Category Uncategorized

Vusi Sibanda, as expected, has been picked in Zimbabwe’s squad of 15 for the first unofficial Twenty20 of the tri-series against South Africa and Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jun-2012

Zimbabwe squad for first Twenty20

Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan taylor (capt & wk), Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Graeme Cremer, Prosper Utseya, Richard Muzhange, Chris Mpofu, Kyle Jarvis, Shingi Masakadza, Malcom Waller, Regis Chakabva, Brian Vitori

Vusi Sibanda, as expected, has been picked in Zimbabwe’s squad of 15 for the first unofficial Twenty20 of the tri-series against South Africa and Bangladesh. Opening batsman Sibanda was not considered for Zimbabwe’s tour of New Zealand in January, after he chose to play grade cricket in Australia instead of fulfilling domestic commitments in Zimbabwe.Left-arm spinner Ray Price and wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu are left out from the squad due to injuries – Price has a hamstring niggle, while Taibu is recovering from a finger injury. Taibu’s absence means captain Brendan Taylor will keep wickets.Being the hosts allows Zimbabwe the opportunity to experiment with their combination, chairman of selectors Givemore Makoni said. “Since we are playing at home, we have the flexibility to change the squad as we go along,” Makoni said. “So the squad we are announcing is only for the first Twenty20 match.”Zimbabwe play Bangladesh in the tournament opener on Sunday.

A compromise between the PCB and former captain Shahid Afridi is on the cards following a meeting between the board chairman Ijaz Butt and Afridi in Islamabad

Osman Samiuddin14-Jun-2011A compromise between the PCB and former captain Shahid Afridi is likely following a meeting between the board chairman Ijaz Butt and Afridi in Islamabad, bringing to an end one of the biggest player-board disputes in recent memory in Pakistan.”I did meet Afridi in Islamabad but I cannot say any more than that at the moment,” Butt told ESPNcricinfo. He refused to indicate if the meeting had an outcome or whether there was an announcement to be expected. A statement from the board later said no further announcements will be made.Speculation indicated that through this agreement, Afridi will be given the No Objection Certificates he needs to play for Hampshire and later in the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL). In return, he will withdraw the petition he filed in the Sindh High Court against the board’s decision to form a disciplinary committee, cancel his central contract and revoke his NOC and will face any punishment the committee hands out.In effect, the situation appears to have returned to when Afridi first replied to the board’s showcause notice, in which he accepted violating the code of conduct and expressed a willingness to face a hearing if his NOC was reinstated. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 16 at the Sindh High Court and Afridi could withdraw his petition then.The meeting is believed to have been the result of intervention of senior political figures; from the start the dispute took on a political character. Afridi had appealed directly to Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari, who is the chief patron of the board, to resolve the situation. He had met Zardari’s son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in London and had spoken to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as well on the matter.Rehman Malik, the interior minister and mediator in past disputes, also got involved, promising on Twitter to find a solution. The flurry of activity prompted the PCB to issue a rare statement expressing displeasure at the political interference, compelling Butt to tell a local newspaper of his exasperation at the number of phone calls he had received on the matter.Advisors close to Afridi are also believed to have tried convincing him to reach a compromise with an administration under whom he has publicly said he will not play again, after having been removed as ODI captain in May. Though Afridi was unconvinced at first, the possibility of losing out on the Twenty20 stint with Hampshire – who were looking at Chris Gayle as a replacement option – forced his hand.”We’ve remained hopeful all along, and we are very hopeful that an announcement can be made soon,” Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire’s chairman, told ESPNcricinfo. “But we cannot say anything more definitive beyond that at this stage.”We had to look at all contingency options, and Chris Gayle’s name was one of those names that came into the frame,” Bransgrove said. “But we have remained hopeful all along that Afridi would receive clearance to join us for the remainder of the Twenty20 campaign.”

Phillip Hughes is likely to miss Australia’s Test series against Pakistan in July after dislocating his left shoulder while boxing

Cricinfo staff06-May-2010Phillip Hughes is likely to miss Australia’s Test series against Pakistan in July after dislocating his left shoulder while boxing on Tuesday. He will have surgery in Melbourne next week and is expected to target the home summer before he returns.Hughes was the reserve batsman on Australia’s trip to New Zealand in March and scored an unbeaten 86 in the second innings of the first Test after replacing the injured Shane Watson. A spot in the squad to face Pakistan in England would have been his even though he is stuck behind Watson and Simon Katich in the pecking order.His expected absence gives hope to the likes of Steven Smith, George Bailey and Usman Khawaja, who have done well on the domestic scene. The shoulder dislocated when Hughes was struck by a friend while doing boxercise training and it popped back in quickly.He will be operated on by Dr Greg Hoy, who has worked on Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee and Shane Warne, and is likely to be out for three months. Hughes was also hoping to play in the Australia A series against Sri Lanka A in June.

