in just over six overs, scoring quickly and not allowing the bowlers to get any kind of grip on the game.Malhotra fell to Barton with India still 29 away from victory, having scored a-run-a-ball 21 with five fours, but Trivedi (33 not out in 35 balls) and Rahul Kumar (13 not out in 14) took India home in just 12.2 overs, and to a 2-0 series sweep after India had swept the preceding one-day series 3-0 too.While Barton was the most impressive of the Australian bowlers, picking up six wickets with his right-arm medium, for India, quick bowlers Henil (six wickets) and Mohan (four) were on target, as were spinners Khilan Patel, the left-arm orthodox, and Pushpak, the legspinner, who picked up seven wickets between them and had a three-for apiece.

Celtic’s annual general meeting collapsed into acrimony on Friday as open conflict between supporters and board members forced proceedings to be abandoned. Interim manager Martin O’Neill, who was warmly applauded upon his introduction, later described the morning as "one of the saddest" he had witnessed in his long association with the club.

• A bitter AGM ends early amid chants and accusations

  The meeting, held at Celtic Park, descended almost immediately into hostility. Within minutes, chants of “sack the board” echoed around the room, prompting a temporary adjournment less than five minutes after it began. Attempts to resume were short-lived. Shareholders erupted again when director Ross Desmond, son of the club’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond, read a statement accusing a section of the fanbase of "bullying" behaviour. The atmosphere deteriorated further, and the AGM was brought to an early close.

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  O'Neill speaks of a "sad morning"

  Speaking afterwards, O’Neill cut an emotional figure as he reflected on a morning filled with tension and division.

  The 73-year-old said: "I thought it was a really sad, sad morning, really sad morning. I just wonder what the great Jock Stein would have thought of it all, who preached unity at the football club, said that a club not united would never be successful. It's as sad a morning as I've seen."

  O’Neill, who has attended several AGMs during more successful periods, noted the stark contrast.

  "I mean I've been to a few of these AGMs before and I suppose because we've been doing well at the time that it was nice," he said. "Not even sure I was ever asked a question in them at the time. But that was rather raucous."

  The board acknowledged mistakes, particularly regarding the summer transfer window and failure to qualify for the Champions League, but the apology did little to soothe tempers.

  "There were people who would have wanted to ask questions and the board have said that they've made mistakes," he said. "There's only so many times that you can apologise and then you have to get on with things again. So we'll start again and hopefully that will start when the new manager comes in. A united Celtic will be far better equipped to compete and try and win again."

• Supporters demand change as board relations hit new low

  Desmond’s statement branding some supporters "bullies" appears to have worsened tensions, with many fans calling it “provocative” and "tone-deaf". The relationship between the board and the fanbase is now at its most strained since O’Neill’s first arrival more than 20 years ago. But the interim manager believes bridges can be rebuilt.

  "It shouldn't be impossible, really it should not be impossible," he said. "There's got to be a coming together again from this. There's an obvious disconnect at this minute, but that surely can be rectified. You asked me a question, would my interim period fuse things together? I don't think that was ever going to happen.

  "But you've got to now realise that that has happened, mistakes have been made, and they can be rectified and hopefully rectified quickly. If I'd got an opportunity, I would probably be saying what I'm saying here, so I wish now I had said a few words. Listen, my words don't go down all that well in my own household, so I don't think it would really make much difference."

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  A club at crossroads

  Celtic’s AGM meltdown laid bare the fractures within the club. Anger aimed toward the board, accusations of bullying from senior figures, and rising frustration from supporters have created one of the most fraught atmospheres in recent memory. Speculation about Brendan Rodgers’ permanent successor intensified after reports suggested the club was closing in on Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy, leading bookmakers to suspend betting. But on Tuesday, the club clarified that O’Neill and Maloney will remain in charge for the foreseeable future. The pair will lead the first team into Saturday’s Premiership clash with St Mirren. O’Neill’s return has sparked nostalgia among supporters who remember his first spell fondly. Between 2000 and 2005, he guided Celtic to seven major trophies and the 2003 UEFA Cup final, where they fell 3–2 to Jose Mourinho’s Porto after extra time.

