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Where to begin? That sentence, perhaps, sums up the malaise at Liverpool this season, the catastrophic failure that has tainted not just the form of Arne Slot’s side but the culture and the club-fanbase connection too.

The overwhelming frustration that the supporters have felt since this abject run of results started is clearly shared by the players, with Mohamed Salah’s audacious outburst after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United leading to an overspill that has threatened to engulf the club.

Slot is walking a tightrope, now, but the plain truth is that FSG are right to givew the head coach their overwhelming support. Backing a player, even Salah, over the boss is something the ownership simply cannot do, even with Slot pitted against a peerless hero, even against Salah.

This is a mess of a situation, so far removed from the culture and stability that has left rivals so envious over the past decade, Jurgen Klopp starting the fire.

Salah’s calculated gambit will prove the end for one of Liverpool’s leading parties, to be sure.

Liverpool already looking at big-money Salah replacement

Slot and Salah’s long-term futures at Anfield are now mutually exclusive, with the Egyptian King’s incendiary comments after being benched for three successive games confirming a breakdown in the relationship between the two.

The Premier League champions have been sent in a tailspin, and Salah’s divorce from Slot’s plans stands as a symbol of the staggering collapse.

But, whichever side of the fence you stand on, there’s no denying that Salah is 33 years old and has been well below expectations this season, just five goals and three assists to show for his campaign, 19 matches in.

That’s why Spanish sources suggest plans to sign Desire Doue from Paris Saint-Germain have been ramped up, with FSG ready to launch a British-record €150m (£131m) bid in 2026.

Doue, 20, was crowned the European Golden Boy after his incredible breakout campaign in Paris, now established as one of the most talented wide attackers in the world.

He is not as polished as Salah in his prime, but this would be the perfect signing to replace the £400k-per-week superstar on Merseyside, should push come to shove.

Why Doue would be a Salah upgrade

Doue is quite the talent, unique in his dynamic and versatile wing play. He is a talented technician, but he also wears his qualities with such personality and gusto, splitting defences open with fleet footwork and calculated passing.

He was hailed as a “magician” by talent scout Jacek Kulig after his “incredible performance” against Inter Milan in the Champions League final last year, a fine indication of his ability to showcase his skills on the grandest of stages.

Moreover, the France international is able to balance his output; not shy to shoot, he is a fierce playmaker, and this is why he could prove such a perfect upgrade on the ageing Salah.

Doue has yet to get going in Ligue 1 this season, but Sofascore data presents an average of 5.1 duels and 1.5 tackles in the league last year, underlaying a return of 16 goals and 16 assists across all competitions, and plenty of flashy dribbling besides.

Salah’s deterioration this season has been well documented, but he was in contention for the Ballon d’Or last year, and when looking at how he compares to Doue over the past year, you begin to see why this French up-and-comer is so highly touted.

Doue is a combative player, and the energy and mobility he would add to Liverpool’s right flank would help steer Anfield back into calmer waters, flowing toward the attacking successes and fluency of last year.

It is clear that some measure of change is needed, and while FSG will fight tooth and nail to retain Salah’s services for now, Doue would mark a significant upgrade, nailing down the right-sided wing for many years to come.

Salah is a one-of-a-kind sort of winger, and Liverpool would likely fall by the wayside if signing someone mimicking his style. Doue is his own player, and his creative emphasis would help service the likes of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the centre.

In this way, he would prove an upgrade on a legend whose Liverpool career sadly seems to be winding down.

Perfect for Wirtz: Liverpool could hire the "best young manager in Europe"

Liverpool have an interest in a manager who would be the perfect appointment for Florian Wirtz.

By
Dan Emery

4 days ago

Rain has followed New Zealand from Colombo to Navi Mumbai, compounding their problems, while India, after three successive defeats, are running out of opportunities as well

Sruthi Ravindranath22-Oct-20254:02

Preview: A knockout game for New Zealand

Big picture – Time and chances running out

The pressure on India is higher than ever. Three successive losses in matches they could have won, mounting criticism, and five games in, they are still tinkering with combinations. But they now return to Navi Mumbai, a venue many in the squad know well through T20Is and the WPL, needing just a win against New Zealand to reach the semi-finals.New Zealand haven’t had it easy either. Their last two matches were washed out, and qualification now requires them to win both remaining games, against India and England. It’s a tougher ask, but not beyond a side that just celebrated the first anniversary of their T20 World Cup win, where they beat India in the opening match. They have won 34 out of the 57 ODIs against India, including six of their last nine encounters since 2022.Related

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Their campaign this time started with heavy defeats to Australia and South Africa, before they bounced back against Bangladesh. But they remain over-reliant on Sophie Devine with the bat, and their thin spin attack – with just Amelia Kerr and Eden Carson – has had limited impact on slower pitches.India, on the other hand, have had different contributors in every game but haven’t settled on a clear first-choice XI. After four matches with five bowlers, they dropped Jemimah Rodrigues to play an extra bowler against England. The move did seem to work as England were kept to 288 for 8 after a strong start, but India’s batting faltered under pressure in the chase, which has been a familiar story. They will want to address that.The weather could, however, have a say. Devine called the washouts in Colombo “frustrating”, and the forecast for Thursday isn’t encouraging either. Rain hit Navi Mumbai for over two hours in the evening two days before the match, cancelling India’s training session. A washout, however, would favour India, considering New Zealand have a tougher opponent in England to face in their last game, and just haven’t been able to get any sort of momentum going.More than anything else, Sophie Devine will want New Zealand to get a full game to show what they have got•ICC/Getty Images

