Sam Konstas has been encouraged to play at the tempo he feels is right in the upcoming four-day series against India A in Lucknow as he begins a run of first-class cricket that will determine his immediate Test future.After making 50 runs in six innings against West Indies, Konstas’ mission to save his Test place starts this week. While what happens in the Sheffield Shield during October will likely prove more relevant than the two games in India there will still be eyes on how he performs, especially in the second match when India A are expected to field Mohammed Siraj in their attack.Related

• Greg Shipperd: Current era probably toughest environment for young players

• No regrets for Konstas as he prepares to fight for Ashes berth

• Australia's Ashes 'bat-off' begins: Who could open against England?

Australia A are coached by former national captain Tim Paine and he hasn’t prescribed any particular way that Konstas should go about his work. Konstas has struggled to find a consistent batting rhythm early in his Test career which started with the barnstorming 60 off 65 balls against India at the MCG before he was confronted by tough conditions in West Indies.”I think at times you’ll see some of that [the more aggressive side], but I think people forget that Sam’s still only 19 years of age,” Paine told reporters in Lucknow. “So he’s a long way from being the finished product.”Clearly in Australia we know he’s got a lot of talent. We think he’s going to be a star at international cricket at some stage. He’s obviously in the team, or was in the team, at the moment. But he’s still finding his way [and] what’s the best way for him to play.”At times he’s going to be super aggressive. Other times he’ll trust his defence. He’s working that out and figuring out when and why he needs to do it both. We’ll encourage him this series to play it as he sees it.”There’s going to be times where it’s hard and he’ll have to soak up pressure, but when he’s feeling good and he’s on top we’ll back him in to go hard and put the opposition under pressure. He’s exciting. [You] don’t know what you’re going to get sometimes but that’s a great part of watching him.”Konstas scored a century in a recent New South Wales pre-season game and vastly experienced state coach Greg Shipperd, who has helped mentor him early in his professional career, has seen good signs in his response from a tough tour.Sam Konstas faces a crucial six weeks•AFP/Getty Images

“I have to concur with Usman Khawaja’s recent story about how difficult the wickets were over there,” Shipperd said. “You were able to see that as well, how difficult it was. I think he may have got stuck into a process of not moving his feet as much as we’d like him to in terms of responding to what’s delivered his way and which we’ve seen him concentrate and focus on in his time in preparation here.”The work ethic is fantastic. I think he’s got a lot more clarity about how he wants to go about his cricket and his preparation has been first class. A hundred out here the other day was a good signal to the adjustments that he’s made out of the West Indies, so I’m really confident that he’ll score some heavy runs for us in that first four or so games before that international series begins.”While as the incumbent Test opener Konstas will have most attention him, the Australia A squad also includes Nathan McSweeney who opened last season against India and the highly-rated Victoria left-hander Campbell Kellaway.”Certainly the guy sitting next to me [McSweeney] is right on the cusp,” Paine said. “If he does well here and scores runs at the start of the Shield year, which isn’t too far away, then there’s certainly some positions in that [Test] team come late November that are up for grabs. There’s a couple here and there’s a couple back in Australia that if they start well, they’re going to be right in the mix.”

Dropping points away to Sunderland was far from ideal, but even so, Arsenal are flying this season.

Unlike last season, Mikel Arteta’s side aren’t finding it hard to score goals, and thanks to their unreal defence, they rarely concede any.

This combination sees them sit atop the Premier League table, four points ahead of Manchester City and eight points clear of reigning champions Liverpool.

While there are several candidates, it would be fair to say that, so far, Gabriel Magalhães has been Arsenal’s player of the season, and Andrea Berta has already signed another version of the Brazilian.

Gabriel's development at Arsenal

Gabriel joined Arsenal from LOSC Lille for around £27m in the summer of 2020, and since then has developed significantly in practically every way imaginable.

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

Now, the Brazilian wasn’t a bad player in his first season for the Gunners, but he wasn’t one of the first names on the teamsheet.

For example, he made just 32 appearances across all competitions for Arteta, of which 23 were in the league, averaging 1.57 points per game.

He would become more of an ever-present member of the backline over the following seasons, but even during the early stages of the 22/23 season, he was seen as someone who could be a liability.

In fact, following a game away to Leeds United, in which he had a penalty incident overturned, Rio Ferdinand pointed out that “every week he’s in the headlines or he’s in underneath with a little bullet point next to his name and a bad incident.”