Stats highlights from day one of the second Australia-India Test match in Adelaide

Sampath Bandarupalli06-Dec-20243 Instances of India winning the toss, batting first, and getting bowled out for 180 or less in 2024. Only one team has been bowled out for 180 or less more often in a calendar year after electing to bat – five times by India in 1959.6 for 48 Mitchell Starc’s bowling figures in India’s first-innings are his best in Tests. It was also Starc’s maiden five-wicket haul against India in Tests, after 51 wickets in his first 19 matches against them.3 Instances of Starc taking a wicket off the first ball of a Test match. He and Pedro Collins are the only bowlers to strike with the first ball of a Test on three occasions.Starc previously dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne in the 2016 Galle Test and Rory Burns in the 2021 Brisbane Test on the first ball. He became the first bowler to take a wicket off the first ball of a day-night Test match by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal on Friday.ESPNcricinfo Ltd50 Wickets by Jasprit Bumrah in Tests in 2024. He is only the third India fast bowler to achieve this milestone in a calendar year, after Kapil Dev (74 in 1979 and 75 in 1983) and Zaheer Khan (51 in 2002). Bumrah is also the first fast bowler to take 50-plus wickets in a calendar year since Pat Cummins in 2019.4 Five-wicket hauls for Starc in day-night Test matches. No other bowler has taken more than two. Starc has played 13 day-night Tests so far, the joint-most by any player.53 Test wickets for Starc at the Adelaide Oval. He is the third bowler to reach the milestone of 50 at this ground, after Nathan Lyon (63) and Shane Warne (56). Starc’s bowling strike rate of 34.9 in Tests at the Adelaide Oval is the third best among the bowlers with 50-plus Test wickets at a venue.ESPNcricinfo Ltd8 of the nine dropped catches by wicketkeepers off Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling in international cricket have been by Rishabh Pant. Pant has taken 34 catches off Bumrah out of 42 chances, at a percentage of 80.95. That number goes up to 92.42 against other fast bowlers, off whom he has only dropped only ten out of 132 chances.6 Sixes by Nitish Kumar Reddy across his three innings in this series. Five of those have come against fast bowlers, the most by any Indian in Tests in Australia. Zaheer, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Pant have hit three each.

With several months between matches and a World Cup on the horizon, MLS players are finding different ways to stay sharp through the winter to ensure they get off to a strong start

For several years, the concept of an offseason has been a hot topic in global soccer. As players play more games than ever, there are fewer breaks and moments to shut the body down to recover. Major League Soccer, generally, has had the opposite problem.

The reality is that those who missed the postseason are staring down just about four months without a club match. That's a long time in comparison to the leagues in Europe, where the offseason can be less than a month when factoring in friendlies played over the summer. The best professionals know how to navigate that time in a way that gets them the rest they need and the training required to stay sharp.

Staying sharp is always paramount, but even more so this year. When the MLS season kicks off in February, it'll be just a three-month sprint before World Cup rosters are selected. Those on the fringes will know that, and they'll know there will be no time to waste. Starting the season strong will be more important than ever before, and to do that, players will need to understand a vital fact: this is no regular offseason.

 "I'll treat this preseason and offseason the same way I treat every single one and come back from preseason knowing that 2026 is going to be a huge, huge year," U.S. men's national team and Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream said. "I have goals I want to reach, and it's what you do when no one's looking that allows you to reach those goals."

So how are players approaching it? What are they doing to stay fit? GOAL, in partnership with Catepillar, takes a look…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The initial days

  Diego Luna's season ended much earlier than he wanted. Real Salt Lake were knocked out in the Wild Card round of the MLS Cup Playoffs on Oct. 22, ending their campaign, in Luna's mind, wildly prematurely. With a few weeks between that loss and the U.S. men's national team's final camp of 2025, Luna had to stay sharp. As a result, he spent a whole bunch of time training on his own to ensure he kept his legs for USMNT camp.

  "I show up every single day at the RSL facility with a bag of balls to run my butt off for three weeks straight of grinding. No one there; just me in the dark, lights off," Luna told GOAL. "It's three weeks of hard work that no one is noticing, but everyone's thinking 'Diego's done this' or 'Diego's done that'. I show up against Uruguay and put in a performance, but people don't see the hard work that was done before."

  Luna's work, ultimately, paid off. He dazzled against Uruguay, scoring a goal in the 5-1 win. He was joined on the scoresheet that day by another player who endured something similar: Alex Freeman. The Orlando City star scored twice against Uruguay, having gone through a similar process in Florida. After falling in the Wild Card round himself, the fullback grinded on his own in South Florida for a few weeks before earning his own USMNT call-up.