Form guide

India LLLWW
New Zealand WLLWW

In the spotlight – Kranti Gaud and New Zealand’s openers

After a promising start to the tournament, India’s young pacer Kranti Gaud has hit a bit of a bump. Her early spells, full of discipline and pinpoint yorkers, have been impressive, but her death bowling has come under the scanner. Against South Africa, she opened with a tidy 1 for 19 in five overs, only to concede 40 off her final four. She went wicketless in the last two games, conceding 73 runs off nine overs against Australia and 46 off eight against England. On a Navi Mumbai surface expected to be more batter-friendly, Gaud will need to recalibrate quickly if India are to keep New Zealand quiet.New Zealand are still waiting for their openers to turn up. Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer have endured a poor run – their partnership average of 10.66 is the second-worst among all teams this tournament. Bates followed two ducks with a 29 (run out) against Bangladesh, while Plimmer has managed just 35 runs across three games, struggling for fluency throughout. A more batting-friendly pitch probably awaits them at the DY Patil Stadium, where they will hope to give their side a strong start.Renuka Singh did well against England, but will she have to make way for Jemimah Rodrigues?•Getty Images

Team news

Will India revert to five bowlers for the crucial fixture? While their bowlers pulled things back well in the last ten overs against England, India might think they need the experience of Rodrigues at No. 5.India (possible): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Pratika Rawal, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Amanjot Kaur, 7 Sneh Rana, 8 Deepti Sharma, 9 Renuka Singh/Jemimah Rodrigues, 10 Kranti Gaud, 11 Shree CharaniNew Zealand had kept their senior pacer Lea Tahuhu out tactically in the match against Sri Lanka, but brought her back in for the Pakistan game. They are likely to stay with the same XI.New Zealand (possible): 1 Suzie Bates, 2 Georgia Plimmer, 3 Amelia Kerr, 4 Sophie Devine (capt), 5 Brooke Halliday, 6 Maddy Green, 7 Isabella Gaze (wk), 8 Jess Kerr, 9 Rosemary Mair, 10 Eden Carson, 11 Lea Tahuhu

Pitch and conditions

While the Navi Mumbai pitch didn’t seem to offer much for bowlers in the last match, Sri Lanka could post only 202 after opting to bat against Bangladesh. Chamari Athapaththu had said that there was some dew in the second half. There has been some unseasonal rain in Mumbai, and an interruption is likely on Thursday too. It’s expected to be hazy in the afternoon, with a chance of rain in the evening.

Stats and trivia

• India have their poorest win-loss ratio for any team in ODI World Cups against New Zealand
• Bates is 67 runs away from becoming the second-leading run-scorer in ODIs. She needs 75 runs to complete 6000 runs in the format.
• Tahuhu will be playing her 200th international match.
• India have played eight T20Is at the DY Patil Stadium, winning four including one in a Super Over against Australia.

Lionel Messi was asked for a selfie by his own team-mate during Argentina's latest camp, while he swapped shirts with a rival that he nutmegged on two occasions while helping to deliver a 2-0 victory over Angola. The eight-time Ballon d’Or showed once again before and after that contest why he remains a star attraction, with everybody wanting a piece of him.

Will Messi play at the 2026 World Cup? No decision made as yet

Messi, much like eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo, is aware that he cannot go on forever. He has signed a new three-year contract at MLS side Inter Miami, taking him through 2028, but has hinted at international retirement being close.

He has earned 196 caps, scoring 115 goals, but is yet to decide whether he will form part of a World Cup title defence next summer when FIFA’s flagship event heads to the United States, Canada and Mexico. The expectation is that he will grace that tournament.

AdvertisementGettyStarstruck! Panichelli asks for selfie with Messi

Coaches and colleagues are, however, looking to make the most of every opportunity that they get to work with the all-time great. For Argentina new boy Joaquin Panichelli – who made his senior debut against Angola – that means getting a picture with the GOAT when the chance presents itself.

He has told of working with Messi: “I grew up watching him, for so long. To be here, to see him in person. Not only him but all the superstars here, it's really great. It's still a football team, it's football, and I tried to be prepared and do my best. I asked him for a photo; it was really nice to be able to share these moments with him.”

Panichelli added on making his bow against Angola, with the nine goals that he has scored in France for Strasbourg this season earning the 23-year-old his big break: “It's a dream come true to be here, and today I got to play some minutes. It's an incredible joy to be here and get some playing time. I consider myself more of a centre-forward. I feel I have the qualities and I can do it well. I'm tenacious; I like to fight and tackle.”

GettyShirt swap: Which Angole star landed Messi's jersey?

Panichelli was one of several debutants in a friendly clash with Angola, as Kevin Mac Allister – the brother of World Cup-winning Liverpool star Alexis – Maximo Perrone and Gianluca Prestianni also earned their first caps.

They got the opportunity to rub shoulders with Messi prior to seeing the Inter Miami superstar replaced as Lionel Scaloni rang the changes. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was on the pitch long enough for one lucky opponent to claim a notable memento.

Angola captain Fredy Ribeiro made sure to land Messi’s fabled No.10 jersey, with a shirt swap taking place after they had exchanged nutmegs during the opening 45 minutes of a contest that took place at the Novembro Stadium.

Ribeiro told : “I swapped jerseys with him at half-time. I'll keep it for my kids. It's something they'll cherish. They asked for a photo, and I brought them a jersey! He nutmegged me twice, but then I nutmegged him. Two against one.”

He went on to say of the game itself, which saw Messi and Lautaro Martinez find the target: “Very difficult. They have a lot of quality, you can see it in their starting eleven . We tried to do good things and I think we had some positives. I believe we showed a good image to the world, but Argentina's quality is very different.”

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International retirement: When will Messi bow out with Argentina?

Argentina have wrapped up qualification for the 2026 World Cup, with the defending champions expected to go well again regardless of whether Messi is involved or not. They would prefer to have their talismanic captain on board, with one last dance against Ronaldo being mooted.

Messi will likely bow out of international football after that competition, with more historic achievements having been achieved when representing his country. He has already taken in a final outing on home soil, with his wife and children in attendance, and is assured of a place among the sporting immortals.