Fortunately, towards the end of that year and in the campaigns since, the former Lille star has become increasingly dependable, to the point that he occasionally wears the captain’s armband and has been the club’s standout performer this year.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.06

0.21

Shots

0.64

0.93

Passing Accuracy

85.3%

88.6%

Key Passes

0.11

0.34

Shot-Creating Actions

0.53

1.23

Goal-Creating Actions

0.04

0.27

Tackles Won

0.51

0.53

Shots Blocked

0.82

1.30

Passes Blocked

0.32

0.48

Dispossessed

0.32

0.00

Aerial Duels Won

2.59

3.22

Another way to see his growth is to compare his underlying numbers from his first season to those of today.

Doing this shows that the 27-year-old now wins more tackles, blocks more shots and passes, makes more clearances, wins more aerial duels, completes more of his passes, is a greater goal threat, and is far better at creating chances for his teammates.

In all, Gabriel has been able to channel his natural passion over the years and is now arguably the club’s most important defender, so it’s excellent news that Berta signed someone who could develop just like him.

Arsenal's new Gabriel

Arsenal are blessed with an abundance of extremely talented defenders, but when it comes to the one most likely to develop down a Gabriel-esque path, it’s impossible to ignore Cristhian Mosquera.

Andrea Berta signed the Spanish centre-back from Valencia in the summer, for a fee of just £13m, which one content creator fairly described as “a steal.”

Now, the 21-year-old certainly has some of the elegance of a William Saliba, and could certainly be that ball-playing passing machine at the back, but it still feels like he is going to evolve to be more like the Brazilian.

One of the main reasons is that, despite being so young and having only just joined the team, he already appears mature beyond his years, as exemplified by his unfazed performance against Liverpool at Anfield earlier in the season.

More crucially, though, the 6 foot 3 “monster,” as club insider Hand of Arsenal dubbed him, seems to relish the more physical side of the game.

Sure, he can play it safe, but as respected analyst Ben Mattinson points out, he very clearly “loves to battle with physical attackers” and “thrives in ground duels due.”

Further described as an “absolute cheat code of a player” by Arsenal content creator Harold Hickman, he has already proven himself to be something of a leader.

For example, in his recent games for Spain’s U21 side, he has had the responsibility of wearing the captain’s armband.

Ultimately, it’s still early in his career, but thanks to his composure, ability to compete in physical duels, and passion for doing so, it looks like Arsenal have themselves another Gabriel in Mosquera.

The new Alexis: Arsenal ready to spend £80m to sign "world-class superstar"

Arsenal could spend £80m to sign their new version of Alexis Sanchez.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 13, 2025

Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens enjoyed a dream international debut as Belgium stormed into the 2026 World Cup with a ruthless 7-0 demolition of Liechtenstein. It was a landmark evening for the 23-year-old, who not only kept a flawless clean sheet but also watched his team-mates tear their visitors apart with a clinical, seven-goal masterclass.

Belgium blitz their way into another World Cup

Coach Rudi Garcia demanded a rapid start, and his players delivered with ruthless precision. After just two minutes and thirty seconds, Youri Tielemans swung in a measured cross that Hans Vanaken steered into the net with a glancing header. It was the early breakthrough Belgium wanted and Liechtenstein dreaded. Despite holding firm for another half-hour, the visitors eventually cracked under relentless pressure. Alexis Saelemaekers found space on the byline, cutting the ball back perfectly for Jeremy Doku, who finished unmarked from the spot. With confidence flowing, Doku struck again minutes later, this time after pouncing on a loose clearance, dancing past three defenders, and guiding the ball into the corner. By half-time, Belgium were cruising at 3-0. The second half, however, produced an explosion.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSeven-minute storm shreds Liechtenstein

Eight minutes after the restart, Tielemans flicked a corner into a dangerous area, allowing Brandon Mechele to prod home a fourth. Three minutes later, Tielemans’ long-range strike forced a save from Benjamin Buchel, but Saelemaekers reacted quickest to smash in the rebound. Barely sixty seconds passed before Charles De Ketelaere joined the party. Doku turned provider, rolling a pass across the box for De Ketelaere to tuck home Belgium’s sixth. A minute later, Thomas Meunier surged down the flank, squared to De Ketelaere again, and the forward coolly fired in his second. At the other end, Lammens had only one save to make.