  With the international break now over, though, there are no immediate games to train for. It's easier to stay motivated for a few weeks when you know that national team camp is around the corner. With that over, though, the hard work really begins.

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  Staying fit

  Tim Ream has been doing this for a while. It's fair to say he's done this longer than most. Now 38, the Charlotte FC star has had a whole bunch of offseasons in his career, so he knows what it's like not just to shut down, but get back going again.

  As he's gotten older, that second part has become more difficult. In his eyes, resting is important, of course, but it's vital not to let the levels drop too much, simply because getting them back requires more work than ever.

  "I think I hit 45 games between club and country this year at 38 years old," Ream said. "It's been a lot, especially when you throw in the travel. Listen, when you finish here, it's about rest and recovery. I'm one of those who struggle with too much time off, so I'll take 10 days off, completely shut the body down, then get back on the bike and get back to running and doing the things that I know work for me in the offseason. As you get older, you actually need or should be taking less time off. I've found, for me, that's the approach."

  That's not just the approach for wily veterans. Ethan Sonis, who works with stars like Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao, and Sergio Aguero with S.A.T. Soccer, says he'll work with between 20 and 30 players this winter to help them stay in shape during these colder months.

  Luna's approach is similar: he'll be training extensively throughout this offseason "break." 

  "This is maybe my most exciting offseason yet," Luna says. "It's definitely my most important offseason. I'm seeing it as my preseason to my preseason. I'm not treating it like an offseason. I'm going to manage it well. I'm going to clear the space from 10 months of soccer, but I'm going to be working my butt off."

  Historically, some of the league's biggest players have worked their butt off in a different way: by going on loan. It'll be an option for some, but those situations have become far less common in recent years.

• Getty Images
  

  Are loans in consideration?

  During previous World Cup years, MLS stars like David Beckham famously spent time with AC Milan, Landon Donovan crushed it for Everton. Thierry Henry famously got one final swansong with Arsenal in his final years, giving fans one last goal and one last memory. Those three are among those to have spent an MLS offseason on loan, and you can understand the allure: competitive games in big leagues at a time when, normally, you wouldn't have much going on.

  Son Heung-Min, one of the biggest names in MLS, had been rumoured for a loan of his own. He's not interested, he insisted. His focus on rest, recovery, and Los Angeles FC as he heads into his weeks-long break without the intention of moving.

  “I’ve never spoken to any club about a winter move. Such talk is simply untrue,” Son said, reported TV Chosun. “For me, showing respect to my club and giving everything where I play – that’s what matters most. That won’t change. I won’t leave LAFC this winter, or ever, while I’m here. I respect this club deeply. As long as I’m wearing this badge, there will be no such thing as a loan or a move. Never.”

  “I’ll rest well, recharge, and get myself in the best condition for the World Cup,” Son added. “My focus is fully on LAFC and my country – nothing else."

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  Resetting and starting new

  At the end of the day, staying fit is vital, but players are human, too. Because of that, there is a necessity to restart the body and mind. For someone like Freeman, who enjoyed an award-winning breakout 2025, the offseason is a natural conclusion.

  "I think everyone knows I probably need a reset, and maybe not even a reset, but a rest. I want to see family, maybe travel a little," Freeman told GOAL. "Maybe even go visit my national team teammates in different countries. For me, it's going to be a reset. I'm going to train and be fit as well, but it's been a long year for me, and I want to share this time with he people that have been supporting me."

  Colorado Rapids star Paxten Aaronson will be doing the same. He's blending work with pleasure as he plans to spend his offseason going back to where it all began: training with his dad.

  "I think some of the best preseasons I've come into at my sharpest have been when I've just been able to train with my dad," he said. "I haven't really been able to with the European off-season, just because they're so condensed. So yeah, I think off-season is a great time to kind of just work on the things you don't get to in the real season – just because you're so focused on the match minutes and your body's always fatigued."

  Everyone will have a different approach and a different system. The key thing is finding whatever works for each particular player.  Everyone, though, will be eager to start the 2026 campaign hot, and that campaign doesn't start in February. In many ways, it's already started.

  "This is not an offseason for me," Luna says, "but a season where I get to combine having fun with my family with the work ethic and understanding that this year is a huge year that could be an amazing year. That's the mindset."

