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Former England allrounder’s eldest son to continue his professional career at Canterbury

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2025Corey Flintoff, the eldest son of former England allrounder Andrew, has signed a two-year rookie contract with Kent.Flintoff, 19, progressed through Lancashire’s age groups and Academy, and played for the club’s second XI last summer, making his debut alongside his younger brother Rocky against Yorkshire in April.As a fast-bowling allrounder, Flintoff has been training with Kent’s first team for the past week, and bowled four overs in Kent’s two-day warm-up match against Essex at Canterbury on Friday.He has now joined the club on a rookie contract that will make him available to play for the county around his University studies for at least the next two seasons. Adam Hollioake, the former England captain who was a team-mate of his father’s, including at the 1999 World Cup, was recently appointed as Kent’s new head coach.”I’m delighted to be joining Kent to continue my development as a player under Adam Hollioake and the excellent coaching staff here,” Flintoff said.”The lads in the dressing room have been so welcoming to me this week and there’s a great atmosphere here. I’m excited for what’s next for me and I know that Kent is the right place for me to make the step up to first-team cricket.”Kent’s Director of Cricket, Simon Cook, said: “Corey is an extremely exciting young player and has great all-round ability to score runs and take wickets.”He is a very hard worker and I know that he is extremely determined to make a name for himself in professional cricket. We’re delighted that he feels that he can do this as a Kent cricketer.”

Former India allrounder says Rohit and Kohli retiring will create a leadership vacuum

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-202513:14

Gill or Bumrah – the only decision selectors need to make?

R Ashwin has said the sudden retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have created a significant leadership vacuum in India’s Test team and that Jasprit Bumrah is a deserving candidate for the captaincy.”I didn’t have an idea both [Rohit and Kohli] would retire together,” Ashwin said on his Youtube show . “This will a testing time for Indian cricket, and I’ll say this is truly now the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era.”The team that will tour England will be a completely new team, a transformed team where Bumrah will probably be the senior-most player. He is obviously one of the captaincy options; I think he deserves the captaincy, but the selectors will take a decision based on his physical capacity.”Their retirements will definitely create a leadership vacuum. You can’t buy experience, especially on tours like this. Virat’s energy and Rohit’s composure will be missed.”Related

• High peaks, imperfect bookends: Rohit, the Test batter

• Virat Kohli has been Indian cricket's most influential figure

• Kohli and Test cricket gave each other their best

Shubman Gill is considered the frontrunner to succeed Rohit despite Bumrah having been vice-captain until the tour of Australia earlier this year. He was the stand-in captain during the victory in the Perth Test and also led the side when Rohit stood down for the fifth Test in Sydney.The primary consideration around whether Bumrah should be captain or not is the managing of his workload, given his recent injury concerns. He had trouble with his back during the Sydney Test and had to miss the home bilateral series against England, the Champions Trophy, and the start of IPL 2025.Reflecting on the timing of Rohit and Kohli’s retirements, Ashwin said he thought both players had more to offer. “There will be a sense of fulfilment, but I honestly feely Kohli definitely had one-two years of Test cricket left in him,” Ashwin said. “Rohit, I felt would at least go on till the England Test series, because there’s a leadership vacuum in the team.”Tests has been the finest [format for India] in the last 10-12 years, but just for the sake of leadership, Rohit should’ve played till the England series, and if he’d performed, he could’ve carried on and given some more leadership.”My favourite piece of batsmanship of Rohit for India was when he played in England [2021],” he said. “When he and KL Rahul opened, we were 2-1 ahead because of Rohit. The opening partnership was gun, strong.”Between 2018-19 to 2022-23 was Rohit’s best phase as a Test batter. Even the Covid series in Australia which we won, his batting was top notch. Then also he was looking very good, didn’t get big runs but batting was top notch.”Ashwin picked Kohli’s twin centuries in Adelaide during his Test captaincy debut in 2014 as one of the finest performances he had seen.”Kohli the Test cricketer was box office, he was brand ambassador of Test cricket in many ways,” Ashwin said. “Some of his best knocks haven’t always resulted in wins, but that’s taking nothing away from those knocks. The twin hundreds in Adelaide in 2014 – that knock not finishing in a win is a shame. The 153 in Jo’burg, the pink-ball Test when we were all out for 36, the 74 he made in the first innings – some of the knocks are incredible.”