Lammens' meteoric rise continues

For Lammens, a clean sheet on his international debut marked another milestone in a rapidly ascending career. United signed the Belgian star late in the summer window after cooling interest in Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez. Lammens called his deadline-day move "a dream come true" and "the beginning of something special". Since then, he has featured in five Premier League matches, conceding seven goals but earning widespread praise for his composure, agility and shot-stopping. He played a pivotal role in United’s October revival, helping the side secure consecutive wins over Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton. His performances have drawn comparisons to legendary United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. Lammens himself has resisted such talk, insisting he has "a long way to go". But one man who sees the potential is Sir Alex Ferguson.

In an interview with , the former United manager spoke warmly about the young stopper and said: "There are signs, the manager has had some good signs. Particularly the goalkeeper has been outstanding, he’s only played three or four games and he’s looking really good. Of course, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Matheus] Cunha, the new players from Wolves and Brentford, they’ve added to it. I hope the manager gets a bit of success because at United you need to have success – the signs are getting better. I think back-to-back wins is something teams like United should always expect. But having gone through a cycle where the improvement has to come by waiting and being patient, they’ll enjoy it now."

Lammens is not worried about the pressure at United and said: "There's been a lot of commotion about the goalkeepers in recent years. They've received a lot of negative comments. I wasn't worried about that. I want to be someone people look up to. My dream is to play here for the next ten years, be important to the club, and build a legacy. That's a long-term goal."

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Getty Images SportLammens' United look to restart momentum after mixed results

Amorim’s side followed their three-game winning run with two successive 2-2 draws against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. United return to action on November 24 with a home clash against Everton.

Karim Benzema has admitted he is unsure whether he will stay at Al-Ittihad beyond this season, confirming European offers are on the table while insisting he has no intention of retiring any time soon. As he approaches 38, the 2022 Ballon dOr winner wants clarity over the club's sporting plans before deciding where he will play next, as he remains determined to continue for at least two more years.

• Benzema's future uncertain amid Al-Ittihad's struggles

  Benzema is entering the final stretch of his current Al-Ittihad contract, and the uncertainty around the club's future plans has left the veteran striker weighing up his next move. Recent speculation has ranged from a contract extension to a possible exit and even retirement, but none of those scenarios has yet been agreed or ruled out officially. His situation has drawn major interest from European clubs keen to bring him back closer to the elite level he dominated for over a decade with Real Madrid.

  The Frenchman remains valued highly by Al-Ittihad, who see him as both a sporting leader and a marketing icon, but their early season struggles in the Saudi Pro League have frustrated his competitive ambitions. While he remains settled off the pitch, Benzema has made it clear he does not want to see out his final years without challenging for major silverware. With his deal only running until 2026, any decision will depend on whether the club can fairly urgently present a project that convinces him to stay.

  For now, he remains focused on contributing to this season and staying in peak condition as he nears his 38th birthday in December. His message is that he is far from finished physically or mentally, but he wants his final chapters to match his ambitions.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Former Ballon d'Or winner opens up on future

  Benzema opened up about the crossroads he faces in a recent interview with AS, confirming he will not be rushed into a decision. "It's true that my contract here is coming to an end. I can't say yet what I'm going to do, whether I'll stay or leave – it depends on a lot of things. In December, I'll be 38. I still see myself playing football for another two years."

  He emphasised that he wants a long-term vision, not a short extension just for the sake of it. "We'll see what happens, what the club thinks. I like to talk face-to-face and then see what they think. The best thing for me would be to continue here, but not just for one or two more years. I don't want to do that."

  Benzema also confirmed offers from Europe remain active, though comfort and respect matter as much as the level of competition. "It's true that I have offers from Europe. I need to consider everything, choose wisely, and see where I feel good, not forgetting that I feel comfortable here and receive everyone's affection. In any case, I'm not going to stop playing football or competing in six months."

• Benzema has offers from Europe with contract ending in 2026

  Benzema has repeatedly stated that he still feels in strong physical condition despite his age and the demands of the Saudi Pro League. He continues to work rigorously in training, confident that his technical ability and football intelligence allow him to remain decisive in key moments. His affection for Al-Ittihad's fans and the respect he receives in Saudi Arabia remain key parts of why staying is still an attractive option.

  Yet the pull of Europe, and especially the Champions League, has never left him. He has openly admitted he continues to watch Real Madrid matches and the top European competitions, describing them as "magical" and a constant reminder of the highest stage. Fenerbahce had reportedly placed the former France international on their wishlist for January; however, are going to be unlikely to actually make a move.

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• AFP
  

  Can Benzema actually return to Europe?

  Talks with Al-Ittihad leadership are expected to take place soon, as both sides seek clarity before the second half of the season. If the club can present a convincing project, Benzema could renew his commitment in Saudi Arabia and aim for one last push for titles. Failure to do so, however, would open the door for a dramatic late-career return to European football.