Stats highlights from the first day’s play at Headingley, where Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored hundreds

Sampath Bandarupalli20-Jun-2025359 for 3 – India’s highest total on the opening day of a Test in England. Their previous best was 338 for 7 at Edgbaston in 2022.India’s 359 is also the highest opening-day total for a visiting team in England since South Africa made 362 for 4 at The Oval in 2003.5 – Indians with a century on captaincy debut in men’s Tests, including Shubman Gill. His unbeaten 127 at Headingley is the third-highest score on captaincy debut by an India batter, behind Vijay Hazare’s 164* against England in 1951 and Virat Kohli’s 141 against Australia in 2014.ESPNcricinfo Ltd3 – Test hundreds for Yashasvi Jaiswal away from home – 171 in Roseau in 2023, 161 in Perth in 2024, and now 101 in Leeds. All three centuries have come in his first Test in these countries. No other player has hundreds in their maiden Tests in the West Indies, Australia and England.23 years 174 days – Jaiswal’s age when he scored his hundred at Headingley. Syed Mushtaq Ali is the only younger India opener to score a Test hundred in England; he was 21 years and 221 days old when he scored 112 at Old Trafford in 1936.ESPNcricinfo Ltd402 – Number of international matches India have played between Karun Nair’s previous Test appearance in 2017 and this one – the most games a player has missed between two appearances for his country. Nair missed 77 Test matches in these eight years. Only Jaydev Unadkat (118), Dinesh Karthik (87) and Parthiv Patel (83) missed more Tests between two appearances for India.1 – B Sai Sudharsan became the first India player to bag a duck on debut while batting at No. 3 in men’s Tests. Only six Indians, including Sai Sudharsan, have bagged a duck in the top three on their Test debut.Sai Sudharsan’s first-class average coming into this match was 39.93, the lowest for a specialist batter on Test debut for India since 1990. Wriddhiman Saha made his Test debut as a batter with a first-class average of 35.59, but was predominantly a wicketkeeper.

From Scott McTominay overhead kicks to Troy Parrott mania and the stuff of dreams for Curaçao and Haiti, the November international break has been one full of drama.

It has also provided a far clearer picture of what the 2026 World Cup may look like. All but six countries have now booked their places in North America, with the remaining spots to be determined by playoffs taking place in March 2026, which will see four additional European teams qualify.

Along with Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Italy are the biggest name in the European playoffs, with Poland, Denmark, Ukraine, Turkey and the Czech Republic among others being forced to take that route.

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The remaining two places will come from the inter-confederation playoffs featuring Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, Suriname, Bolivia and New Caledonia.

The draw for the finals will take place in Washington on Friday, December 5 at midday local time (5pm UK time), but AI has jumped the gun and predicted every group including those teams yet to be officially decided.

Group A – USA, Denmark, Norway, Japan

According to the supercomputer, hosts USA will meet Denmark, Norway and Japan in the group stage. Having qualified automatically due to their host status, America will hope to advance into the knockouts in what would be an interesting group. A lot, of course, relies on whether Denmark can qualify through the playoffs.

The Danes lost late on against Scotland and were forced to settle for a place in the playoffs rather than automatic qualification. Japan, meanwhile, could be ones to watch after they lost just once in World Cup qualifying, and Norway could yet cause a few upsets thanks to Erling Haaland. In a well-balanced group, though, both USA and Denmark would be favourites to advance.

Group B – Mexico, Ecuador, South Africa, Iraq

Like USA, Mexico have had their 2026 place sealed ever since it was announced that they would host the World Cup and the supercomputer predicts that they’ll be handed a fairly routine group to match. Joined by Ecuador, South Africa and Iraq – who just kept their qualification hopes alive with a late victory over UAE – Mexico would be expected to advance in such a group.

Group C – Canada, Iran, Uzbekistan, Republic of Ireland

Canada, the final hosts of the tournament, will be joined in Group C by Iran, Uzbekistan and Ireland – who will need to qualify through the playoffs – according to the supercomputer.

Canada should feel confident if the AI prediction is right. They could top the group in front of their home crowd.

Group D – Argentina, Switzerland, Ivory Coast, Haiti

Can Argentina retain their crown on Lionel Messi’s likely last appearance on the big stage? That’s the question. They turned on the style at times in qualifying and will be expected to advance in a group with Switzerland, Ivory Coast and Haiti if the supercomputer’s prediction comes true.

