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Australia coach happy to have options in attack as they look to strengthen grip on series at Lord’s

Andrew Miller at Lord's12-Aug-2019Justin Langer has said that having six fit-and-firing fast bowlers at his disposal is a “luxury” that he cannot recall enjoying at any previous point of his coaching career, but reiterated that Australia must not get complacent about their resources with four Ashes Tests still to come in the space of five weeks.Eyebrows were raised among England fans when both Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were omitted from Australia’s attack for the first Test at Edgbaston, but that selection was richly vindicated in a 251-run win that has given them the lead in an away Ashes series for the first time since 2005.And, understandably, Langer was keeping his cards close to his chest with 48 hours to go until the series resumes at Lord’s. “The same as last time, we want to keep England guessing as long as we can,” he said. “We’re pretty clear with the team that we think will win this next Test match, we’ll see that when the toss goes up. Unless you can ask Painey [Tim Paine] the same question and he gives it away.”ALSO READ: ‘Keep wearing him down’ – Langer’s plan for ArcherThe broad strategy, however, is unmistakable and ruthless – very similar in outlook, in fact, to the one that England themselves used in Australia in 2010-11, their last successful campaign on Australian soil.Bat as long as possible, with Steven Smith leading the line at Edgbaston but the tailenders – not least Peter Siddle – playing a vital role in the first innings, and bowl as dry as possible – with Siddle’s line-and-length earning selection ahead of Starc due to his tendency to go for runs in red-ball cricket in exchange for his wicket-taking deliveries.And, in the event of attrition taking its toll in the course of the series – as it did nine years ago with Stuart Broad going lame during the Brisbane Test and Steven Finn proving too expensive for the team tacticians after Perth – ensure that the fast-bowling bench-strength (Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan on that occasion) is hungry and ready for action.The condensed Ashes itinerary, Langer admitted, was having a “big impact” on the selection of their Test XI, and with just a three-day turnaround to the second Test at Headingley on August 22, it was only going to get more acute.”We know that back-to-back Tests are always hard,” he said. “We were lucky in the first Test that our fast bowlers didn’t have to bowl much in the second innings, as Nathan [Lyon] bowled very well and the way the game panned out. But it’s certainly something that’s on our mind. It will be on England’s mind as well. You’ve got to get through back-to-back Test matches, that’s why Test series are hard, Ashes series are hard.Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle share a laugh•Getty Images”Why we’re fortunate at the moment is that we’ve got six fit-and-healthy fast bowlers. I’ve been coaching for about 10 years now and I can’t ever remember having that luxury, but it could change like that so we’re not getting carried away with it.”The fact that we had Josh and Mitch Starc on the bench last Test match, it doesn’t happen very often, so we won’t get complacent with it, we’ll just be happy we’re in that spot.”One reason why Australia may yet name an unchanged XI lies in the success of Australia’s lower order – not least Siddle, whose critical innings of 44 helped rescue Australia from 122 for 8 and give Smith an obdurate ally en route to arguably the finest Test century of his career.”Test cricket is a big game of chess,” Langer said. “I thought Siddle’s batting was the big difference in the Test match, and that was one of our game plans at the start of the summer.”We saw how frustrating it was with England’s tail in the first innings, it’s the same with us,” he added. “You always have the strategy, the strategy of every team will be the same, but then you have to put it into practice.”The boys have done that, the bowlers have probably hit more balls in this series than they have in their whole life. Hopefully it pays dividends, and it’s not just talk about it.”

Despite enduring a campaign that has not gone to plan – to put it mildly – Chelsea were able to pull off one of the best results of the Premier League season when they drew away to Manchester City.

Mauricio Pochettino's side went into the game as massive underdogs, and yet, after a spectacular defensive showing, they were able to come away with a point.

They didn't just spend 90 minutes camped in their own penalty area, though, and had Nicolas Jackson or Christopher Nkunku had their shooting boots on, they could have won it.

It was the exact situation in which it would've helped to have a player on the team they sold almost ten years ago, a player who has since beaten Didier Drogba's Premier League goals record.

Mohamed Salah's time at Chelsea and in Italy

The player in question is the inevitable Mohamed Salah, who, like so many other stars of today, spent a few years on the books at Stamford Bridge.

Salah joined the Blues in a £11m move from Swiss side FC Basel in January 2014, ironically beating Liverpool to his signature.