The leadership has plotted and planned and pulled off some extraordinary things of late, the enormous weight of the missing trophy evident at every stage of their run

Sidharth Monga19-Mar-20253:33

Aakash Chopra: India have now moved far ahead of other teams

India needed to lose control.It’s not that they were a bad team. They had lost just three matches in the last two ODI World Cups. Two matches in the last two Champions Trophies. Three matches in the last two T20 World Cups.This was an enviable record, but also a record that kept India from pushing the boundaries of what this extremely talented side was capable of achieving. Then came the early exit at the T20 World Cup of 2021. It brought about a reset in the leadership – they perhaps would not have had the freedom to challenge the batters had India made another semi-final.One of the effective tools used by the management to get the point across was control percentages when attacking. They were unusually high. It told the batters two things: they were not attacking enough good balls, and they were not giving the opposition chances when they attacked. There was clear room for more risks.Related

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The intent changed to an extent, India began to put up above-par scores in bilateral series, but as the 2022 T20 World Cup approached, the ideal combination became elusive. Jasprit Bumrah was injured beforehand, and Ravindra Jadeja joined the list as India went to the dress rehearsal, the Asia Cup in the UAE.As Hardik Pandya’s fitness could not always be relied upon, Rohit Sharma, the new captain, wanted to play two spinner-allrounders to provide for contingencies. The injury to Jadeja denied him that experiment. Axar Patel took Jadeja’s place when Rohit wanted him for the slot that they kept trying to fill with Washington Sundar and Deepak Hooda. With Kuldeep Yadav still only coming back from injury, they settled on R Ashwin as the spinner for left-hand batters. They didn’t make it to the final of the Asia Cup.By the time India reached Australia, sans Bumrah, their other main death bowler, Harshal Patel, coming back from injury, had completely lost form. In an ideal world, they would have played Harshal at No. 8 and Yuzvendra Chahal, Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh as bowlers who couldn’t bat. Bumrah could be replaced with Mohammed Shami, but Harshal’s replacements couldn’t bat, which meant India had to sacrifice the wristspinner.

The intent had to be initiated by players whose places in the side were certain and not by those who would be disposed if they failed in pursuit of quick runs. Too much of that had happened in the past. It also meant that the combinations and tactics had to be much better

Again, whenever the stakes grew or whenever the conditions were tricky, the batters fell back to the default options. It happened against South Africa in Perth, and it was repeated against England in the semi-final when India fell woefully short. The Adelaide semi-final was stark. England handcuffed them with spin. They just had the wrong guys batting together all through the start and the middle. At the end, did we see Rohit wipe a tear or two?The revival would have to start with Rohit. The feedback the leadership got from the players was that they needed the leaders to first walk the talk. That meant the intent had to be initiated by players whose places in the side were certain and not by those who would be disposed if they failed in pursuit of quick runs. Too much of that had happened in the past. It also meant that the combinations and tactics had to be much better. For example, there was no way Rohit and Virat Kohli should bat together for too long outside the powerplay.With the onus on himself, Rohit doubled down on his need for depth, the 8-6 formula. He wanted to play every game with eight batters and six bowlers so that the batters could be freed, so that they had options to counter match-ups.India have achieved the cheat code of three allrounders in the XI whenever Hardik Pandya is fit•CREIMASA sting operation on the then chairman of selectors brought into the frame Ajit Agarkar. Now the team management included three men who could healthily challenge each other without any mistrust: Agarkar, Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid. Tough calls were now taken and explained properly to the players. Shubman Gill replaced Shikhar Dhawan in ODIs even though the players still rated Dhawan highly. KL Rahul was trusted as the middle-order rock. He and Shreyas Iyer were given until the last possible moment to prove their fitness for the ODI World Cup.The intent began to bleed into the ODIs as well. India were a solid ODI team previously too, but you could close your eyes and predict a score of 51 for 1 in the powerplay, and you wouldn’t be off by more than 2%. It worked great when the top three scored all the runs, but it didn’t give the others any breathing space when they went to bat. Rohit became the intent bunny in ODIs as well.It was a rained-out match where the teams shared points, but in Pallekele in the Asia Cup, the leadership knew the team had turned a corner. In an eerie resemblance to the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, India lost the early wickets of Rohit and Kohli to Shaheen Shah Afridi as the ball moved around in humid conditions. Even at 66 for 4, Ishan Kishan and Hardik counter-attacked. India went on to score 261 for 8. When they came up against Pakistan next, they all went hammer and tongs to end with 356 for 2.Quality was meeting intent in the batting. Kuldeep was back to his best, and Bumrah was fit. Everything was looking great, but then Axar got injured again. Axar as the second allrounder had been in India’s plans for a while as they knew the next two World Cups would be in India and the West Indies, both places where they could afford to play two spinner-allrounders. Kuldeep’s return meant they had a spinner to take the ball away from left-hand batters unlike Chahal earlier.2:43

Harbhajan Singh: 2027 World Cup might be too far for Rohit Sharma

This combination of unique circumstances would let India achieve the cheat code of three allrounders in the side whenever Hardik would be fit. They tried to promote Axar in the batting order every now and then, notably against Pakistan in Melbourne and once in an ODI loss to West Indies in July 2023. In Axar’s absence, though, India relied on Shardul Thakur to be the eighth batter.When Hardik went down during the ODI World Cup, India had to leave Thakur out for a more specialised bowler in Shami. Only Rahul and Kohli will know if that lack of depth played a part in their back-to-default conservatism in the World Cup final in Ahmedabad, where, throughout the tournament, there were clear signs that batting becoming much easier under lights.This was only their fourth defeat in the last three ODI World Cups, but one that stung them the most. They had played fearless, attractive and dominant cricket to get to the final. Their narrowest wins were by four wickets and 70 runs. The defeat in the final left everyone too shocked to react, let alone analyse or think of the next World Cup, barely six months away.The T20I captain, Hardik, was injured with no timeline for a return. The ODI captain hadn’t played a T20I since the Adelaide debacle two years ago. The coach’s tenure was over, and he was happy to walk away without a world title. The selectors now had to take the less-than-ideal route of selecting the captain first and then the team. Not least because the captain could convince the coach to come back for one last ride. Had any of the three men been different, the band wouldn’t have come back together.1:21

Is Shreyas now India’s most reliable ODI batter?