Supporters in north London have every right to start dreaming of silverware after a near-flawless start to the 2023-24 season

Six months ago, the future looked bleak for Tottenham. A disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League reflected a chaotic campaign that saw Antonio Conte and his interim replacement Cristian Stellini both sacked as a number of key players failed to live up to expectations.

Harry Kane was one of the few that could hold his head up high after another 30-goal season, but Bayern Munich quickly made it clear that the England captain was their top summer transfer target and his eventual departure felt inevitable.

It was reported that a number of high-profile managers turned down the chance to replace Conte, including the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, which led Tottenham to instead turn to Ange Postecoglou. The former Celtic boss was a huge success in Scotland, but his initial appointment did little to lift the mood at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Postecoglou was not the big name Spurs fans would have expected, and his lack of experience at the very highest level raised alarm bells. But the Australian has since proven to be exactly the right man to lead the club into a bold new era.

An encouraging pre-season campaign showed that Postecoglou was ready to implement a new forward-thinking style designed to get the best out of Spurs' most dangerous players, and he was also able to bring in a host of new signings to fit his philosophy. By the time Kane's move to Bayern was confirmed on the eve of the season, a new wave of optimism had started sweeping across north London.

And now here we are, with Spurs sitting top of the Premier League heading into the second international break of the 2023-24 season. Postecoglou's men are ahead of arch-rivals Arsenal on goals scored, with reigning champions Manchester City two points further back in third, and they have yet to taste defeat.

The general consensus is that Tottenham won't be able to stay the course, but that is more based on their recent history than anything else. Their current position is no accident – Postecoglou has transformed a confidence-stricken outfit into arguably the most well-rounded side in the division, and they deserve to be taken seriously as potential title contenders.

• (C)Getty Images
  

  'Ange-ball'

  Spurs moved to the Premier League summit after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Luton Town, with Micky Van de Ven grabbing the winning goal early in the second half – after Yves Bissouma was sent off for a second yellow card just before the break.

  It's fair to say that last season, Tottenham would have dropped points in a game like that. But the players are giving their all for Postecoglou, and he can feel that everyone is pulling in the same direction.

  "It is all credit to the players, the way they have bought into what we are trying to do," the Spurs boss told after the game. "We are really tight as a group, which you see because not only are we winning games, but apart from the football, which has been good, the resilience we have shown has been great. The players want to change the destiny of this club and that is what they are trying to do on the pitch."

  Under Conte, and his predecessors Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho, Spurs were a cautious, counter-attacking side. They were quite content to sit back in numbers and win matches by the odd goal, with entertainment in short supply for supporters as a result.

  That's all changed since Postecoglou's arrival, as he encourages his players to express themselves and take risks under pressure. Spurs are now inviting the opposition press, and have shown the quality to play through it time and time again, which is why they are creating so many chances.

  During their thrilling 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the first North London derby of the season, 'Ange-ball' was in full effect, and Tottenham really should have left the Emirates Stadium with all three points. Heading into the latter stages of the game, it was Spurs that went all out for a winner, not Arsenal. There was one sequence that saw the visitors carve open the Gunners with a nine-pass move, starting from goalkeeper Gugliemo Vicario, only for a potential goal-of-the-season candidate to be snuffed out when Pedro Porro's cross was deflected out for corner.

  Spurs were quite simply a joy to watch, as they have been throughout Postecoglou's tenure so far. “If we lose playing his way, that’s on him, his responsibility, and it gives you freedom to go and play as well," summer signing James Maddison said of the belief the manager has injected into the squad after Arsenal game. That mentality could take Tottenham a long way.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Magical Maddison

  Maddison has been the standout player for Spurs in the new Postecoglou era, slotting into the No.10 role perfectly after his £40 million ($49m) switch from Leicester City. The England international has recorded two goals and five assists in his first eight Premier League outings, with his latest moment of magic coming at Luton.

  Spurs won a corner to relieve some pressure as Luton started to make their numerical advantage count, and Dejan Kulusevski took it quickly when Maddison made himself available for a simple pass. Despite being tightly marked, the 26-year-old then managed to dance his way through to the edge of the six-yard box with a brilliant drop of the shoulder, and had the awareness to poke the ball back to Van de Ven for a simple finish.

  Only the very best players can conjure up something out of nothing, and Maddison's ingenuity has added a new dimension to Tottenham's attack. He's created more chances than any other player in the Premier League this term, and also appears to have taken on a leadership role.