The Egyptian international made his debut for the Pensioners in a Premier League game against Newcastle United on February 8th 2014. Still, he would make just 19 appearances in total for the west Londoners, scoring two goals and providing four assists.

After a year of not playing much football, he was sent on a six-month loan to Serie A side Fiorentina, with Juan Cuadrado going the other way. He would score nine goals and provide four assists in 26 games for the Viola before moving to Roma on loan for the 2015/16 season, where he scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in 42 games.

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It was now evident that he had no future at Stamford Bridge, so upon the conclusion of his loan deal the Giallorossi paid just £12m for his services, which in retrospect is outrageous.

He would only spend one more season in the Italian capital, in which he scored 19 goals and provided 15 assists in 41 games before Liverpool signed him for £34m.

How Mohamed Salah has fared at Liverpool

Well, as the footballing world is well aware by now, the Nagrig-born superstar has been a sensation since pulling on that red shirt and making his first appearances in front of the Anfield crowd.

In his first season in England, the "special" forward, as described by Jürgen Klopp, scored a frankly ludicrous 44 goals and provided 16 assists to boot in just 52 games, a level of sheer brilliance that led pundit Ian Wright to describe him as possessing "a Messi vibe."

In all, the Champions League-winning winger has scored 205 goals, provided 89 assists for the Reds, and made it up to tenth in the all-time Premier League top-scorers list, with 154 to his name.

Comparatively, Drogba, who is without question one of the greatest strikers ever to grace English football, scored 104 Premier League goals and sits 32nd on the list.

Now, the pair are obviously different kinds of players, and there was always something about the Ivorian great that would make you pick him in a crunch game, but it just goes to show how relentless Salah has been since returning to English football.

Chelsea sold homegrown whiz for £180k and now he's worth £128m

The “ice-cold” gem has an incredibly bright future ahead, having left the Blues academy in the past.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 20, 2024

Ultimately, there's no point crying over spilt milk, or so they say, but in an alternative reality somewhere, the Egyptian icon likely lifted the Champions League trophy in blue and had a few more league titles to his name.

Ashley Giles says he ‘encouraged’ spinner not to turn his back on playing Tests in future