That’s not to say it’s the most routine group, though. Ivory Coast have a strong team in their own right, boasting the likes of Amad Diallo, Simon Adingra and Evann Guessand. The same, meanwhile, can be said for Switzerland, who have the likes of Granit Xhaka to call on. Argentina should top the group, but then the fight for second place would be on, especially if Haiti cause any upsets.

Group E – Brazil, Croatia, Tunisia, New Zealand

Out of all the groups that the supercomputer has predicted, Group E stands out as the most routine so far. Both Brazil and Croatia would likely compete for top spot, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side favourites to come out on top, whilst Tunisia and New Zealand battle it out for third place.

There would still be room for some shocks, but the dominance of Brazil and Croatia would likely prove too strong. Ancelotti’s side will especially be one to watch, as they weigh-up whether to bring Neymar to the World Cup and others in pursuit of glory at long last.

Group F – Uruguay, Netherlands, Egypt, Jordan

If anyone was ever keen to see Darwin Nunez up against Virgil van Dijk then Group F will be the one for you, according to the AI prediction. It has predicted that Uruguay will square off against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Jordan and the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.

On paper, it looks like a routine draw for the two favourites of the group to go through, but seven-time AFCON winners Egypt are not to be taken lightly as long as Salah is fit and firing.

Group G – Belgium, Italy, Senegal, Saudi Arabia

Despite the fact that they’ll need to go through the playoffs, the supercomputer has predicted that Italy will take part in their first World Cup in over 10 years. It would signal a huge sigh of relief around the country if that proved to be the case, but their recent form suggests that it could yet be a playoff to forget once again.

Meanwhile, if they do reach the World Cup, they may still face their demise. The computer has predicted that Italy will meet a brutal group including Belgium and Senegal, one of Africa’s strongest sides, while don’t ignore Saudi Arabia, who beat eventual champions Argentina at Qatar 2022.

Group H – England, Austria, Algeria, Curacao

The supercomputer has predicted that England will be drawn into a group with Austria, Algeria and the smallest-ever country by population to feature at a World Cup, Curacao.

It wouldn’t get much more routine for the Three Lions, who are looking to finally bring football home in the men’s game to follow in the footsteps of the successful Lionesses.

They couldn’t have asked for a better qualification process under Thomas Tuchel, either. England were untouchable going forward and going the other way. They’ve got the players and they’ve got a winning manager. Will this finally be the year?

Group I – France, Scotland, Ghana, Australia

It could be good news for Scotland. The computer believes they’ll be drawn with France, Australia and Ghana. It would be an ideal draw for Steve Clarke’s men, who just defeated Denmark in dramatic fashion to qualify.

The fact they’ve reached the World Cup is an achievement in itself, but they won’t just be there to take part. In a group with France, who are likely to top the group, Australia and Ghana, they should expect to compete for a place in the knockouts.

Group J – Spain, Morocco, Paraguay, Jamaica

Drawn in a group with Morocco, Paraguay and Jamaica, Spain will be expected to dominate and send an early statement at the World Cup. They already have the Euros under their belt and will now be gunning for World Cup glory.

They’re a country full of great footballing history and many are backing them, led by the talent of Lamine Yamal, to create even more.

Group K – Portugal, Colombia, Qatar, Cape Verde

Group K, according to the supercomputer, will be centred around Cristiano Ronaldo and what is likely to be his final chance to win the World Cup. He’s watched as Messi has lifted it in dramatic style and will now be desperate to get his own glory to truly cement his Portugal legacy.

In a group with Luis Diaz’s Colombia and underdogs Qatar and Cape Verde, Ronaldo will be expected to shine.

Group L – Germany, South Korea, Panama, Wales

Whilst Germany likely ease to top spot, South Korea could grab second place in Group L. Up against Panama and playoff contenders Wales, they could have a routine run at second, assuming Germany take control.

The 2014 World Cup winners should be desperate to improve on their recent record and reclaim their throne, although they may have to stifle a Welsh side boosted by scoring seven times in their final qualifying game.