India fast bowler could miss one or two Tests to manage his workloads during the five-match series

Nagraj Gollapudi24-May-20254:48

Agarkar explains the all-important selection calls for India’s tour to England

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to play all five Tests on the tour of England , which starts on June 20 at Headingley.Ajit Agarkar, India’s chief selector, said Bumrah has been advised by medical staff not to risk playing several consecutive Tests as part of his workload management.The precautionary measure comes after Bumrah suffered a stress reaction in the back during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney in January. He left the field on the second day and did not bowl for the remainder of the match.Bumrah missed the 2025 Champions Trophy and made a comeback in April in IPL 2025 for Mumbai Indians, who have qualified for the playoffs.Related

• Bumrah confident India can take down 'ultra-aggressive' England

• Sai Sudharsan: Feels 'surreal' to be part of India's Test squad

• Shubman Gill unveiled as India's new Test captain, Pant his deputy

• Sai Sudharsan, Arshdeep and Karun Nair in India's Test squad for England tour

• Confident and assertive, Gill must now chart his own path

“I don’t think he [Bumrah] will be available for all five Tests, the physios and the doctors have told us,” Agarkar said while announcing India’s Test squad on Saturday. “Whether it’s four or three [Tests], we will see how the series goes and how his body can take the workload. Needless to say how important he is, even if he’s fit for three or four Tests, he’s going to win us a few Test matches. So we are just glad that he is fit and that little setback that he had in Australia wasn’t too bad. He’s back playing – I know it’s T20 cricket – at the moment, but we’ve seen what he’s doing in the IPL. We are just happy that he’s part of the squad.”The upcoming Test series will be Bumrah’s third in England where he has 37 wickets in eight matches (excluding the 2021 World Test Championship final), at an average of 23.78 and strike rate of 51.9. If not for his back issue, Bumrah would have been a contender for the Test captaincy once Rohit Sharma retired in April, Agarkar said.Jasprit Bumrah suffered a stress rection of the back in Sydney earlier this year•AFP/Getty Images

Bumrah has led India in three Tests: in the one-off match at Edgbaston in 2022, in the Perth Test against Australia last year – where he played a central role in India’s victory – and in Sydney. He was the vice-captain for the Australia tour, but had to lead the side when Rohit missed the first and fifth Tests of the series.Agarkar said Shubman Gill was the “unanimous” choice for the Test captaincy among both the selectors and BCCI.”Booms [Bumrah], because he led in Australia, he was the vice-captain for, but once he’s not going to be available for all the Test matches (he couldn’t be part of the captaincy conversation),” Agarkar said. “He is more important to us as a player. We want him fit. There’s always that extra burden when you are managing 15-16 other people. There’s a lot that it takes out of you. We’d rather have him bowling as well as he does than putting that extra burden on him.”He is aware of it,” Agarkar said. “We’ve had a chat with him and he’s okay with it. He knows where his body’s at and he’d rather look after himself and be bowling fit. It was more his workload management and having him fit as a bowler, more than anything else.”Having had back surgery in March 2023, Bumrah has been managing his workloads to avoid a career-threatening injury. His workloads, however, peaked on the Australia tour, where he bowled 152.1 overs in five Tests, taking 32 wickets at a strike rate of 28.3 and average of just over 13. Scans in Sydney showed Bumrah had back spasms, but on returning to India, it was deducted he had stress reactions.Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, who was forced to retire due to chronic back issues, told ESPNcricinfo in March that Bumrah’s workloads needed to be managed conservatively to avoid a relapse. If he had another back injury in the same area, Bond warned it could potentially be a career-ender.Bond said the biggest red flag for fast bowlers is when they transition from T20 to Tests in quick time – the first Test against England begins just 13 days after the IPL ends on June 3. “He’s too valuable for the next World Cup and stuff. So you’d be looking at five Tests in England, I wouldn’t want to be playing him in any more than two in a row.”