Andrew Miller20-Sep-2019Moeen Ali will miss England’s two Tests in New Zealand in November, and may also be omitted from the red-ball leg of the South Africa tour in December and January, after requesting a break from Test cricket in the wake of a gruelling English season.The news came as Moeen was omitted from England’s list of centrally contracted Test players for the 12 months to September 2020, which was announced on Friday at Lord’s by England’s director of cricket, Ashley Giles.Although he retains his white-ball contract, and will be a central part of England’s plans for the World T20 in Australia next year, this was the first time since 2014-15, the year of his England debut, that Moeen had been overlooked for the top tier of ECB contracts – a run that reflects the amount of international cricket, 186 matches in all formats, that he had been playing in the preceding five years.”It’s just to get away from it a little bit. I feel like I want to enjoy my batting and this will give me a bit of a break,” Moeen told ESPNcricinfo on the eve of T20 Finals Day at Edgbaston, where he is hoping to captain Worcestershire to back-to-back titles in the Vitality Blast.”I want to spend some time with the family. I’ve been playing for England for five years and it’s been quite tough. The intensity is obviously higher in Test cricket so this is just to give me a break and then we will see what happens after that.”I’m not ruling out playing Test cricket in the future. I’ve had long chats and thought about it quite a lot. I just want to give myself a bit of time to refresh my batteries and see where it goes after that.”Speaking at Lord’s, Giles was equally keen to stress that Moeen’s decision did not spell the end of his 60-Test career – a period in which he has claimed 181 wickets, second only to Graeme Swann among English spinners this century.However, Giles did indicate that Test retirement had been discussed during their conversations, as Moeen came to terms with a disappointing summer in which he was dropped after England’s defeat in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, having already lost his starting berth in the World Cup-winning team.”For all the guys, not just Moeen, it’s been a really challenging summer,” Giles said. “A World Cup and an Ashes back-to-back has had a massive effect on many of these guys psychologically, as much as physically. And some of those guys are still carrying [those issues], one of them being Moeen.”His experience in the first [Ashes] Test wasn’t a great one, but that’s cricket. He’s has been a great servant for his team. And that’s why I encouraged him to leave that option open to come back. He might just need to go away and freshen up. But he’s been a really good servant for this team. And he’s still relatively young.”England are due to tour Sri Lanka for two Tests in March and April, a country where Moeen last year claimed 18 wickets at 24.50 as part of a successful three-spinner attack, and that could, in theory, be an obvious time for him to return to the fray.However, with Jack Leach established as England’s first-choice spinner and with a new coach likely to be in place by that date, Moeen’s decision to step back from Test cricket comes with obvious risk – especially at a time when England have signalled their intention to redouble their focus on the format after a four-year cycle in which it played second fiddle to the needs of the white-ball squad.”The two Tests in New Zealand are not part of the World Test Championship, but actually they form a really important part of the build-up process to South Africa, which is a series that we’ve got to go and win,” said Giles. “And New Zealand are a strong team. We are not going there lightly, so we’ve got to be ready.”Moeen Ali was dropped for the Lord’s Test after a tough time at Edgbaston•Getty ImagesA further consideration for Moeen is that the Sri Lanka tour falls close to the start of the 2020 IPL, a tournament for which he has a lucrative contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore. While Giles insisted that Moeen’s decision would not be solely driven by any desire to play a full part in RCB’s campaign, he was adamant that the rewards of the tournament were not merely financial – as shown by the big-game experience that many of England’s 50-over stars were able to lean upon in key moments of the World Cup.”It is going to be very difficult for us to stop players going [to the IPL] without risking losing them,” Giles said. “We’ve got to accept that and manage our players outside that. They have to be reasonable in accepting we are making space for them, because their main duty is to represent England. But that window [in the schedule] is left open for them for a reason.”Giles acknowledged, too, that the incredible demands placed on England’s cricketers in the summer to end all summers were unsustainable, and that the board had a duty of care towards Moeen, and others who have struggled with the team’s multiple ambitions.”These are extraordinary circumstances, and some players deal with it better than others,” he said. “Some players are in different cycles of their own game, and where they are in terms of confidence – look at where [Ben] Stokes has been all summer compared to Moeen – but we’re going to support these guys to come back into the side. Our whole system has got to be better at picking them up and making sure that they’re better prepared for the rigours.”He conceded, too, that England’s achievement in drawing the Ashes with a memorable victory in the fifth Test at The Oval was a credit to the character of a team that “really ran through the line” for themselves and for their captain, Joe Root.”The players all suffered in different ways really,” said Giles. “But I have to say great credit to every one of them. It would have been easy to roll over and just give in. But they saw it right through, and if you started the summer and offered us a World Cup win and a drawn Ashes series, we probably would have taken it.”‘Neglected’ might be a strong word, but for the last four years, we know we focused primarily on white-ball cricket, and Joe has done a great job in challenging circumstances. And when a team runs through the line like they did for him this year, I think that’s great credit to him.”I said to Joe before Headingley, and this wasn’t a case of taking any eyes off the ball, that if we won this series, it would have been a fantastic effort. But it would have been more on pure performance than anything else.”Additional reporting by Paul Edwards.

David Beckham was seen laughing along in the crowd as Emma Raducanu joked about taking inspiration from England grinding out results at Euro 2024.

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Raducanu sums up England's winBeckham in crowd at WimbledonTalks of winning however possibleWHAT HAPPENED?

Tennis star Emma Raducanu spoke on court following her first round victory at Wimbledon on Monday afternoon, which she described as "winning ugly" and likened it to England's last 16 win over Slovakia the night before. The camera then panned to the stands, where former Three Lions skipper Beckham was sitting, catching his reaction.

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At her first Wimbledon appearance since 2022, Raducanu needed a first set tiebreak against Mexico's 98th-ranked Renata Zarazua, before taking the second 6-3. England, having laboured through the Euro 2024 group stage, dramatically forced extra-time against Slovakia thanks to Jude Bellingham's overhead kick, before Harry Kane won it in the additional period.

WHAT RADUCANU SAID

Raducanu said: "I was, for sure, nervous. I think everyone could see that in my tennis a little bit. At the end of the day, you have to just do what it takes to get over the line and, honestly, watching the football last night it was like winning ugly…it all counts."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RADUCANU & ENGLAND?