  Maddison's performances are inspiring those around him to raise their level, with the collective spirit in the squad seemingly at an all-time high. The former Leicester man has grasped his chance to shine at a bigger club with both hands, and looks like he is loving every minute.

  “When you start playing football as a kid, you don’t play for anything,” Maddison said after being unveiled at Spurs in June. “There’s no politics, nothing like that. You play because you love playing football and you do the things you love, and you become the player you become because of what you do and what you’re good at.

  “And that will never change for me. That’s non-negotiable. That’s how I play. I’m never going to change and that’s why my journey has gone like this and I’m happy to have ended up at Tottenham.”

  That passion is what sets Maddison apart from the majority of his peers. And there is no limit to what Spurs can achieve if he continues on his current trajectory.

• Getty Images
  

  Van de Ven's colossal presence

  Spurs spent another £43m ($52m) on Dutch centre-back Van de Ven in the summer, and he has made an instant impact in English football. The 22-year-old has shown a maturity belying his age, striking up a formidable partnership with Cristian Romero in the process.

  Romero, recently described as the best defender in the world by Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi, was left exposed time and time again by the likes of Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez and Clement Lenglet last season as Tottenham leaked goals for fun.

  Van de Ven complements Romero perfectly, though, as former Spurs and Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told after the Luton game: "Tottenham have been looking for a central defensive partnership for a long time now, that gives them composure with the ball and stability without. They just haven't had that. Now they've got it. Van de Ven and Romero are looking like a real partnership. You need your centre-halves to be brave on the ball. Tottenham start everything with these two at the moment."

  It's much harder for opposition teams to get in behind Spurs' backline now thanks to Van de Ven, who is deceptively quick for such a big man. Very few players will be able to beat the Netherlands Under-21 international in a footrace, and his imposing frame also helps him to win most of his physical duels.

  Van de Ven is like a Rolls Royce when he carries the ball out of defence – which he backs up with his excellent passing range and decision-making skills. He's capable of chipping in with a goal every now and then, too, as evidenced by his impressive improvised finish against Luton.

  The scary thing is, Van de Ven is only just starting to realise his full potential. It will be fascinating to see how he develops under Postecoglou as the season progresses.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Son taking centre-stage

  Son Heung-min and Kane were a match made in heaven, as they combined for 47 Premier League goals in the space of eight years – the best partnership in the history of the competition. Kane wouldn't have become Spurs' all-time record goalscorer without Son backing him up, as the South Korean seemed to have a telepathic instinct for finding his strike partner in great positions.

  Son saw the favour returned regularly, but it was always Kane who was considered to be Tottenham's main man. And so although his departure broke up an all-time great double act, it also gave Son the opportunity to take centre-stage.

  Postecoglou named Son as Spurs' new captain after his appointment as manager, but initially kept him in his usual role wide on the left. The 31-year-old failed to score in his first three Premier League outings of the new season, before being asked to lead the line in an away clash at Burnley on September 2.

  Spurs romped to a 5-2 victory at Turf Moor, with Son helping himself to a brilliant hat-trick. He exploited the Clarets' high line on numerous occasions and more often than not, had the finish to match his intelligent movement.

  Son had the Midas touch again during the North London derby as he netted a brace, and grabbed his sixth goal of the season in Spurs' smash-and-grab victory over Liverpool earlier this month. "I think the way we're playing suits him," Postecoglou said after the latter contest.

  It wouldn't be much of a surprise if Son was secretly eying the second Golden Boot of his career, given how many chances Spurs are creating right now. He is a natural when it comes to getting into goalscoring positions and can find the net from any angle, such is his superb technical ability with both feet.

  Tottenham are not missing Kane, and that's largely due to Son. He's tailor-made for Postecoglou's system and has taken on the responsibility of being the focal point in the team admirably.

MatériaMais Notícias

Fernando Diniz pediu desculpas à torcida do São Paulo pela derrota por 3 a 2 para o Mirassol na noite desta quarta-feira. O resultado deixou a equipe fora da semifinal do Campeonato Paulista.

– O torcedor merecia muito mais do que a gente apresentou contra o Bragantino (outra derrota por 3 a 2) e hoje. Temos que saber aceitar e suportar aquilo que vem e responder de maneira positiva dentro do campo. Não tem outra coisa a fazer nesse momento: pedir desculpa ao torcedor e seguir – disse o comandante.

Logo após a partida, questionado sobre a possibilidade de ficar ameaçado no cargo, o treinador já havia dito que não está preocupado em ter paz, mas em trabalhar para corrigir os erros. A diretoria deve mantê-lo.