With top-flight clubs gearing up for another summer of spending, casting their net into the second tier could scoop up a few gems

Dozens of players have made the step up from the lower league in recent years to make a huge impact on the Premier League. Chris Wood, Alex Pritchard and Jeff Hendrick have all been impressive for their respective clubs this season after being signed from the Championship in the past few years. Who will be the next player to make the step up? Here are a few candidates

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  Tom Cairney | Fulham

  Cairney has been linked to West Ham United and Newcastle in the past two transfer windows and for good reason.

  The Fulham captain is one of the best midfielders in the Championship and it is no coincidence that Slavisa Jokanovic's side went on a 23-game unbeaten streak after he returned to full fitness.

  Cairney would be capable of playing for any mid-table Premier League club due to his exceptional vision and dribbling abilities. He can also strike from range if needed as showcased by his goals against Wolves and Leeds United last season.

  If Fulham don’t secure promotion via the play-offs don’t be surprised to see Cairney on the move this summer.

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  Aden Flint | Bristol City

  Aden Flint has been on a lot of clubs’ radars since his Swindon Town days.

  Standing at 6ft 5ins, the defender is a dominant figure in the air and he regularly features prominently on the scoring charts come the end of each season, hitting a career-high 15 in 2014-15 at Swindon.

  Flint has been fantastic for Bristol City this season, particularly standing out in both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

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  Abel Hernandez | Hull City

  Abel Hernandez is a Premier League player stuck in the Championship.

  The Uruguayan has missed most of this season through injury as Hull slipped down the table to flirt with relegation.

  Hernandez scored eight goals in 10 Championship appearances this season and would be an asset to any Premier League side in need of a goalscorer.

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  Adama Traore | Middlesbrough

  The former Barcelona winger is unstoppable when he is playing at his best.

  Watch the highlights of his performance against Leeds United this season and you will see the Spaniard at the peak of his powers.

  Traore has all the physical attributes that you would want from a winger, he is one of the fastest players in football and he runs with such power. If a coach could fine-tune Traore and improve his final ball he could be one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premier League.

The Portuguese has agreed a €112 million move to Juventus and here, Goal takes a look at some of the big names who could be brought in by Los Blancos

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  Neymar

  A long-time obsession of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, Neymar moved last summer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for €222m and his signing would be not easy after a sole season at the Parc des Princes. The Brazilian, who has the same birthday as Cristiano Ronaldo, is seven years younger than the 33-year-old Portuguese and could slot into the same position on the left.

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  Kylian Mbappe

  Neymar's club colleague Kylian Mbappe is the world's most exciting young player. Still just 19, the France forward moved a year ago from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain, but is very much in Real Madrid's thoughts and his age makes him the ideal replacement for his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, although his signing could cost up to €300m.

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  Eden Hazard

  The Belgium attacker has admitted he would be tempted by a move to Real Madrid, even though his idol Zinedine Zidane has left the Spanish side. Hazard has spent six seasons at Chelsea and at 27, this may be the last chance he has of a dream transfer to the Spanish side. And starring at the World Cup will not have done his chances any harm at all.

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  Robert Lewandowski

  The striker has long been on the agenda at Real Madrid and wants to leave Bayern Munich, but talk of a summer switch to the Spanish side has already been played down by his agent and in any case, the Poland forward turns 30 in August. So while a move appeared a real possibility in the past, it now looks unlikely at this stage of his career.

City and United account for six of the spots after both teams notched impressive victories against Chelsea and Fulham respectively

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  1Anthony Martial | Manchester United

  Martial was directly involved in two of Man Utd's three goals against Fulham, scoring one and assisting another.

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  2Sergio Aguero | Manchester City

  The Argentine striker scored with all three of his shots on target against Chelsea, netting his 11th hat-trick in the Premier League.

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  3Raheem Sterling | Manchester City

  Sterling netted a brace and created two goal-scoring chances in Man City's 6-0 win over Chelsea.

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  4Paul Pogba | Manchester United

  Pogba scored with both of his shots on target against Fulham, netting two of Man Utd's three goals at Craven Cottage.

This all-time XI might well divide opinion among United fans – but we think it would be unstoppable

From George Best to Cristiano Ronaldo – some of the greatest footballers of all time have donned the red of Manchester United, so how do you pick the best of the best? Absolute legends of the game will find themselves failing to make the cut in any dream team – and one fan’s best XI could vastly differ from another’s.