Raducanu will be back in action in Wimbledon's second round on Wednesday when she faces Elise Mertens of Belgium. As for England, the Euro 2024 quarter-final against an impressive Switzerland team awaits. But there is set to be a nervous wait to see if Bellingham will escape a possible ban.

Reliable journalist Miguel Delaney of The Independent has revealed what Tottenham Hotspur stuff are all now really thinking about Timo Werner behind-the-scenes, after his loan move from RB Leipzig in January.

Spurs settle on Werner loan deal with option to buy

The Germany international's career has taken somewhat of a downward turn since his flopped marquee move to Chelsea.

"Definitely" – Sky pundit thinks Spurs could strike "easy" move for star

The deal could be there to be done this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 28, 2024

Werner couldn't exactly become the 25-plus goal-per-season striker they were yearning for at the time of his move, eventually resulting in his return to Leipzig, where he hasn't managed to replicate his sensational 2019/2020 campaign.

He scored 28 goals and bagged eight assists in the league alone that year, with Werner attracting serious interest from Liverpool at the time before Chelsea beat Jurgen Klopp's side to the punch.

Tottenham 3-2 Brentford

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Who knows what would've become of Werner, had he managed to seal a switch to Anfield, but after numerous campaigns failing to hit double figures for both Chelsea and Leipzig since, the 27-year-old is now attempting to resurrect his career in north London.

There have been reports that Werner's contract contains a £17 million buy-option for Spurs, so this temporary spell could be seen as somewhat of a trial spell before Ange Postecoglou's side make the decision over whether to seal his signing permanently.

"I thought he was great. First half we probably didn’t support him enough in that left channel, he was a little bit isolated. Second half we got some better service to him," said Postecoglou on Werner after Spurs' 3-2 win over Brentford recently.

“He’s a quality player, I think he’s proven at this level, and as he gets stronger and fitter and understands our game a little bit better, I think he’ll become even more effective and I know there’s goals in him as well that will come for Tottenham, so I thought he was good.”

So far, Werner has chalked up two assists in five league games for Spurs, with four of those appearances being fully-fledged starts and one having come off the bench.

What Tottenham staff are really thinking about Werner

Sharing some inside information on the forward since his arrival from Leipzig, reliable reporter Delaney has a rather interesting line for The Independent this week.

Indeed, it is believed Tottenham staff are "pleased" with Werner for his "willingness" behind-the-scenes, something which could bode well for the player as he attempts to impress enough to warrant an indefinite return to England.

“I think Timo [Werner] is an offensive player who has a massive experience from top level football," said Spurs chief Johan Lange recently.

"The Bundesliga, the Premier League, the Champions League and of course with the German national team. He’s also a player who, for most of his career, has played in a style not too dissimilar to ours which means his level of adaptation period could be relatively short and it has been good to see him already effecting games quite early on.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni won't hesitate to play Lionel Messi against Canada in Copa America semi-final despite fitness concerns.

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Argentina coach defiant over MessiVeteran star subject of fitness concernsPreviously missed Peru clashWHAT HAPPENED?

At a pre-match press conference, Scaloni said there is "no doubt" about Messi's availability to face Canada, insisting that he will always pick the 37-year-old, even when not quite fully fit.

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Messi was an injury doubt for the quarter-final against Ecuador due to a thigh complaint that ruled him out of the last group stage fixture against Peru. He ultimately made the game and completed 90 minutes, although did miss from the spot in the penalty shootout. Scaloni has no concerns about his availability now.

WHAT LIONEL SCALONI SAID

Scaloni said: "99% of the time, [Messi] is fit to play. It's never happened to me that he's not fit to play. Every time he's come out on the pitch, he's fit to play. For [Canada], he's fit to play, without a doubt. It's a very easy decision for me, because it's a very frank decision, that if he's fine, he plays; and if he's not fine, he plays the last 30 minutes. It's that easy.

"When he's fit, he always plays. There are no doubts. Who would have any doubts? I'm the coach, so I have no doubts. I'm the one who decides and when I see that he's fit to play, even if he's not 100% fit, he's going to play. I take responsibility for that but I have no doubts. It's true that that won't ever weigh on me, I know what he can give us even if he's not in optimal condition, I wouldn't make the grave mistake of not putting him on the pitch knowing that he gives us a lot, so that's indisputable."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI & ARGENTINA?