Now, finally, the blueprint of eight batters and six bowlers could be put in place. Everyone was fit, and the West Indies pitches always have some grip. Except that the selectors wanted an offspinner-allrounder in the squad because they envisaged the XI would include Jadeja this allrounder. Rohit and Dravid pressed for Axar because they wanted to go with Jadeja Axar.With Shivam Dube’s emergence and the Axar gambit, Rohit and Dravid had enough options to deny oppositions a match-up at both ends. They could split right-hand batters, they could split those who struggled against spin, they had six bowlers plus Dube to choose from. As some of us suspected before, and the rest of us have learned since, this was still not India’s optimal T20I XI. Even if you disregard the belated emergence of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal was clearly the best opener out there at that time, and a left-hand batter to boot.Even at 34 for 3 in the final, India could pair Kohli up with Axar and Dube, and give India a target to bowl to. India were either due some luck or used up a year’s worth in the climax of that match – a six goes out of the ground and the replacement ball reverses, David Miller mistimes a full toss even when hitting downwind – but now they finally had a trophy to show for their processes and their dominance.The enormous weight of the missing trophy became apparent only during the celebrations back in Mumbai. Deep inside, the players and the management knew they were an exceptional side with two exceptional campaigns behind them, but they still felt what they felt: horrible after Ahmedabad, overjoyed after Barbados.In the following months, the Test transition arrived in earnest, but the T20I and the ODI sides remain formidable. The new management not only carried forward the Hardik-Jadeja-Axar cheat code, but they were shrewd enough to change the Champions Trophy squad at the last moment to include another wicket-taking spinner because they knew all their matches would be played on a tired Dubai square that had just hosted a T20 tournament. There is no evidence to suggest India would not have won even if they were playing on 350 pitches, but the Dubai conditions did make their job easier.Now, India are a team that have lost only one match in their last three ICC tournaments. From 2013 Champions Trophy onwards, they have missed out on the knockouts of only one of the 11 ICC tournaments. Of the other ten, only four have been semi-final defeats.Moments after winning this year’s Champions Trophy, Rahul perhaps summed up the reasons behind this dominance best.”It’s just pure skill and the way we’ve all played our cricket growing up,” Rahul said with unusual clarity for such a heady moment. “We’ve had to face a lot of challenges. We’ve had to face pressure from the time we held the bat and from the time we decided to be professional cricketers. I think it’s just the first-class cricket, BCCI, how they’ve groomed every player, every talented player that comes around. They’re giving us opportunities and platforms to showcase our skills and to put ourselves under pressure and keep challenging ourselves and getting better.”The leadership needs to already start thinking of the next two years if they want to continue celebrating•ICC via Getty ImagesThe talent pool is vast and, consequently, the pressure they face at every step on the way to the top is immense. That is also perhaps why they hold onto their places at the top a little too tightly. That is why the leadership constantly needs to keep making them feel secure enough to keep pushing their boundaries.There is still one final step to go to earn comparisons with the best-ever sides. If they can defend their T20 crown next year, India will be regarded as the best T20I side of all time. They will start as the favourites for it, but this dream team with all kinds of cheat codes will not be easy to replicate in the 2027 ODI World Cup, a title only Kohli among the current players has won. Compare this to the Australia of 1999 to 2009: they always had a well-rounded ODI attack to outperform their opposition in conditions as diverse as South Africa in 2003, India in 2006, the West Indies in 2007 and South Africa again in 2009. They also almost always had at least two allrounders who almost never broke down. Even they have never been able to crack both ODIs and T20Is at the same time.India will not magically find a strike bowler with the batting ability of Brett Lee or Andy Bichel. That means at any given point of time only three of Kuldeep, Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Mohammed Siraj and Shami can play. Axar and Jadeja, if the latter is still around, won’t make for an optimal combination on your usual South African tracks. Hardik’s body is what it is. Gill, Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Rahul form a formidable batting core even if Rohit doesn’t make it, but some work will be needed to attain this kind of balance in South Africa.There has been cause aplenty to celebrate over the last two years, but the leadership needs to already start thinking of the next two years if they want to continue celebrating. With all the talent in the country, it won’t take much to remain very good, but excellence is what they want to continue aiming for.

With FA president Gilbert Martina – once a fish farm investor and health-care CEO – at the helm, Curacao have risen fast. GOAL explores how a near-impossible dream came true.

Some have described Curacao's qualifying for the World Cup as a miracle, the kind of thing that does require belief in a higher power of some sort. And yes, there was something larger than life about that night in Kingston two weeks ago, when the Blue Wave secured a tie with Jamaica to advance to the 2026 tournament. 

FA president Gilbert Martina understands why the word keeps coming up. Curacao’s players pray before every training session and every match – not to a single faith or tradition, but as a show of unity. For them, belief is the starting point.

“We start with a prayer: praying to say thankful that we are living. Praying to say thank you for the journey ahead of us. Spirituality, religion, whatever you want to call it, that’s a key part of the team,” Martina told GOAL.

BIt worked. Not just that alone, of course. There are other dynamics that go into a winning team: tactics, performance on gamedays, perhaps a little bit of luck over the course of 90 minutes. For Curacao, prayer was an act of unification, a way for a squad of 26, representing a nation of just 155,000, to express their togetherness as they approached each day.

And their qualification, more broadly, required a bit of everything. Prayer? Sure. However, it was just as much about a sense of purpose, a genuine belief, and the right amount of targeted investment to propel a tiny nation into the 2026 tournament.

“I call it a divine journey. It’s magical. When everything aligns, the universe aligns with your objective, then magic happens.”

• Getty
  

  'I love big dreams'

  Curacao sealed qualifying on Nov. 18, 2025. But for Martina, the process started in 2002. That’s when he was brought in, mostly in an advisory role. 

  He was a strange appointment at the time, mostly because he had no real history in soccer. Martina was a businessman and the CEO of a large insurance company. His degree was in chemical engineering, and he got a post-master’s degree in HR. But he was Curacao through and through – in a way that so many others aren’t. Martina was born and raised on the island and studied at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands before moving back home. That was a vital experience that so many other footballers would later have for the country. 