-Não dá para você prever como vai ser a relação (com o torcedor), ele tem todo o direito de reagir com insatisfação e cobrar o time, como tem que ser cobrado. Temos que saber suportar isso, trabalhar mais e procurar dar resultado dentro do campo. Não tem como justificar, é trabalhar e buscar resultados diferentes no campo.

Veja abaixo outras respostas de Diniz:

O TIME PIOROU DEPOIS DA PAUSA
Não é uma coisa fácil de se explicar. A gente parou de uma forma e voltou de outra totalmente diferente, quase o oposto. Era um time que tinha conexão com o torcedor, entre nós mesmos, um jogo que fluía, criava chances pelos dois lados do campo, oferecia pouco contra-ataque e era muito atento. A gente voltou de forma muito diferente. É parar e retomar aquilo que a gente era no jogo do Santos.

O QUE MUDOU?
Taticamente, jogar contra linha baixa é muito difícil, sempre foi difícil. A gente voltou diferente na dinâmica, no ritmo, em saber atacar pelos dois lados, ter profundidade. A gente voltou um time mais fácil de ser marcado. Nessa pré-temporada tentamos dar uma carga física e técnica e faltou, de fato, a parte tática. Mas isso não foi o maior problema. A gente jogou com uma apatia que não podia ter jogado.

POUPAR O TIME DOMINGO ATRAPALHOU?
Absolutamente, isso não tem nada a ver. Ao contrário. A gente conseguiu descansar alguns jogadores. Não que eles estivessem cansados da sequência, mas teríamos pouco tempo de recuperação. Teve muitos problemas, esse não foi um deles.

We independently choose all products featured on our site. When you purchase something through the links provided, we may earn a commission.

From slip-in pads to ground breaking flexible armoured sleeves, these are the best shin pads for footballers

For most players on the pitch, a good pair of football boots go without saying – but a fine set of shin pads is just as crucial to getting your game potential to the max.

They say the better the shin pad, the braver the player. Contrary to popular belief, shin pads are not just for protection – they can help players play more confidently as they're not afraid to get their legs broken for a challenge.

Like football boots, the shape and style of a player's shin pads come down to personal preference and can be a way to express individuality in a game where a uniform kit is worn.

We've put together some of the best you can get on the market today, dependent on what you want out of your game.

Click here to skip ahead to our round-up of the best football shin pads.

Our top three:

Best overall shin pads: adidas X League

Best budget shin pads: Mitre Deflekta

Best shin pads for ankle support: G-Form Pro-X

FAQs:What kind of shin pads are there?

These days, you will see two main types of shin pads: slip-ins or ankle shin pads. Goalkeepers require the least protection as they can use their whole body, so something lightweight is ideal.

Defenders are the target of many deft kicks and want the fullest possible coverage with the sturdiest protection. Attacking players prefer something lighter and smaller to run undetected through the defence. Meanwhile, midfielders will want something in the middle. 

Are football shin pads worn under socks?

Shin pads are traditionally worn under socks, but with the introduction of new technology – that doesn't have to be the case anymore. If you find wearing pads under your socks uncomfortable, you'll like pads with compression sleeves that hold the pads snugly and tightly in place. An alternative is sports tape which can be used on your skin to safely tape the pads in place before pulling your socks over them – for extra stability.

Can football shin pads be washed?

You can absolutely wash shin pads to remove any excess mud or dirt that may build up occasionally. Instead of throwing them in the washing machine, it's always best to wash them by hand to avoid any risk of damage. But, don't worry, it couldn't be easier. Use any detergent of your choice, or even baking soda can do the trick, with warm water and a soft brush to wash away dirt and grime. Air-dry them after that, and you're all good to go.

Shop: Best shin pads for 2023

Encapsulating all that is great about the modern shin guard, the X League matches style with success for a well-crafted package that brings you the protection needed without any unnecessary weight to carry.

Backed by soft EVA for shock absorption and extra comfort, these shin pads curve to match the contour of your legs for flexible support. Held in place by stretchy compression sleeves, you'll never have to worry about them sliding down.

There's no need to overspend in pursuit of great shin pads, as these cut-price options from Mitre prove with their compact and efficient design qualities.

Made with a nifty small hardshell design locked to dual straps to ensure you can tighten the fit accordingly, they'll protect your shins from crunching challenges and weather those misplaced balls with no problem at all.

It's not just the shins that need protection, ankles need that reinforcement too, and this malleable G-Form effort will provide both with a clever, cushioned design that fits snugly onto your leg.

Sleek with a SmartFlex component that hardens during play to offer additional bulk against the elements, its super low-profile design makes it wonderfully unobstructed, perfect for those fast attacking plays.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

A low-profile classic that keeps on delivering the goods. The Nike Charge offers simple slip-in effectiveness with old-school reinforcement, keeping you poised and ready to play instantly.