Argentina are just one game away from reaching a fourth Copa America final in the space of five tournaments in the last decade. For Messi, who will be 39 by the time of the next World Cup in 2026, this could even be his last international competition. But with a third place play-off included, Argentina are guaranteed at least one extra game regardless of the Canada semi-final result.

England’s wicketkeeper steps down after long-term battle with anxiety issues

Andrew Miller27-Sep-2019Sarah Taylor, one of the most talented wicketkeepers in the history of the game, has announced her retirement from international cricket, having struggled in recent years with a long-term anxiety issue.Taylor, 30, made her England debut as a 17-year-old in 2006, and went on to make 226 appearances all told. Her tally of 6,533 international runs places her second on England Women’s all-time list of run-scorers, behind her long-term captain, Charlotte Edwards.In the course of her career, Taylor played key roles in some of England Women’s most memorable triumphs, including the World Cup and World T20 triumphs in 2009, and the unforgettable home World Cup win in 2017, in which she produced key innings of 54 and 45 in England’s semi-final and final victories over South Africa and India respectively.However, Taylor will undoubtedly be remembered primarily for her work behind the stumps. Her tally of 232 dismissals across formats is a record for women’s internationals, but the style and skill of many of her takes have marked her out as one of the most naturally gifted wicketkeepers of any gender and any era.The speed of her glovework was matched by her instinct for where the ball was going, not least when pulling off leg-side stumpings, a mode of dismissal which became her trademark when standing up to England’s seamers.But in recent years Taylor’s anxiety has affected her ability to enjoy the game, and having taken an extended break after England’s semi-final defeat at the World T20 in India in 2016, her appearances had been carefully managed – with her belated recall for the 2017 World Cup offset by her absence from last year’s World T20 in the Caribbean.”This has been a tough decision but I know it’s the right one,” said Taylor. “For me and for my health moving forward. I can’t thank my team-mates enough, both past and present, and the ECB for being supporters and friends along my journey.ALSO READ: Taylor interview: ‘I couldn’t handle being the best because the only way was down'”Playing for England and getting to wear the shirt for so long has been a dream come true and I have been blessed with so many great moments throughout my career. From making my debut in 2006, to Ashes wins, and of course the World Cup final at Lord’s, to name just a few.”I’ve also been blessed with travelling the world and making lifelong friends along the way.”Taylor’s final international appearance came during this summer’s drawn Ashes Test at Taunton, when she scored 5 in her solitary innings before withdrawing from the T20 leg of the series to manage her anxiety issues.England’s disappointing showing in the Ashes – they lost the points-based series 14-4, with a solitary win in the seven matches – led to the resignation of Mark Robinson, the hugely respected head coach who had been so integral in helping Taylor balance her priorities in overcoming her anxiety.Nevertheless, Taylor’s integral role in helping to grow the profile of women’s cricket, not least through her unique and stylish talents, cannot be understated.”To be right in the thick of women’s cricket as it’s gone from strength to strength – not only in England, but across the world – has been an amazing experience,” she said, “and I can look back on what women’s cricket has achieved with great pride at playing some small part in it.”The England girls are role models on and off the field, and they have undoubtedly inspired – and will continue to inspire – so many young people to take up the game, girls and boys. I can’t wait to see the heights that this team can reach.”I am extremely proud of my career. I leave with my head held high and with excitement for what my future holds and what my next chapter brings.”Clare Connor, ECB Managing Director of Women’s Cricket, said: “Sarah can be immensely proud of everything she has achieved in an England shirt, and of everything she has done for the women’s game.”She is someone that young people can look up to, for her achievements and talent on the pitch – but also for her bravery and resilience off it. She has come through significant adversity and performed on the world stage for her country.”We are very grateful to Sarah for her contributions to English cricket over the last 13 years. She has become a powerful voice within women’s sport and I’m sure she will make a success of the next stage of her professional life. We all wish her the very best.”

The eternal wait for a trophy goes on for Gareth Southgate's side, who were well beaten by La Roja in Berlin

For the second painful final in a row, it's not coming home. England fought valiantly against Spain, but they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by the better team in Sunday's Euro 2024 final.

Nico Williams gave Spain the lead at the start of the second half and La Roja could have extended it, but substitute Cole Palmer gave England a lifeline. However, just as Gareth Southgate's side were preparing for extra-time, Mikel Oyarzabal delivered the knockout blow after some lax defending.