  He was also well placed to rake in some cash. Curacao didn’t really have a football association in 2002. There was a footballing culture, to an extent, but the island didn’t breed tons of top talent. And those that they did produce? Well, they moved somewhere else as youngsters and represented their adopted countries at the national level.

  Curacao, as a result, were an afterthought on the global stage. But for Martina, this was a chance to dream. So, Martina went about securing sponsorships and helped fund the federation. He wanted to qualify for a World Cup – no matter how far away that may have seemed at the time. 

  “From that moment, I believed, because I love big dreams. I love big plans. My grandfather used to say, ‘In every graveyard, you have excellent plans. ’ So this was not a plan to get into a graveyard. We had to make it happen,” he said. 

  Still, this was very much a part-time job. Curacao was not an independent nation and was still under the control of the Netherlands. And for every penny he managed to raise, there were plenty of barriers: poor pitches, a small player pool, even a lack of opponents. 

  Meanwhile, Martina went about his day to day work in a health insurance company. For a while, he was also invested in a fish farm. He dabbled in hospital advisory. He wrote, lectured, and invested. Next year, he is releasing a book. 

  Yet, he plugged away hard in the background. He raised some money here, invested a dollar there. Slowly, something was building. 

  “We don't have huge resources, like the Netherlands, like Germany, like Brazil. But size, resources do not matter when you go for a higher goal,” Martina said.

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• Getty
  

  Proving themselves to the continent

  The big break was a political one. In 2010, Curacao achieved independence from the Netherlands. Although they are still beholden to the Netherlands in a number of political senses – defense, foreign affairs – Curacao, for all intents and purposes, are their own nation. 

  There were more important implications than football, of course, but it did open up some doors – not least official FIFA acknowledgement of the national team. They became recognized by football’s governing body in 2011, ranked at No. 151. CONCACAF membership, under their new name after independence, soon followed, and by August of that year, this nation of 150,000 was playing official games. 

  Not that they went too well at first. Infrastructure was poor, and even if Martina and an expanding FA chipped in, competing on the pitch was a real struggle. They won six games in four years from 2011-2014. In 2013, they played just two games. A Gold Cup qualifying win over Cuba on away goals, until relatively recently, was the finest footballing achievement in the country’s history. 

  Yet important work continued. The Curacao FA managed to convince some European, South American, and African talents to exercise their eligibility to play for the country. By 2020, this was a squad that featured players from the Eredivisie, Belgian Pro League, and Turkish Premier League. 

  “Our players for sport have all been educated in the Netherlands and Europe,” Martina said. 

  Further successes followed. Curacao beat Jamaica in the 2017 Caribbean Cup – a clash between the four best sides in the region. That earned them qualification for the 2017 Gold Cup. The tournament brought limited success, as they lost all three group games. But in 2019, they showed that they could play, beating Honduras and Jamaica in the group stage, before losing to the USMNT in the quarter finals. 

  By then, something was clear: Curacao were legit.

• Getty
  

  'It was a huge party'

  Qualifying for the World Cup, globally, is easier than it has ever been. It’s a question of math, really. Forty-eight teams make it to the tournament. There are more spots up for grabs. Some have criticized the initiative. Qualifying in CONMEBOL, for example, is much easier – with up to three extra spots up for grabs depending on seeding. But elsewhere? It’s just as tricky. 

  And in fact, Curacao should be nowhere near this thing. In truth, a few things went their way. The fact that three CONCACAF nations had qualified as hosts – Mexico, Canada and the U.S. – made for a lighter group phase. And their group itself was remarkably kind, with a struggling Jamaica their only real competition. 

  However, they still needed to pick up results. To make it all happen, Curacao appointed Dick Advocaat, an experienced Dutch manager who had coached extensively in the Eredivisie, Scottish Premier League, and Bundesliga. 

  And when Martina was appointed head of the FA for good in April 2025, he made it a priority to schedule as many fixtures as possible in the run-up to qualification this fall. 

  “Funding is very important, because this is very costly, and the Federation does not have that amount of money to sponsor and to cover all the costs. So bringing in sponsors was key. We played 10 games this year, and the majority of those costs were covered by two of our sponsors, one of them an airline,” Martina said. 

  The luck of the draw also meant that Curacao played back-to-back home fixtures in October. They knew that a duo of results against Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago would stand them in good stead. 

  Oct. 10 was special. It’s Curacao's independence day, and this year, it marked 15 years since it became an autonomous nation. A win when they hosted the would have put them top of their qualification group. One of those cosmic coincidences – the very spirituality the team focuses on – might just come true. The buzz around the island was palpable, Martina said. He knew the fans would show up. But he had no idea how significant the support would be. 

  Ergilio Hato Stadium was packed. Some of the fans couldn't even fit in. And when Livano Comenencia, a former Juventus academy product, smashed one in from 30 yards in the first half, the crowd, which far outnumbered the 10,000 capacity of the stadium, was sent into raptures. They added a second and held on for a 2-0 win. 

  “It was a huge, huge party, a huge gift,” Martina said.

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• Getty
  

  Making the 'magic' happen

  7 is a lucky number, and in Curacao it holds even more significance, Martina explained. And when Curacao opened the November window by battering Bermuda, 7-0, Martina knew everything was sealed. He could feel it – as absurd as that seems.

  He was right. Trinidad did them an immense favor by holding Jamaica to a draw at home, and they went into the final game of the qualifying slate needing at least a tie to advance. They could have sat in, especially after Advocaat left the training camp due to personal circumstances. With no full-time manager in place, it would make sense for them to play for a point. 

  Instead, they went for it, and earned a scoreless draw – even if they could have left Jamaica with three points. That was enough to seal the deal. A corner of Curacao fans jumped over the barriers and ran onto the track surrounding the pitch in Kingston. The players hugged and cried. The internet blew up. Curacao went unbeaten in qualifying, and became the smallest country – by both and landmass and population – to book their spot at the World Cup.

  Two weeks later, and Martina still gets emotional talking about that moment. It was simply magical, he insists. 