In truth, picking United’s finest – from the Busby Babes, to the European Cup winners of 1968, the treble winners and Sir Alex Ferguson’s last Champions League triumph – will always be fraught with difficulty.

Choosing two centre-backs from Fergie’s era is tough enough – never mind factoring in the legendary sides produced by Sir Matt Busby.

And what about a forward line that needs to squeeze in Denis Law, Best, Eric Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo? Spoiler alert – only three from that six makes this cut.

There’s no place for Paul Scholes in midfield, either. But perhaps the most difficult decision was leaving out Ryan Giggs – quite possibly United’s greatest servant as their all-time record appearance-maker and winner of 13 Premier League titles.

His body of work over an incredible career places him above anyone else who wore the shirt. But it doesn’t mean he gets a place in this dream team…

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  GK: Peter Schmeichel

  Arguably the finest goalkeeper of all time, Schmeichel was a pioneer, with his spread-eagled style when one-on-one with opponents, and his ridiculously long throws sparking counterattacks.

  The Denmark international, who spent eight years at Old Trafford after joining from Brondby in 1991, was also a commanding figure in the air.

  At his best, he was practically unbeatable and he bowed out in fine style, captaining United to victory in the Champions League final, in the absence of the suspended Roy Keane.

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  RB: Gary Neville

  An underrated member of the Class of ’92, Neville was ahead of his time with his attacking instincts and link-up with David Beckham on the right flank.

  Fast, brave and aggressive, this one-club man was every bit the complete full-back.

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  CB: Rio Ferdinand

  Ferguson had some of the greatest centre-backs of the modern age in his title-winning teams.

  Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister formed a formidable partnership, Jaap Stam was a man-mountain, while Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were the perfect blend of silk and steel.

  Perhaps Stam was United’s most complete centre-back under Fergie – but Ferdinand’s timing, poise and distribution just earns him the nod in a fierce field of competition.

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  CB: Duncan Edwards

  He could probably have been placed anywhere in this dream team – but one thing is for sure, no greatest XI would be complete without him.

  Those who played with or against Edwards agree that he could have become the finest footballer of all time had he not tragically died after the Munich air crash.

  A complete player, who was a powerhouse as well as a skilled technician.

England boss Gareth Southgate said he would pick a World Cup squad based on form, which explains James Maddison's selection, but not Harry Maguire's.

So now we know! Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad has finally been revealed.

As always, there are plenty of names included that have generated widespread debate, while others who have been left behind will justifiably be feeling quite hard done by at missing out.

So, who are the big winners and losers from the England squad that will be travelling to Qatar?

GOAL takes a look below…

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  WINNER: James Maddison

  There is no doubt that Maddison deserved to be in the England squad. A quick look at his numbers over the past 18 months tells you all you needed to know.

  Since August 2020, he tops the charts when it comes to goal contributions (30) from English midfielders in the Premier League. He’s ahead of the likes of Bukayo Saka, Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.

  And he’s done that in a struggling Leicester City side, which makes his output all the more impressive.

  Yes, there are some question marks over his temperament and how he handles himself off the pitch. His decision to go out to a casino when he had pulled out an England squad through illness in 2019 was certainly ill-advised.

  But players make mistakes. Other players in this England squad have and they haven’t been permanently banished by Gareth Southgate.

  So, it would have been a travesty had he not made it on the plane to Qatar. This is football and you have to be rewarded for your performances in the here and now.

  And right now Maddison is as good as it gets when it comes to English midfielders, so it’s good to see Southgate swallow some of his pride and make the right call.

  Maddison isn’t the answer to England’s prayers. He’s not the wildcard who is suddenly going to come in and win them the World Cup.

  But the simple fact is that he deserves to be in the 26-man squad.

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  LOSER: Tammy Abraham

  “Tammy has had a poor run of scoring form at the wrong time.” That was Gareth Southgate’s explanation for leaving the Roma striker out of his squad.

  Abraham has undeniably struggled to replicate the goalscoring form he showed during his debut season in Serie A, but his omission still feels harsh.

  The former Chelsea man must have thought he would be going to Qatar given he has been so heavily involved in the England set-up during the last 18 months.