A pull-on design ensures that there will be no slippage in the heat of play, while the hardshell casing offers solid absorption. A foam back to fit the contours of your leg will provide that little bit of added assistance for those who slide in dangerously.

MatériaMais Notícias

Vanderlei Luxemburgo foi apresentado pelo Palmeiras nesta sexta-feira e recebeu a camisa 5 das mãos do presidente Maurício Galiotte. Esta será a quinta passagem do técnico de 67 anos de idade pelo clube – 1993/1994, 1996, 2002, 2008/2009, além desta. Ele assinou por duas temporadas.

– É muito bom estar de volta ao Palmeiras, onde tive conquistas importantes. Essas conquistas foram importantes, mas mais ainda é o que vem pela frente. A nossa proposta é o que vamos fazer daqui para a frente, com novas conquistas para o Palmeiras, que é o principal. Passado é passado, presente é presente, e futuro é futuro. Vamos começar os trabalhos dia 6 em busca de novas conquistas – avisou.

-Quem tem capacidade não é desafiado para nada, e dentro da grandeza do Palmeiras, da história que eu conheço do clube, o Palmeiras está me ofertando a oportunidade de fazer um grande trabalho. Vou agarrar como sempre agarrei – afirmou Luxemburgo.

– É um momento que emociona, que traz muitas coisas na cabeça, mas de muita responsabilidade. Estamos preparados para um grande trabalho. Cada treinador tem uma forma de agir, eu tenho uma maneira em que dentro daquilo que eu vou fazer vai ser uma coisa que o Palmeiras não foge ao futebol. São ciclos. O Palmeiras está totalmente estruturado, mesmo sem ganhar títulos neste ano. O passado recente é de dois títulos brasileiros e uma Copa do Brasil. Estas coisas não podem ser esquecidas. Não ganhar este ano não significa que ano que vem não possa ganhar – acrescentou.

Luxemburgo é o terceiro que mais vezes treinou o Palmeiras (373 jogos), atrás de Oswaldo Brandão (585) e Luiz Felipe Scolari (485). Foram sete títulos, sendo quatro Paulistas, dois Brasileiros e um Rio-São Paulo. O último estadual conquistado pelo Verdão, em 2008, foi com Luxa à beira do gramado.

A escolha pelo ex-comandante do Vasco se deu após a negociação com Jorge Sampaoli dar errado. Ele cuidará da reformulação do elenco, com a promoção de atletas da base e reforços pontuais.

Confira abaixo a íntegra da entrevista coletiva de Vanderlei Luxemburgo:

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasLuxemburgo conta com especialista para dar espaço à base no PalmeirasPalmeiras19/12/2019PalmeirasAllianz Parque terá instalação de campo sintético a partir de janeiroPalmeiras19/12/2019PalmeirasMichael, Valdivia e uso da base: leia a entrevista do novo diretor do VerdãoPalmeiras19/12/2019

VOLTA AO PALMEIRAS
É um prazer muito grande estar de volta a São Paulo e no Palmeiras, onde tem história e conquistas importantes. Mas foram importantes para estar na história do clube e no meu currículo, mas o que ficou, ficou. São coisas boas guardadas. Mas a proposta é o que vamos fazer daqui para frente, com novas conquistas. Esse é o objetivo principal. Passado é passado. O presente e o futuro é que começamos o trabalho no dia 6 já preparando equipe para importantes conquistas.

EMOCIONADO?
Chegar aqui hoje para dar entrevista, com tudo que me carrega no clube, ver minha filha e minhas netas também. Minhas filhas ficavam comigo em 1993 e minhas netas ficavam em 2008 no meu colo. Voltar é legal. Você vai ter uma coisa especial. Gostoso viver este momento de novo. Nossa expectativa não é de desafio, porque essa palavra propõe que você não consegue fazer. Quem tem capacidade não é desafiado para nada. Dentro do que conheço no clube, o Palmeiras me possibilita fazer um grande trabalho, não um desafio. O Palmeiras me oferece oportunidade, que me oferta de novo, e vou agarrar como sempre, lembrando de 1993, quando era muito jovem, e fiz um grande trabalho, depois veio 2008. É um momento muito importante para a possibilidade de voltar ao Palmeiras, diferente, com estrutura fantástica, como poucos no Brasil e na Europa. É um momento nobre, em tanto tempo no futebol, vivi diferentes etapas, e não estar afastado do momento em que modernidade chegou, no Palmeiras, uma das melhores estruturas do Brasil e do mundo. É um momento que emociona, traz mutia coisa à cabeça, mas, também, muita responsabilidade para saber o que tem de fazer. Estamos preparados para fazer um grande trabalho.