  “When you go for a higher goal, as long as you have the right mindset, the right attitude, and you really connect with that invisible force that is around, then the magic happens,” he said. 

  As for the tournament itself? Well, they don’t plan on being there to make up the numbers. This may already be an impossible achievement, but the journey doesn’t end here, Martina insists. He wants his side to be tested. After all, he believes in miracles. 

  In fact, he prays every day for them. 

  “We are not going to be a tourist. I can tell you that. I hope we have a good group with strong teams. I’m telling you, every big opponent – Germany, Brazil, you name it – watch for Curacao,” he said.

And is Lhuan-dre Pretorius South Africa’s youngest centurion?

Steven Lynch08-Jul-2025Was Jamie Smith’s score at Edgbaston the highest in a Test by anyone at No. 7? asked Richard Boyce from England
That rapid 184 not out by Jamie Smith in the second Test at Edgbaston last week was the highest by an England wicketkeeper (previously Alec Stewart’s 173 against New Zealand in Auckland in January 1997), and also the highest by any England No. 7, beating the 175 of KS Ranjitsinhji against Australia in Sydney in December 1897.Overall, there have been 14 higher Test scores by wicketkeepers than Smith’s 184, and just five higher from No. 7.Smith was only the ninth England batter to score a century before lunch in a Test, joining his team-mate Ben Duckett on that list. England’s total of 407 at Edgbaston was the highest to include six ducks, surpassing Bangladesh’s 365 against Sri Lanka in Mirpur in May 2022, and the lowest to include a partnership of 300 or more (Smith and Harry Brook added 303 for the sixth wicket). That was previously West Indies’ 431 against Australia in Kingston in March 1999, when Brian Lara (213) and Jimmy Adams (94) put on 322 for the fifth wicket.Just to round off the Edgbaston stats fest, Shubman Gill’s 269 was the highest by an Indian captain in a Test, beating Virat Kohli’s 254 not out against South Africa in Pune in October 2019, while only his team-mate Karun Nair had made a higher score for India against England – his 303 not out in Chennai in December 2016.I heard that Lhuan-dre Pretorius was the youngest to score a Test century for South Africa. Who’s the youngest worldwide? asked Carter McKenzie from South Africa
Lhuan-dre Pretorius was just 19 years 93 days old when he scored 153 on debut for South Africa against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last week. He took the South African record from another precocious left-hander, Graeme Pollock, who was 19 years 334 days old when he made 122 against Australia in Sydney in January 1964.Pretorius moves into tenth place on the overall list of youngest Test century-makers, which is headed by Mohammad Ashraful of Bangladesh: he was 17 years and 63 days old when he made 114 on debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo in September 2001. (Some sources give him an even later birth date, which would make him 16 years 364 days old when he made his hundred.)Pretorius did claim another record, as the youngest man to reach 150 in a Test, a mark previously held by the great Pakistan batter Javed Miandad. He was 19 years 119 days when he made 163 on debut for Pakistan against New Zealand in Lahore in October 1976.Surrey scored 820 the other day after being put in to bat. Was this a record? asked David Cunningham from England
Surrey piled up 820 for 9 declared at The Oval last week after being put in to bat by Durham’s captain Alex Lees. This was actually the second-highest total after being inserted, behind Jharkhand’s 880 against Nagaland in Kolkata during the Ranji Trophy in March 2022. The highest in a Test match is Australia’s 735 for 6 declared after being put in by Zimbabwe in Perth in October 2003.This was Surrey’s highest total, beating their 811 against Somerset at The Oval in May 1899. In that innings the diminutive opener Bobby Abel carried his bat for 357, which remains Surrey’s highest individual score: Dom Sibley’s 305 last week was their eighth triple-century.There have been only three higher totals in the County Championship: Yorkshire’s 887 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in May 1896, Lancashire’s 863 against Surrey at The Oval in May 1990, and Somerset’s 850 for 7 declared against Middlesex in Taunton in April 2007. For the list of the highest totals in all first-class cricket, click here.Also during Surrey’s innings last week, an unwanted record was claimed by Durham’s offspinner George Drissell, who finished with figures of 1 for 247. This was the most expensive return in County Championship history, eclipsing the 3 for 235 of Leicestershire slow left-armer Claude Henderson, also against Surrey at The Oval, in June 2006. The only more expensive analysis in any first-class match in England was 1 for 298 by another left-arm spinner – Australia’s Chuck Fleetwood-Smith – in 87 overs during England’s 903 for 7 declared at The Oval in August 1930.The last time a side won a Test after losing just two wickets was when South Africa beat England by an innings at The Oval in 2012•Getty Images I noticed that when England beat South Africa in the 1924 Lord’s Test, they lost only two wickets. Is this a record? asked Muhammad Riaz via Facebook
In the match you mention at Lord’s in June 1924, England declared at 531 for 2 and went on to beat South Africa (273 and 240) by an innings. Opener Jack Hobbs made 211, his only Test double-century.That was the first occasion in which a side won a Test while losing only two wickets. It has happened four times since: by England (267 for 2 declared) against New Zealand (67 and 129) at Headingley in July 1958; England (459 for 2 declared) against India (165 and 216) at Edgbaston in July 1974; South Africa (470 for 2 declared) against Bangladesh (173 and 237) in Chittagong in April 2003; and South Africa (637 for 2 declared) against England (385 and 240) at The Oval in July 2012.Which batters scored the most runs in the first over in the IPL? And which bowler has taken the most wickets in the first over? asked Amit Kumar via Facebook
We’re lucky to have full ball-by-ball details of all the IPL matches since the first one in 2008, so the stats team – who had fondly imagined they’d finished with the IPL for a few months – bravely attacked this particular pair of figures. The top batters probably aren’t that surprising: Virat Kohli has scored 506 runs in the first over of an IPL innings (he faced 398 balls in them), and David Warner 475 (from 524 deliveries). Next come Shikhar Dhawan (456 from 463), Rohit Sharma (384 from 374) and Ajinkya Rahane (355 from 438).You could have a good guess at the leading bowlers too: Trent Boult has struck 32 times in the first over of an IPL innings, having sent down 618 balls in them. Next comes Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 27 (816 balls), a fair way clear of Deepak Chahar (15 from 494), Praveen Kumar (15 from 534) and Sandeep Sharma (13 from 468).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Newcastle United defender Sven Botman was dubbed “utterly embarrassing” after the role he played in Brentford’s third goal on another afternoon to forget for the Magpies on their travels.