  But the fact he has scored just four times this season, coupled with Wilson's fine form in the Premier League, has clearly worked against him.

  This setback will certainly be a tough one for Abraham to take.

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  WINNER: Kyle Walker

  As soon as he went down injured during the Manchester derby on October 6, Walker would have been fearing for his World Cup chances.

  It looked almost certain he would miss out when he was forced to undergo groin surgery, but remarkably he has recovered in time to make the plane to Qatar.

  Whether he is fit enough to feature straight away remains to be seen, but just the fact he has been included in the squad is a victory for Walker.

  There aren’t many players Southgate would have gambled on, but he trusts Walker implicitly and his ability to play on the right side of the back three has clearly been a major factor in the manager’s decision.

  Walker’s inclusion is a risk, but it’s one you can understand Southgate taking.

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  LOSER: Fikayo Tomori

  The fact that Tomori has not made the squad and Harry Maguire has is pretty laughable.

  Maguire may have been an excellent servant to England in the past, but his form has been awful for months now – so much so that he barely gets a look in at Manchester United anymore.

  Quite how Southgate can use a loss of form as the reason for Abraham’s omission from the squad and then turn around and take Maguire over Tomori is anyone’s guess. It just doesn’t stack up.

  Tomori will understandably feel very hard done by and it is tough not to come to the conclusion that the only reason he isn’t going is because he’s playing in Italy, rather than England.

  And that is frankly ridiculous, given how well he has performed for reigning Serie A champions AC Milan.

It was a case of young gems and old stars for the Reds as they bounced back from disappointment at Brighton to earn their first victory of 2023

Was this a night to wake Liverpool from their New Year slumber? It’s been a season of struggle for the men from Anfield, but they gave themselves a much-needed confidence boost here, beating Wolves 1-0 at Molineux to secure their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Harvey Elliott’s first-half strike – and what a strike it was too – gave Jurgen Klopp’s side the win they craved, with a new-look line up producing a performance that was unrecognisable from recent ones at Brentford and Brighton, and indeed in the initial tie between these sides at Anfield 10 days ago.

There were strong performances from the youngsters, with Elliott the match-winner and 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic outstanding at the base of the Reds’ midfield. At the other end of the scale, the veteran James Milner shone as a makeshift right-back, while the class and composure of Thiago Alcantara was there for all to see.

The win sets up a return to Brighton, where Liverpool were well beaten in the Premier League last weekend, in the fourth round, but Klopp will have been more pleased to see his team press, chase and pass the ball like he has been demanding them to. He asked for a reaction after the Amex debacle, and he got one here. 

GOAL runs through the winners and losers from Molineux…

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  The Winners

  Harvey Elliott

  The celebration said it all, and it wasn't even for a goal. In the 93rd-minute, with Liverpool hanging onto the advantage Elliott had given them in the first half, the youngster piled into a challenge with Daniel Podence on the left touchline, right in front of the away supporters. Elliott won the ball, and subsequently a throw-in to relieve the pressure on his side. On the sideline, Klopp punched the air with delight, while his teenage starlet did the same, whipping up the travelling Kop. It was, as much as Elliott's 13th-minute goal – and what a hit that was, by the way – a moment to sum up Liverpool's night. "It felt more like us," Klopp said, and he can proud of his side's application, concentration and desire, even if they still have a long way to go before they are back to their best. Elliott epitomised their fight and mentality here. He's been criticised recently, unfairly blamed for his side's struggles, but he showed what he's made of this time around. He was a deserved match-winner.

  Stefan Bajcetic:

  Right then, the cat is well and truly out the bag. Liverpool have a hell of a prospect on their hands here. At 18, Bajcetic looks like he can save the club a headache, and a hell of a lot of money too. It was no surprise that Klopp opted to reshuffle his midfield after the disaster-class at Brighton, but to put his faith in a teenager making only his third professional start shows just how desperate the situation has become, and just how highly-rated the young Spaniard is. Bajcetic delivered, producing the kind of display that turns heads. He presses like a seasoned professional, he reads the game superbly, and his composure in possession marks him out as a very special talent. Along with Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita, who was making his first competitive start since May, he made sure the midfield was unrecognisable from the one which had toiled so badly at the Amex, closing space, winning the ball back and competing for everything. Whether he'll start against Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday remains to be seen – he suffered with cramp in the second half here – but one thing is for sure; this kid has got a big future ahead of him.