GOAL rates England's players from Olympiastadion in Berlin…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Jordan Pickford (7/10):

Made a top-class save from Yamal to prevent Spain from going 2-0 up and then thwarted him again at 1-1. Punched a few crosses.

Kyle Walker (6/10):

Had Williams' number throughout the first half. Flew up and down his flank and should have been played in more often. So up for it he even fouled De la Fuente, but he was too slow for the crucial goal.

John Stones (8/10):

Dominant and everywhere. Made a crunching slide tackle on Williams and kept on top of Morata. Had one promising run forward but had no one to pass to. Booked for a cynical foul and cleared a Morata shot off the line.

Marc Guehi (6/10):

Quick, powerful and commanding, frequently putting out fires.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Bukayo Saka (7/10)

Always lively and played with real intelligence, holding the ball up well before Palmer struck.

Declan Rice (5/10):

Couldn't get a grip on the game, with too many giveaways and not enough incisive passes.

Kobbie Mainoo (4/10):

Disappointing. Kept on getting intercepted and lost control of the midfield after the break.

Luke Shaw (6/10):

Combative and super-alert in the first half but caught out of position for Williams' goal.

Getty ImagesAttack

Jude Bellingham (6/10):

Hit and miss but always near the action. Fizzed a shot wide before laying the ball off to Palmer.

Harry Kane (3/10):

Predictably poor. Lethargic and unable to influence the game. Only notable moments were a promising shot blocked by Rodri and a booking for an out-of-control tackle on Ruiz.

Phil Foden (6/10):

Energetic in the press but couldn't sprinkle much of his usual magic. A stabbing shot following a free-kick was his best effort.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Ollie Watkins (5/10):

Saw little action after replacing Kane and made a terrible touch when he did get through.

Cole Palmer (8/10):

Another big impact from the bench from the man who doesn't know what pressure is.

Ivan Toney (N/A)

Chucked on in the search for an equaliser.

Gareth Southgate (5/10):

As usual only made changes after falling behind. His substitutions turned the tide, but Oyarzabal's goal left him no time to react.

Tottenham have surprisingly been named as contenders to sign a club's £85 million player who's "guaranteed" to leave this summer.

Spurs looking to bolster key areas for Postecoglou

Over the last few weeks, reports out of Spurs have suggested that technical director Johan Lange and the wider recruitment team are seeking to bolster a number of key areas.

Ange could sell star who's had his best season at Tottenham – pundit

He’s hugely popular at the club.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 8, 2024

The north Londoners have been linked with a new centre-back, like Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly, and reliable journalists like Miguel Delaney have claimed that Spurs want a new winger as their "major" signing this summer.

Some reports have also suggested that Tottenham want a new striker to replace Harry Kane, despite Richarlison's fine form over the last few months.

With many players looking like potential candidates for the Spurs exit door, there could be room for new arrivals all over the pitch, and it is believed manager Ange Postecoglou wants new full-back options as alternatives to star duo Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie.

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“My understanding is they are looking for someone who can possibly play both sides, not Diego Dalot but someone of that ilk,” said journalist Graeme Bailey to Tottenham News recently.

“I wouldn’t necessarily rule it out, Walker-Peters is someone who Chelsea looked at as well. For these signings as well, the fourth centre-half I still think is probably Lloyd Kelly or Tosin Adarabioyo to come in on a free. Good Premier League players but at the end of the day, they are going to be fourth choice. Spurs don’t need to go and spend £60 million on a centre half.”

While Postecoglou's side are thought to be considering their options all over the pitch, one area they definitely don't need to reinforce is the goalkeeping position. Since coming in from Empoli last summer, Guglielmo Vicario has been exceptional and one of the division's most in-form shot-stoppers.

"He has been strong pretty much from the first game," Postecoglou said on Vicario's form.

"Some games we haven't needed a lot and today we did. The saves he made but also the way he dealt with corners was so strong – they put so much pressure on the goalkeeper. He's a great shot-stopper and is dealing with a different back four in lots of games. He's got a maturity which helps the team in those moments."

Tottenham named as potential destination for Mamardashvili

The need for another keeper is arguably void, but as per Estadio Deportivo and journalist Luisma Sanchez, Tottenham have surprisingly been named as a potential suitor for Valencia shot-stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The Georgian's contract includes an £85 million release clause, but it's near-impossible any side will pay for that for a goalkeeper. Mamardashvili has been one of Valencia's star players over the last couple of seasons, but as pointed out by Estadio, his exit is "practically guaranteed".