Tierney took centre-stage, the former denying Brentford what looked a clear penalty for a foul by Dan Burn – instead booking Dango Ouattara for a dive – and the latter surprisingly agreeing.

But, lo and behold, a few minutes later when Ouattara went down again under Burn’s challenge, Attwell this time pointed to the spot and showed the hapless Burn a second yellow card.

Igor Thiago rolled in the penalty and added a third in stoppage time to condemn Newcastle to more misery on their travels on the fourth anniversary of Eddie Howe’s appointment as manager.

The big controversy erupted when Ouattara tumbled, Burn protested his innocence and Attwell waved away Brentford claims for a spot-kick and flashed the yellow card instead.

Replays showed Burn had clearly made contact with Ouattara’s foot before he went down but Tierney upheld Attwell’s decision, “minimal contact” was the official explanation.

Then came the reprise; Ouattara brought down again by Burn. This one was maybe less convincing, but Attwell pointed to the spot.

Sven Botman dubbed "utterly embarrassing" in Newcastle defeat

A lot of the blame will be put on Burn for his second yellow card and the penalty that he conceded as a result, but the rest of the Newcastle squad didn’t exactly enjoy excellent outings, either. Nick Woltemade came away with an assist, but largely struggled to make the ball stick for the Magpies going forward and Sven Botman looked a shadow of his best self.

At the centre of criticism, Sky Sports’ commentary team took aim at Botman after Thiago scored his second of the afternoon, saying: “Sven Botman, I don’t think he knows that Thiago is behind him, he thinks Ramsdale is coming, he stops running, it’s going to end a sorry afternoon this for the Geordies.”

The criticism didn’t end there, either. Newcastle reporter Joel Bland dubbed Botman “utterly embarrassing” for Brentford’s third and final goal – a verdict that is hard to dispute.

The Dutchman was all too casual before Thiago took full advantage to leave Newcastle on just three Premier League wins in their opening 10 games. Alan Shearer accused the Newcastle squad of being “lazy” when they lost 3-1 against West Ham United last week. Now, a week later, Botman has been accused of not running.

Related Real Madrid prepared to make Tonali move as Newcastle star reveals exit stance

The Italian’s new deal was just announced.

Posts 3 ByTom Cunningham Nov 8, 2025

Whilst they continue to thrive in the Champions League, Newcastle remain in the bottom-half of England’s top tier following a disastrous start.

Newcastle have "one of the best teen prospects" & he can surpass Woltemade

It’s understood his vision did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka

Nagraj Gollapudi18-Sep-20256:17

‘Zaheer’s vision wasn’t bought by LSG leadership group’

Lucknow Super Giants’ team mentor Zaheer Khan has parted ways with the franchise after just one season. ESPNcricinfo has learned Zaheer informed LSG of his decision on Thursday.It is understood that the primary reason for Zaheer quitting is that his vision for the franchise did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka. While Zaheer’s relationship with captain Rishabh Pant remained strong, he was affected by the thought process that played a role in LSG sliding down the points table in the second half of IPL 2025.Zaheer had joined LSG in August 2024, filling the vacancy left by Gautam Gambhir’s exit after IPL 2023. Zaheer had been with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022 and agreed to a two-year contract with LSG, taking charge of scouting, planning and strategy.Related

Zaheer: Looked like it was Punjab curator at our home game

Bharat Arun named LSG bowling coach

After making the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons in 2022 and 2023, LSG did not reach the knockouts in the last two seasons. In 2025, they finished seventh with six wins from 14 games. It was a season of contrasting halves: LSG had five wins in their first eight matches but only one in the last six. Of the eight games they played at their home ground, the Ekana Stadium, they won only two.LSG had made headlines at last year’s mega auction when they bought Pant for INR 27 crore (USD 3.2 million approx.), making him the most expensive player ever in the IPL. The team was built around him, but Zaheer put in place building blocks he felt were needed to grow stronger every season. Despite there being a lot of chatter about Pant opening the batting, Zaheer spoke to the wicketkeeper-batter early on and told him that the better strategy would be for Mitchell Marsh to open with Aiden Markram. That strategy, Zaheer impressed on both Pant and the leadership group, would reduce the burden on their best batter, Nicholas Pooran, who was the No. 3.The role clarity allowed the batters to play with freedom and perform consistently. Markram had never opened in the IPL before, while Marsh, despite having been in the IPL for more than a decade, had never made a major impact. The move worked: Marsh was the fifth highest run-getter in IPL 2025 with 627 runs at a strike rate of 163.70, Pooran made 524 runs at 196.25, and Markram 445 at 148.82.

Jude Bellingham delivered an X-rated assessment of Real Madrid’s current situation after seeing them suffer another damaging defeat to Manchester City. The Blancos went down 2-1 against Premier League opponents in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with Bellingham admitting that the Liga giants must “take a bit of sh*t on the chin” in an ongoing bid to find form.

Real Madrid form: Blancos have hit a slump

Real have won just two of their last eight matches in all competitions, drawing and losing three apiece. Their last domestic fixture, against Celta Vigo, saw them reduced to nine men before the final whistle blew.

They were able to keep 11 on the field when playing host to City, but found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. Real did take the lead at Santiago Bernabeu through Brazilian forward Rodrygo, but trailed by half-time courtesy of Nico O’Reilly and a penalty from prolific Norwegian striker Erling Haaland.

AdvertisementAFPBellingham sounds X-rated Real Madrid rallying cry

Pressure continues to build on Blancos boss Xabi Alonso as a result of that European setback, with it being suggested that the World Cup winner – who only returned to Madrid over the summer – is already fighting to save his job.