Precocious 42-ball century breaks London’s spirit to book place in Sunday’s final at Lord’s

Valkerie Baynes30-Aug-2025Northern Superchargers 214 for 5 (Perrin 101, Litchfield 35, Carey 31*) beat London Spirit 172 for 9 (Redmayne 50*, Knott 40, Ballinger 3-22, Sutherland 3-40) by 42 runsJust one delivery stood between 18-year-old Davina Perrin and a personal piece of history, but that became a mere detail when her astonishing 42-ball century powered Northern Superchargers to a record total and into Sunday’s Hundred final against Southern Brave at Lord’s.Perrin fell just short of Harry Brook’s 41-ball record for the fastest century in the competition, but her precocious efforts were more than enough to settle Saturday’s Eliminator against London Spirit at The Kia Oval, as Superchargers won by a thumping 42 runs.”One ball? Damn,” was Perrin’s response to Sky Sports immediately after the Superchargers’ innings ended on 214 for 5, the highest total of the women’s Hundred competition to date. “I’d better hit the gym so I can send those sixes a bit further.”But this was not a moment to dwell what her remarkable innings was not. This is what the women’s Hundred is about, unearthing a star of the future in a show that had first-time viewers and loyal fans transfixed.Perrin usurped the only other century in the history of the women’s competition, scored by Tammy Beaumont off 52 balls in 2023. Ending on 101 off 43, Perrin propelled Superchargers well beyond the previous team best of 181 for 3, set up for Welsh Fire by that Beaumont ton. And Perrin played the leading hand in knocking defending champions London Spirit out of the tournament.Perrin was part of the Birmingham Phoenix squads in 2022 and 2023 without playing a game, before moving to Superchargers last season, scoring 33 runs across four matches. Her previous innings of note this year had been an unbeaten 72 in her second match of the campaign as Superchargers defeated Trent Rockets by eight wickets in Nottingham.Her latest knock was impeccable. Perrin reached fifty off just 25 balls, including three sixes, over deep square leg, over long-off and then long-on all in the space of 13 deliveries.Perrin dominated a 105-run opening stand•ECB/Getty Images

She clubbed Eva Gray for a second six in one set of five – Perrin’s fourth of five in all – brilliantly over long-on again to leave Spirit in no doubt that hers was the wicket they needed. But she looked unstoppable when she cleared the boundary once more with an 82-metre slog over deep midwicket off Charli Knott.When Alice Davidson-Richards was run out attempting a second run, it ended a 49-ball opening stand worth 105.With the fastest century in the competition in sight, Perrin pulled Sarah Glenn to deep midwicket, the ball landing millimetres short of hitting the boundary cushion on the full, and she followed up immediately with another four cut expertly through backward point.Phoebe Litchfield chimed in with six, four, four off Dean as she built a handy 35 in 19 balls.While extra cover denied Perrin a run off the 41st ball she faced, that did nothing to dampen her celebrations off Gray’s next ball, as a superb late cut for four brought up her century.And she couldn’t remove the smile from her face as she strode off the field amid warm handshakes from her opponents and a standing ovation from the crowd when she was run out off a deflection from bowler Knott, after Annabel Sutherland had driven hard back down the pitch.”It felt pretty brilliant,” Perrin said. “It’s not every day you get to find yourself in that state of flow and in the zone. I’m not thinking a lot when I’m in a state of mind like that. I’m typically looking at taking every ball as it comes.”There was a time when the keeper turned to me and went, ‘Have you thought about your hundred yet?’ and I was like, ‘What, as in the competition?’ Then I was like, ‘Oh no, the hundred.’ That was the first time I glanced up at my score and I thought, ‘Ooh, this is going alright actually.'”Perrin’s innings took her into fourth place on this year’s run-scorers’ list with 243, behind only former Australia captain Meg Lanning, current Australia regular Litchfield, and England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt.Grace Harris, now sixth on that list after an explosive start to the tournament, had a day to forget. Her only set of five, the last of Superchargers’ innings, went for 22 runs as Nicola Carey powered her way to an unbeaten 31 off just 12 balls.Harris was then bowled for a second-ball duck as Grace Ballinger put an early dent in Spirit’s response with the first of her 3 for 22 in 20 balls. Ballinger followed with the wicket of Dani Gibson, bookending Kate Cross’s dismissal of Kira Chathli as Spirit slumped to 12 for 3 after 12 deliveries.Knott offered a fighting 40 off just 16, which included a 63-run stand for the fourth wicket with Cordelia Griffith, who was caught by Davidson-Richards to give Sutherland the first of her three wickets, and Georgia Redmayne raised an unbeaten 50 off 29. But Perrin had long since broken London’s spirit.