MANO PROPUNHA REDUÇÃO DE ELENCO
Não cito o que outros falaram porque cada treinador tem uma maneira. Tenho a minha. O Palmeiras não foge ao futebol. São ciclos, perde, ganha. É para reestruturar um Palmeiras totalmente estruturado fisicamente. Não ganhou neste ano, mas tem dois Brasileiros e uma Copa do Brasil em passado recente. Isso não pode ser esquecido. Não significa que não pode ganhar no ano que vem. Futebol é assim, e tenho experiência para isso.

COBRANÇA POR OFENSIVIDADE
O momento é de uma expectativa e cobrança em futebol ofensivo. Mas quando futebol brasileiro não foi ofensivo? Pega história. Tem DNA ofensivo. Estamos muito preocupados com esquema táticos, números, e esquecemos que o DNA do Brasil é empírico, mudar de posição, fazer diferente. Se perdermos isso, viramos robôs. Sempre ganhamos, somos pentacampeões do mundo e temos dez Mundiais de Clubes porque os europeus trabalham taticamente e fisicamente, mas fazíamos coisas que não imaginavam, apareciam Garrincha, Pelé. As pessoas estão ávidas em saber como o time vai jogar, esquema tático, se é proativo, reativo. Tudo sabemos como funciona. Mas não adianta pensar em equipe. Estou em um clube com DNA de Academia, de ter time técnico, mas que pode ser também extremamente defensivo, com a marcação começando no ataque, quando se perde a posse de bola. Falam de coisas que já fizemos, com linguajar diferente. Respeito tudo isso. Conheço muito bem a história do Palmeiras. Não adianta pensar nisso sem desenhar time com jogadores que tenho. Não é o time que querem, é o time com as peças que temos, com sistema tático que se ajuste para oferecer o melhor.

SÓCIO-TORCEDOR
Sócio Avanti é o carro-chefe. Eu o convido para ser o centroavante. Não podemos perdê-lo, é muito importante para ajudar a equipe, com investimentos e deixando o trabalho mais confortável. O Palmeiras tem estrutura, com Allianz Parque, uma novidade para o torcedor, e o torcedor quer time jogando. Minha proposta é que o palmeirense verá uma equipe dentro do DNA. Convido sócio-torcedor porque precisamos deles. Não se monta time vencedor com torcedor distante, nem com comissão técnica, jogadores, diretoria distantes. É com união de todos, e é fundamental que torcedor esteja junto. Sem dúvida, vai voltar e voltar forte.

MUDANÇA CONSTANTES DE TÉCNICOS NO BRASIL
A mudança de técnicos não é novidade no Brasil. Começa o Brasileiro e a imprensa faz conta de quantos vão caindo. É uma característica do Brasil. Estou pelo que conversamos com presidente, falo de mim. Estou dentro da proposta não só financeira, mas filosófica, com restruturação que conversamos. Futebol é muito cobrado por resultado, que sustenta ou não. É uma característica não só do Palmeiras, mas do futebol brasileiro, com mudança constante de técnico. Sempre tem um responsável por uma situação desconfortável no futebol, sempre pega alguém.

FARÁ RODÍZIO?
É bom ter elenco forte. Campeão brasileiro é só um em 20 clubes, com 12 grandes clubes. Neste ano, foi Flamengo. Nos últimos cinco anos, o Palmeiras ganhou dois., Elenco forte possibilita ganhar. Time ganha jogo, elenco ganha competição. Queremos elenco forte e com versatilidade. Com 24 jogadores, cada um jogando duas posições, aumenta o número. Essa versatilidade é importante. Estão muito preocupados em falar em rodízio, mas é característica de cada comissão técnica. Vamos discutir internamente, como vou encaixar com o pessoal que está aqui e o meu pessoal que chegou, para encaixar nosso trabalho. Essa discussão existe no momento exato da preferência da competição. Não posso falar que farei rodízio sempre, preciso saber qual posso fazer. É discussão de momento. Com certeza, em algum momento, jogando tantas competições, terei que fazer algo, mas será na hora, e vocês vão ficar sabendo.