He is said to endure a strained relationship with a number of senior stars, including former Ballon d’Or contender Vinicius Junior. Quizzed on whether he still has faith in his beleaguered manager, Bellingham told : “One hundred per cent. The manager has been great. I personally have a great relationship with him and I know a lot of the lads do too.

“After that first run of games where we drew a few, we had some really great conversations internally and felt we'd put that form behind us but the last couple of games we've let ourselves down again. No one is downing tools, no one is complaining and moaning and thinking the season is over. We will have to take a bit of the sh*t on the chin, keep fighting and bouncing forward.”

What has gone wrong for Real? Bellingham explains

Bellingham was also asked why Real’s form has taken a serious nosedive since claiming a Clasico victory over arch-rivals Barcelona in late October and hitting top spot in the Liga table. The England international added: “We're still trying to work it out within the changing room regardless of what goes on outside. We know that's not helpful.

“One thing is how we're managing games. Certain points where we have to suffer it feels like we always concede and it puts us on the back foot and makes us have to play a way we don't want to.

“But in the changing room we have what we need to turn it around, we need maybe a bit of luck or maybe something we need to discuss internally. I have faith this season isn't over just because we're in a bad run of form.”

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GettyManagerial change? Alonso facing sack threat

While Alonso continues to dominate headlines in Spain, with many of those casting the 44-year-old ex-Madrid midfielder in a dim light, Real’s head coach insists that he should not be the centre of attention.

He is eager to point out that everybody connected with the Blancos will be doing their best to turn collective fortunes around. Alonso said when asked if he is worried about his future in the wake of a disappointing loss to City: “I’m worried about the next game. Here the important thing is Real Madrid. It’s the team, the players and how I can help them. The issue is not about me.”

Alonso may want to divert attention away from himself, but he will continue to fall under the brightest of spotlights. He is in the results business, while filling one of the most demanding managerial roles on the planet, and knows that he needs to get Real firing again.

His next opportunity to do just that will arrive on Sunday when the Blancos head to Alaves. That is one of three fixtures left on Real’s schedule in 2025, with it yet to be determined whether Alonso will make the new year in his current role.

Chelsea battled to a well-deserved point in their top of the table clash against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were the better side until Moises Caicedo saw red for his challenge on Mikel Merino in the 33rd minute. Despite losing their talisman, Chelsea took the lead early in the second half thanks to Trevoh Chalobah's glancing nod, but were quickly pegged back by a Merino header.

The Blues enetered the day with a chance to peg back their intra-city rivals at the top of the Premier League and were up for the challenge, asserting themselves physically against Mikel Arteta's men. The ferocious intensity in which the game was played inevitably brought on a flurry of yellow cards for both sides. 

However, that seemed to be part of Enzo Maresca's plans, as Chelsea disrupted their rivals all over the park, fashioning the better chances in the opening half hour. Estevao was full of industry on the right, creating shooting opportunities while Joao Pedro should have done better as he forced Piero Hincapie into losing the ball in his own box. 

Eventually, Chelsea's aggressiveness turned the tide against them, as Caicedo was rightly given his marching orders for a stamping tackle that crunched down on Merino's ankle. After a lengthy VAR check, Anthony Taylor reversed his original booking. 

Maresca reorganised his men into two banks of four in the second half, looking to soak up the eventual pressure from their foes. However, it was the Blues that opened the scoring, as Chalobah glanced home Reece James in-swinging coner at the front post. Chelsea were good value for their lead, but could not rest on their laurels, as the Gunners came fighting back, and the pressure told just minutes later, as Bukayo Saka's stood-up cross invited Merino to power home his header. 

The derby scrap continued for the next half hour, with neither side fashioning a clear-cut chance.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Robert Sanchez (7/10):

Outstanding stop low to his right to deny Martinelli on the stroke of half-time. Made a similar save with his opposite hand to deny Gyokeres later on. 

Malo Gusto (6/10):

Isolated at the back stick for Merino's equaliser. Little he could do to stop the powerful Spaniard. Defended well otherwise.

Trevoh Chalobah (8/10):

Muscles flexed, nursing a shiner, Chalobah's defiant celebration following his opener was a statement in itself. A brilliant glancing header to convert a wicked James corner. Resolute at the back, too. 

Wesley Fofana (6/10):

Will not get the headlines of his partner, but was crucial in rebuffing Arsenal's waves of attack in the second half. 

Marc Cucurella (6/10):

Won his battle against Saka for over an hour before the England winger bested him to set up the equaliser. Limited by a first-half booking, but toed the line well. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Reece James (7/10):

An exquisite delivery for the opener. Looks comfortable enough stepping into midfield, but the dismissal of Caicedo afforded him less time on the ball. 

Moises Caicedo (3/10):

Tore around the pitch, flying into tackles. His over-zealousness was the undoing of him in the end. Rightfully sent off for a stamping challenge on Merino's ankle. 

Enzo Fernandez (6/10):

Had to drop back into the heart of midfield to accommodate Caicedo's red card. Abrasive. 

Getty Images SportAttack

Estevao (7/10):

A menace with the ball at this feet. Got the better of Caliafiori in the first half but was wasteful with the half-chances he created. Pulled at half-time.  

Joao Pedro (5/10):

Dithered on the ball with a clear sight of goal in the first half. However, he fashioned the chance himself with tireless pressing.  Industrious, but lacking killer instinct. 

Pedro Neto (7/10):

Protected the ball brilliantly, providing an outlet for his side as they continued to press despite losing Caicedo. Mature decision making without losing his attacking edge. 

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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Alejandro Garnacho (5/10):

Brought on at half-time in a tricky situation with 10 men. Limited opportunities to impact the game in attack. 

Liam Delap (4/10):

Would have been under strict instructions to hold the ball up and provide respite for his embattled peers. Struggled to fulfil that job, but tested Raya from distance with a curling effort.

Enzo Maresca (7/10):

Clearly had his players prepared for a physical battle. The red card limited his ability to chase a result, forcing functional substitutes for a rearguard action. Will be proud of his team.