Joao Neves' claims the Lyon players 'forgot' to mark him as the 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder cinched a header to drive Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-2 win in stoppage time, sealing his side’s return to the top of Ligue 1. But the win came amid chaos, with Nicolas Tagliafico’s red card moments earlier leaving Lyon furious and reigniting debate over refereeing consistency in France.

PSG edge Lyon in fiery five-goal thriller

PSG reclaimed the Ligue 1 top spot with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Lyon, but it was far from straightforward. Luis Enrique’s side dominated possession and looked in control early on, with Warren Zaire-Emery opening the scoring. Lyon fought back valiantly as Afonso Moreira levelled before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s strike restored PSG’s advantage. Ainsley Maitland-Niles then unleashed a thunderbolt from distance to make it 2-2, setting up a dramatic finale.

It was Neves who ultimately stole the show. Rising unmarked in stoppage time, the midfielder met Vitinha’s corner with perfect timing, nodding home the decisive goal.

Enrique praised both Neves and the team’s resilience, saying afterwards: “He has high ambitions. Every player on our team is important, especially if they can score. I hope to have many players back soon so we can finally have a normal training session. Since the start of the season, nothing has been normal.”

Neves, still smiling after the match, reflected on his unlikely match-winner with a touch of humour, saying that defenders had “forgotten about him” in the box. He admitted it had been a tough, high-paced battle but stressed that what mattered most was the victory.

AdvertisementAFPNeves jokes that Lyon defenders didn't expect him to score header

After the game, Neves reflected on his goal with maturity and humour. Asked about his goal, the 21-year-old said: "Because I'm small, they forgot about me. For me, heading the ball is a strong point. It was difficult, a very complicated game for us. I think we still have things to improve, but we won and that's the most important thing. It was an important game, high-paced, with tough duels. We were prepared, we did almost everything well, but there are things to improve."

The Portuguese midfielder has just returned from a left hamstring injury that sidelined him through October. However, he wasted no time reasserting himself in PSG’s midfield. Since returning to full fitness, he's now scored four goals in six Ligue 1 appearances, including key strikes against Bayern Munich and now Lyon. Beyond numbers, Neves’ control and composure have given PSG’s engine room a renewed sense of balance, proving vital amid the team’s injury woes.

Tagliafico’s red card sparks outrage from Lyon

Lyon’s heartbreak was compounded by controversy. Just moments before Neves' winner, Lyon left-back Tagliafico was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Vitinha during a PSG attack. The decision infuriated Lyon’s bench, who argued it was excessively harsh and changed the outcome of the game.

Assistant coach Jorge Maciel vented his frustration: “There’s a real problem with consistency in the refereeing. Everyone saw the fouls we suffered; there were no cards. Then we lose a player for one challenge. It’s incomprehensible.”

Corentin Tolisso echoed the sentiment, saying: “It’s infuriating to lose like that. We played a good match, but refereeing needs to improve, there are mistakes every weekend.”

Lyon head scout Matthieu Louis-Jean went even further, calling referee Benoit Bastien’s performance “a disaster,” insisting that crucial calls “consistently favoured PSG.” Lyon’s players left the pitch furious, feeling robbed of a hard-earned result in a game that had showcased their fighting spirit.

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Getty Images SportInjuries, fatigue and the road ahead for PSG

Despite the win, Enrique’s challenges are far from over. PSG’s squad has been ravaged by injuries – Achraf Hakimi is out with ankle sprain and is ruled out long-term, Ousmane Dembele is facing calf strain, Nuno Mendes out with knee sprain, and Desire Doue is in rehabilitation and will remain sidelined. Their absences have disrupted rhythm and preparation, as Enrique admitted: “Since the start of the season, nothing has been normal. It’s difficult to prepare like this.”

However, adversity has opened the door for PSG’s younger talents. Senny Mayulu and Kang In Lee have impressed in extended roles, bringing energy and creativity to a side adapting on the fly. Winger Ibrahim Mbaye also registered his 10th appearance of the season for PSG coming off the bench in the Lyon game.

The upcoming international break offers a welcome pause before the French side heads towards a difficult schedule with matches against Le Havre and Rennes in the league and Tottenham in the Champions League.