MODERNIDADE
Não sou contrário à modernidade. Depende o que é modernidade. Isso é baita moderno, e quem deu pontapé fui eu, em 2008, de fazer do ginásio tudo que está acontecendo. Não sou avesso à modernidade, quero saber o que ela presta de auxílio. Ele te abastece pra ter material e matéria melhor. Você se adapta ao melhor, estuda, analisando o que está acontecendo na minha área. O dinamismo e intensidade é mudança muito grande porque houve avanço, oferecendo condição melhor para jogador correr 11, 12 km em vez de 6, 7 km, como era no passado. Acompanhamos essa modernidade na parte tática, adaptando realidade física dos atletas a um esquema tático já definido lá atrás. Maior revolução tática foi em 1970, do Brasil, com três zagueiros sem ter três zagueiros, porque o Everaldo não subia, Clodoaldo e Gerson como dois volantes que não são marcadores, como se joga hoje, e fazia com Tostão o que o Messi faz, de falso atacante, para jogar e dialogar com Pelé, Rivellino, Gerson, pela qualidade que tem. Técnicos brasileiros acompanham evolução tática. Em 1970, Zagallo mostrou isso ao mundo. E mostramos que estamos preparados para ter a melhor preparação física do mundo em 1970. Ao longo do tempo, só fomos melhorando. Só estou aqui hoje, contratado, porque tenho longevidade, experiência e qualidade. Se eu não tivesse, não estaria aqui hoje nem trabalhando mais, porque a cobrança é muito forte. Graças a Deus, tenho saúde para trabalhar em campo experiência, porque não se fica ultrapassado, se fica mais experiente e sábio. Um advogado se torna muito melhor com experiência que adquire. Advogado de 67 anos, que é a minha idade, já sabe o resultado que vai acontecer. Só que, hoje, chega tudo para ele no laptop, antes era oralmente. Não sou avesso e estou preparadíssimo para encontrar essa modernidade que o Palmeiras oferece, com condição para um técnico realizar um grande trabalho.

PODE CHAMAR DE LUXA?
Sempre foi Luxa, não mudou. Primeiro, porque era longo e não cabia no jornal. E porque Luxemburgo pode virar Luxemburro. Luxa reduz e fica normal.

COBRANÇA
Não é diferente comigo. O Telê Santana talvez tenha sido o mais injustiçado. Perdeu duas Copas do Mundo e tanto tempo sem reconhecer a qualidade dele. Deram tanta pancada. Lembro do jornal Globo dando charge com ele na cara de burro. Depois, ele se consagrou no São Paulo, e sendo a mesma pessoa. É uma caraterística nossa, do Brasil. A todo momento, você é colocado à prova, tem que ganhar todo dia. Graças a Deus, estou aqui hoje, porque é sinal de que estou vivo e apto a trabalhar. Se não tivesse, já teriam me tirado há bastante tempo.

SAMPAOLI RECUSOU PALMEIRAS PORQUE QUER RIVALIZAR COM FLAMENGO
Quem falou foi o Sampaoli. É complicado falar sobre o que outro falou. Não tenho de concordar ou discordar, não vou entrar em polêmica nem entrar no mérito. Se você fizesse a pergunta sem confronto com o Sampaoli, eu responderia. Quero falar o que penso.

O PALMEIRAS TEM CONDIÇÕES DE RIVALIZAR COM O FLAMENGO?
Não vou rivalizar com Flamengo, mas com o futebol brasileiro. Não tenho de ganhar do Flamengo, mas do futebol brasileiro, de quem disputa comigo. Por que direcionar para o Flamengo se posse perder para o Ceará, por exemplo, e outras equipes de menor envergadura? Direciono para o Palmeiras ser a melhor equipe do Brasil e ganhar competições. O Flamengo estará incluído dentro da análise do futebol. Necessidade que temos para sermos o primeiro.

TEM GANA DE MOSTRAR SEU VALOR A CRÍTICOS
Não estou com gana de mostrar para ninguém. A gana é de mostrar para o Galiotte, que me contratou e torcedor que sei fazer o que sempre fiz: ganhar. Você não consegue ganhar toda hora. Mas não precisa dar satisfação para ninguém. Trabalho no Vasco foi muito bom, fui contratado para não deixar o time cair. Aqui, tem investimentos, mas não é diferente de outros clubes com expectativa de conquistas e que também fazem contratações boas e ruins. O Palmeiras não é diferente de nhum outro clube com expetativa de conquista. Fazem cobrança dentro da grandeza e da realidade do Palmeiras. Não estou preocupado com o que cobram de comigo. Se não ganhar o Paulista, vão falar que está tudo errado. É assim que funciona. As perguntas vão ficar mais azedas lá na frente.

CATEGORIAS DE BASE
Primeiro, por mérito. Minha história é de botar moleque para jogar. A categoria de base é muito importante dentro do clube, até no negócio futebol. Estarei atento e conheço, sempre procuro assistir o time sub-20. Tem bons jogadores no Palmeiras e, obviamente, abriremos a janela para mostrarem o talento que têm. seguir ou não seguir não pertence a mim, mas ao jogador de futebol.

VAI RECUPERARLUCAS LIMA E DEYVERSON?
Não tenho de falar disso.