  James Milner

  It wasn't all about the kids, either. The babysitter did pretty well too. At 37, Milner is old enough to be Elliott or Bajcetic's father, but he's still capable of cutting it at this level, and he offered another reminder of that here. Starting at right-back, the veteran showed all of his nous, experience and quality to keep the lively Rayan Ait-Nouri in check. Milner stepped in when he could, dropped off when he had to, and talked his younger colleagues through the game throughout. "Top," said Klopp. Milner didn't complete the 90, but having only just returned from a hamstring issue that was understandable. Regardless, the old-stager can be proud of his performance.

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  The Losers

  Fabinho

  You could call him a loser, or you could call him a winner. If he was watching closely in the first 75 minutes, he'll have seen exactly what Liverpool need from their midfielders; energy, concentration, bite and composure. But then he might also have seen what a midfield without him looks like, and it's better than what the Reds have seen in recent weeks. The Brazilian has not become a bad player overnight, but he's been desperately out of form this season, and it was notable that Liverpool looked less secure and less assured after his introduction for the cramping Bajcetic. He'll probably get his place back at the weekend, but like Jordan Henderson, who wasn't involved at all here, he needs to up his game sharpish if he's to keep it.

  Adama Traore

  Is there a more frustrating player in the Premier League than Traore? How can a player have so many gifts, so many skills, and yet consistently produce so little? Traore, as he always does, bristled with intent throughout this contest, but when all is said and done he will reflect on a battle lost against the tenacious Kostas Tsimikas. Time and again, the winger found himself with the chance to deliver a cross from the right, but time and again he failed to do so. The one time he did, Raul Jimenez probably should have scored. The frustration from the home fans was evident. They know how good Traore can be, but they see it all too frequently.

  The BBC:

  You don't need me to explain this one, do you?! New tip; always check for rogue devices before you start a live television broadcast. The magic of the cup is very much alive and well!

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  Liverpool Ratings: Defence

  Caoimhin Kelleher (7/10):

  So comfortable with the ball at his feet, and did what he needed with his hands.

  James Milner (8/10):

  Experience and energy from the 37-year-old makeshift right back, who defended superbly against Ait-Nouri and was calm and composed on the ball.

  Joe Gomez (8/10):

  His best, most composed performance for some time. Big intervention to deny Jimenez at the back post.

  Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

  Vocal and front-footed, and looked good stepping into midfield at times. The clean sheet will have meant a lot to him.

  Kostas Tsimikas (7/10):

  Battled hard against Traore, and got the better of the winger for the most part. Tenacious and committed.

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  Midfield

  Stefan Bajcetic (8/10):

  Are you sure he's only 18?! Played with maturity, poise and bite, and looks an absolute gem.

  Thiago Alcantara (8/10):

  Looked a cut above. Composure was off the scale, and he used the ball superbly. A leader's performance.

  Naby Keita (7/10):

  First start since May, and justified it. Linked up well with Elliott, Gakpo and Thiago, and kept going for the full 90 too.

The first player born in 2006 to play in Serie A, Zara Kramzar is proving integral to her club's hopes of making history this season

There were 10 minutes left on the clock and Roma, chasing a first ever Serie A title for its women's team, had yet to break the deadlock against bottom club Sampdoria.

So, head coach Alessandra Spugna turned to his bench and called over Zara Kramzar, a 17-year-old midfielder from Slovenia that few had heard of before her move to Italy last summer.

Within five minutes, the substitution had paid off. Despite being on the floor in the box when Manuela Giugliano's cross got to her, such was the pressure from the opposing defender, the teenager somehow managed to direct it into the back of the net to win the game. It was her most decisive contribution to the Roma cause yet.

Slovenia may not be the first country you think of when you think of football. Its men's team has qualified for three major tournaments since becoming independent from Yugoslavia in 1991 but, having been knocked out in the group stages each time, is perhaps most famous for producing two of the best goalkeepers of recent years – Jan Oblak and Samir Handanovic.

The women's team has yet to make a big international event. In fact, of the 17 major tournaments in the women's game since 1991, it didn't even enter the qualification process for six of them.