Oman were well ahead in the chase before Namibia’s spinners began a dramatic collapse

Peter Della Penna in Dubai29-Oct-2019″Not again”. That’s what Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus said was going through his mind as Khawar Ali was torching his bowlers to take Oman to 55 for 1 after five overs chasing a target of 162. Namibia have gone through more heartbreaks than most teams at the T20 World Cup Qualifier, failing in five qualification playoff matches spread across 2012, 2013 and 2015. That sense of déjà vu was especially present for Erasmus for he was in the XI when Oman upset Namibia four years ago at Malahide chasing 149 to clinch a place at the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.This time Bernard Scholtz’s introduction in the seventh over sparked a stunning fightback as Oman lost 6 for 32 to the left-right spin tandem of Scholtz and Erasmus to help Namibia secure a 54-run win and their first ever trip to the T20 World Cup. JJ Smit was named Man of the Match for his stirring counterattack in the first innings, blitzing a 20-ball half-century before taking two wickets at the end to clinch victory, Namibia’s fifth straight after starting the tournament with back-to-back losses.After overcoming the loss of Jatinder Singh, caught at deep square leg on the second ball of the chase, Ali had been toying with the Namibian pace bowling unit through the rest of the powerplay and took a special liking to Christi Viljoen. Ali drove, pulled and cut him for a trio of fours to start the second over, then pulled him over midwicket and drove him over long-on for a pair of sixes in the fifth.But the wheels came off in the Oman chase upon the arrival of Scholtz. Aqib Ilyas tried to slog sweep the first ball he saw against the spinner and missed, struck on the back leg in front of middle for a straightforward lbw decision to end a 57-run stand. Despite being well ahead of Namibia’s position – they had ended their own powerplay at 36 for 3 – Scholtz and Erasmus seized on Oman’s batting hubris to run amok through the middle order.Captain Zeeshan Maqsood was out sixth ball lofting a drive to long-off in the eighth off Erasmus. Ali charged impetuously at Scholtz four balls later to be out stumped for 41 off 25. Suraj Kumar produced a reckless heave first ball and was fortunate to be spilled by Smit on a straightforward chance at long-on, but refused to adjust his approach and slog swept Erasmus to Jan Frylinck at deep midwicket for 6 in the 12th. Kaleem swatted Scholtz to Frylinck at cow corner for 13 five balls later before Sandeep Goud skied a slog over mid-on for Erasmus to circle back for a sharp over-the-shoulder catch to complete a shocking and in some ways self-inflicted collapse.Smit came back for a late spell to claim Khurram Nawaz with a full delivery in front of middle stump for a leg before decision and then induced a skier to backward point on the first ball of the 20th taken by JP Kotze to end the match.As pivotal as Scholtz’s spell was, there was no doubt that 23-year-old allrounder Smit would be Man of the Match for rallying Namibia with the bat. Erasmus looked like he may have made the same mistake as UAE earlier in the day by choosing to bat first as Namibia found themselves at 82 for 5 in 14 overs. Outside of Niko Davin’s brief flurry in the powerplay, the rest of the top and middle order failed as Oman took command.However, Smit and Craig Williams plundered 67 in a four-over sequence from the 15th through the 18th that turned the match upside down. Smit savaged Oman’s spinners in particular, driving Kaleem’s left-arm spin over long-off and extra cover for a pair of sixes in the 16th, then drove Ali’s legspin almost out of the stadium into the top row of the second tier over long-off to bring up his half-century at a strike rate of 250. One ball later he swatted Ali over wide long-on for six more to leave Oman shellshocked.Bilal Khan dismissed both Williams and Smit off a pair of full tosses in the 19th, adding to two exceptional deliveries in his opening two overs that claimed Stephen Baard at short midwicket on the first ball of the match and a nipbacker to bowl Kotze in the third. Namibia only added 12 runs off the final two overs as a result, but Khan’s spell went to waste.Namibia advance to the semi-finals where they will take on Papua New Guinea on Friday night. Oman get a second crack at claiming one of the final two berths at the T20 World Cup when they take on Hong Kong on Wednesday night in an elimination playoff.