  European interest will likely intensify as the summer window approaches, especially with top-level clubs monitoring both his availability and his fitness. Retirement is not being considered in the short term, and Benzema himself has set a clear timeline by projecting his goodbye closer to 2028.

Manchester United drew 2-2 away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday lunchtime. It took a late Matthijs de Ligt goal to secure a point, after being 1-0 up at half-time. Not only did United let the three points slip out of their grasp, but striker Benjamin Sesko picked up an injury.

The Slovenian didn’t start the game in North London, coming on in the second half. He suffered a knee problem late in the clash after a tackle by Mickey van de Ven prevented him from getting a shot off.

Ruben Amorim said after the game that he is “concerned” about the striker’s issue.

It is currently unclear how long the 22-year-old will be out injured for, but Amorim has three different options to replace him.

1 The logical option

There is only one other number 9 in the United squad: Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutchman is a superb technical player who is brilliant at bringing his teammates into the game with holdup play and silky footwork.

He ended his debut campaign at United strongly, with ten goals and assists, including a crucial header in the Europa League away from home against Lyon. However, he’s fallen out of favour under the Portuguese manager this term.

It certainly hasn’t been easy for the Dutchman in 2025/26. He’s only made five appearances across all competitions, playing 90 minutes in total and not starting a game. He hasn’t even had a chance to prove himself this term.

However, with his ability to link play together and facilitate the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, the 24-year-old could be a game-changer for United. He’s their only other senior number striker and has shown great promise when given a chance.

2 The wildcard option

The suggested wildcard shout is, ironically, something Amorim has done more often this season than the logical option. That consists of bringing Mason Mount into the starting lineup and playing a flexible front three consisting of the Englishman, Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

Although he has been struck down with injury a lot for United, the 26-year-old clearly has an abundance of quality. When fit, he has been a trusted lieutenant under Amorim, playing 29 games for the Red Devils boss, scoring four times and assisting one.

In fact, those strikes certainly highlight the quality the number seven brings to United’s side. Look at his finish against Athletic Club in the Europa League last season, taking the ball on the half turn and curling his effort home. That is classic Mount.

This solution would offer Amorim lots of energy up front, with all three players excellent pressers. United fans would also witness fluid rotations in possession, although the lack of a natural number 9 might make them less of a threat in the box.

3 The academy option

Using players from the academy has always been a huge part of the DNA at Old Trafford. Well, in light of Sesko’s injury, Amorim could turn to 17-year-old Chido Obi to help fill the void left at centre-forward.

The former Arsenal youngster has played first-team football in the red of United since his move to Manchester last summer. He’s featured eight times under Amorim, even starting away to Brentford in the Premier League.

It is at academy level that the former Gunners star has made a real impression. Obi has scored six goals for United’s U21 side and has bagged 12 times in ten games for the U18s. It is no surprise that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta previously described him as a “massive goal threat.” Gunners podcaster Will Balsam once even described the prodigy as a “homegrown Osimhen”.

Obi has played against senior sides in the EFL Trophy this season and has made a real impression, grabbing three goal involvements in as many games. Against Barnsley, he got a goal and an assist, having two shots on target, creating one chance and winning three duels.

Obi stats vs. Barnsley

Stat

Number

Touches

20

Shots

3

Shots on target

2

Ground duels won

3

Key passes

1

Goals

1

Assists

1

Stats from Sofascore

Picking the Denmark U20 striker to replace Sesko could be seen as a risk from Amorim. Yet, the Red Devils boss clearly trusts and rates the striker, having given him regular minutes in the top flight last season.

There are a few options for the United boss, and it will be fascinating to see which route he takes if Sesko is sidelined for a long period.

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O treinador do São Paulo, Dorival Júnior, vai aceitar o convite da CBF para assumir o cargo de técnico da Seleção Brasileira. A entidade está fazendo o possível para que o contrato seja aceito.

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Segundo o portal “UOL”, a CBF deve enviar o convite para Dorival nas próximas horas. A direção da entidade e o treinador já conversaram, há otimismo entre as partes e a contratação é dada como garantida. O anúncio deve ser feito ainda nesta semana.

No São Paulo, desde sábado (6), já era esperado o convite da CBF para Dorival. Neste domingo (7), a saída do treinador do Tricolor já é considerada inevitável.