There can be cautious optimism for the future, with Slovenia's current squad peppered with talents in their 20s who are playing in big European leagues, such as Sara Agrez, who represents two-time European champions Wolfsburg, and Lara Prasnikar, a prolific goalscorer for Eintracht Frankfurt.

But in Kramzar, Slovenia doesn't just have another great player who can play in a top team. Despite the country's lack of success on the biggest stage, it appears to have a talent who could go on to achieve whatever she desires.

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  Where it began

  Only five or six years old when she started playing, Kramzar admits that her passion for the game “just came from nowhere”.

  “I started to like kicking the ball and running around the pitch, so then one day I just said to my mother, 'Mum, I want to play football,'" she recalls to GOAL.

  Soon, she’d join a local club, playing with boys’ teams all the way through her childhood, including at regional camps.

  First called up for the youth national teams at under-15 level, she had to join a women’s team when she turned 16. The young midfielder had several offers but, in the end, chose Olimpija Ljubljana. It wasn’t Slovenia’s top club and that was part of the reason – it put more emphasis on her to work hard and contribute.

  “My mum and also the whole family were so supportive through the whole journey. In between, she was like, 'Are you sure you don't want to play basketball or a more girly sport?'” she laughs. “I was like, 'No, I like football and I'll continue to play football.'"

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• AS Roma
  

  The big break

  Only a few months after joining Ljubljana, Kramzar joined AS Roma at the age of 16.

  GOAL understands she could have signed for Benfica, having spent time in Portugal to train with the club's first team. Paris Saint-Germain even showed an interest at one point, as well as a club in Germany.

  But Italy was a good first move away from home given the border it shares with Slovenia. Of course, the midfielder was impressed upon her visit to Roma, too.

  A move abroad is what Kramzar had wanted since she was around 13 years old. She was told she could pursue such opportunities at the end of ninth grade, but her January birthday would get in her way as, when that time came, she was still only 15 years old.

  “I was crying so much, like the whole week,” she remembers. “I was like, 'No, I want to go now.'

  “Then I went to the high school and I had my birthday in January, so it's half of the school year. So, I was like, 'We can go now', and I was told, 'It's hard to do it'.

  "So, then I waited half a year more and I was like, 'Now, I need to go. There's no excuses anymore!'”

• How it's going

  It’s Kramzar’s first full senior season in women’s football and yet, she has already impressed and made decisive contributions.

  A regular impact substitute, her late winner against Sampdoria is a stand-out moment, as is her two-goal performance in the 2-0 win over Pomigliano in the Coppa Italia.

  Kramzar was the first player born in 2006 to play in Serie A, she played in the Champions League for the first time in September and made her full senior international debut in November, scoring against Kosovo after just two minutes on the pitch.

  “[My favourite moment so far for Roma] was when I scored my first goal, against Fiorentina. Three minutes [off the bench] and I scored a goal, I was so happy," the teenager recalls.

  “Also, my debut, also against Fiorentina. I was just so excited. I was like this [shaking] before the game. I was nervous but at the end… I can't describe it in words.

  “This season, you can't imagine for 16 years old. I never knew that I would be like this. I'm so happy and thankful to all the staff, my team-mates and everything.”

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• Getty
  

  Biggest strengths

  One of the things that stands out about Kramzar is her physical dominance in midfield for such a young player. Tall, strong and competitive, these traits make her a battling presence in the centre of the park.

  However, her biggest strengths are technical. The two-footed teenager is skilful and enjoys showing that off – in the right moments. It’s no surprise to learn that when she was younger, she enjoyed watching videos on YouTube to learn new skills. She’s also an excellent finisher.

  “I like to have the ball at my feet,” she says. “I like to have control. I like to do some of the easiest passes but also to do something more. I like to help the team.”

  In less tangible areas, perhaps she is more impressive. Her leadership and ability to assimilate into a top level environment wowed Roma immediately, especially given her age.

  “The leadership that she has on the pitch is astonishing,” Gianmarco Migliorati, Roma’s sporting director, tells GOAL. “At such an age, in both men and women's football, it's very rare to find someone who can play at that level at that age. It has been surprising.

  “She knows exactly what she wants. She's very mature.”