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After the seamers made early inroads, legspinner Rishad kept Hong Kong quiet

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-20251:36

Jaffer: Bangladesh need to show consistency in selection

Hong Kong mustered a total of 143 for 7 in 20 overs against Bangladesh, after being inserted by Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi. They started shakily, with early wickets and a sluggish start for Zeeshan Ali (30) and Nizakat Khan (42) keeping Bangladesh in control.But as the Zeeshan-Nizakat partnership grew, so did their range of strokes. Their 41-run stand for the third wicket ensured their batting didn’t collapse like it did in the game against Afghanistan. Hong Kong captain Yasim Murtaza blazed away to a 19-ball 28, but a flurry of late wickets denied Hong Kong a late flourish.As Bangladesh’s players walked off the field, they exchanged high-fives for their effort in the first innings. Tanzim Hasan Sakib (2 for 21) bowled in the early 140kph range in his first spell, and accounted for Babar Hayat (14) and Zeeshan. Hayat was cleaned up by a swinging ball that started on middle and ended up going past his outside edge, while Zeeshan fell to a sharp delivery that hit the splice of the bat and popped up to cover.Taskin Ahmed was expensive but got the early breakthrough by dismissing Anshy Rath. He then removed Aizaz Khan in the final over.Rishad Hossain, the legspinner, was introduced after the powerplay, but Hong Kong countered him with sweeps and reverse sweeps. He finally got among the wickets in 19th over, his last over of the evening, when he had Nizakat caught at long-on. Next ball, he trapped Kinchit Shah lbw.Hong Kong scored 54 runs off the last six overs to get to a respectable total.

تلقى مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك، إنذارًا من وكيل أحد لاعبي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالقلعة البيضاء بسبب تأخر المستحقات.

وعلم بطولات، من مصادر خاصة أن الوكيل المغربي لصلاح مصدق أرسل إنذارا لنادي الزمالك لفسخ تعاقده.

طالع.. منهم بنتايج وربيع.. 7 غيابات عن الزمالك أمام زيسكو في الكونفدرالية

وأوضح المصدر أن إنذار الوكيل المغربي لـ صلاح مصدق، يأتي بسبب تأخر مستحقات اللاعب لدى النادي.

ويعمل مجلس الزمالك في الوقت الحالي على حل الأمر بشكل ودي بالتواصل مع الوكيل.

في سياق آخر، يستعد الزمالك، لمواجهة زيسكو يونايتد الزامبي بعد قليل، ضمن منافسات دور المجموعات ببطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Christopher Morel was inches away from making a spectacular catch at the wall to deny the Los Angeles Angels a pair of runs, but he missed out after the ball was snagged by notorious ballhawk Zack Hample.

Hample could be seen reaching at the wall and grabbing the ball out of midair, effectively awarding a home run to Angels infielder Kyren Paris. The Rays attempted to challenge the ruling for fan interference, indicating they believed Hample reached into the field of play in order to catch the ball, but officials determined that the home run would stand.

Have a look:

Morel was tracking the ball and leapt up to make what would've been a web-gem catch, but Hample had his glove out and ready, and caught the ball before Morel could make a play on it.

The two runs that came across on the homer were the first two earned runs surrendered by Rays starter Shane Baz this season. They also represened the only runs in the game through the first six innings.

Hample, who rose to notoriety from his endeavors as a baseball collector, has a proclivity for being in the right spot to have a chance to grab home run balls. This time, his positioning along the outfield wall at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa may have cost the Rays a pair of runs.

Jose Altuve's transition to left field has not been an easy one.

The Houston Astros star is getting in important reps at his new position during spring training after transitioning from second base to left field ahead of the 2025 season. While he's made a few impressive plays in the outfield, he's also made some worrisome mistakes.

His latest gaffe occurred during Wednesday's clash against the New York Mets, when he failed to make what appeared to be a routine catch on a fly ball.

Have a look:

Altuve seemed to get under the ball with plenty of time, but he simply failed to make the catch as the ball careened off his mitt and hit the left field grass. The blunder enabled a run to score for the Mets.

It was his second notable fielding error in the last two days, having made a similar drop in left field on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals.

Of course, adjusting to his new position was always going to take a bit of time, but it's a bit concerning to see him making such critical mistakes on routine plays with the regular season looming less than 10 days away.

Throughout his 14-year career, Altuve has played 1,765 games at second base, 42 as the Astros' designated hitter, and made two appearances at shortstop. He's never played in the outfield during the regular season, but is set to make his left field debut during Houston's season opener against the Mets on March 27.

At the end of the day, there's no better time to make these defensive mishaps than spring training, so hopefully Altuve can get these jitters out of the way before the games start to count.