FELIPE MELO SERÁ ZAGUEIRO?
Primeira coisa é que vou conversar com ele. Se não conversar com ele, estou roubado. Vou conversar com o Felipe e ver como se sente. Se não se sentir desconfortável, não tem como fazer. Primeiro, preciso conversar com o Felipe.

TÉCNICOS ESTRANGEIROS SÃO MELHORES?
É uma discussão eterna. Jesus ganhou, mas, se pegar os últimos anos, qual estrangeiro ganhou no Brasil? É mérito todo dele hoje, mas não significa que, no ano que vem, vai ganhar. Ele tem cabelo branco, e eu não tenho nem pinto meu cabelo, hein? (risos) Nos anos passados, Mano ganhou, e é mais experiente, Felipão também, Carille e Tiago (Nunes) também ganharam. Vai ganhar alguém, e damos parabéns ao trabalho que fez, excelente. Jesus e Sampaoli fizeram excelentes trabalhos e parabéns, vida que segue. Não precisa de comparação, se trouxe novidade, se sabe ou não fazer. Quantos times bons tivemos no Brasil, marcando época? Não é novidade. No Palmeiras, teve três Academias, incluindo 1993, 1994 e 1996, e tantos outros clubes fizeram sucesso. Agora é Jesus com Flamengo. Mas o Brasil tem fartura de grandes equipes, ganhando Mundial. Só reforçando: somos dez vezes campeões mundiais de clubes e pentacampeões mundiais com treinadores brasileiros. Temos há muitos anos grandes equipes. Graças a Deus, vieram Sampaoli e Jesus aqui para discutirmos se tem novidade, mas sem se tornar pejorativo para técnico brasileiro. Deixamos de ser bons? Não prestamos?! Mas a vinda deles é muito legal.

BUSCA REFORÇOS?
Outra que fico devendo. Não posso responder isso. O mercado está ativo para caramba, se eu falar nome de um jogador, ele sai de R$ 1 milhão para R$ 10 milhões. Tudo que será feito, será noticiado. Ninguém vai esconder nada. É coisa interna acontecendo e vamos mostrar o que for feito para elogiarem ou criticarem.

ESQUEMA TÁTICO
Se eu tenho time de futebol no 4-2-3-1, se eu mudar, sem mudar jogador, fica 4-1-4-1. Posso fazer 4-3-3 também sem mudar nenhum jogador. Faço do jeito que quiser. Se colocar um volante e dois meias, com três atacantes. Mudo sem mudar jogadores, adianto um cara de um lado, outro do outro. Estão discutindo isso como se fosse o mais importante, mas o que é a essência: ganhamos porque driblamos. Ganhamos mais do que os outros porque fazemos coisas diferentes. Se tirar isso, perdemos. Quando se dá pontapé inicial, muda a coisa toda, acabou 4-2-3-1 e essas cosias. O Dudu mudava da direita para esquerda toda hora, e depois por dentro. Quero que essas coisas não se percam, são a essência do Brasil, sem se preocupar com número. Precisa ser girando, com rotação muito grande.

MatériaMais Notícias

A lógica se escondeu por quase todo o primeiro tempo, mas deu o ar da graça nos acréscimos, quando Bruno Henrique marcou duas vezes e abriu o baile que se confirmaria logo no primeiro minuto da segunda etapa. O Flamengo não só recuperava os oito pontos de vantagem na liderança do Campeonato Brasileiro, como dava mais um demonstração, para uma plateia lotada, de um futebol que encanta todos aqueles que podem deixar o clubismo de lado por alguns instantes. O Corinthians balançava sem direção, como um pugilista prestes a desabar, buscando cordas imaginárias para evitar a queda inevitável. E quem caiu de vez foi Fábio Carille, o treinador que perdeu o grupo quando passou a individualizar uma culpa que era de todos. Do outro lado, Jorge Jesus, que não poderia ser mais claro e assertivo em sua declaração após mais uma vitória: “Jogamos como Flamengo”. E o valor por trás disso se prova a cada rodada. A reta final do Brasileiro é uma estrada curta para os adversários e longa para a torcida, ansiosa pela confirmação do título, dez anos após a última conquista no torneio. O som do Maracanã em êxtase é a sinfonia mais bonita do futebol brasileiro na atualidade.

Quer ler mais opinião e informação todos os dias? O LANCE! Espresso é uma newsletter gratuita que chega de manhã ao seu e-mail, de segunda a sexta. É uma leitura rápida e saborosa como aquele cafezinho de todos os dias, que vai colocar você por dentro das principais notícias do esporte. A marca registrada do jornalismo do LANCE!, com análises especiais. Clique aqui e inscreva-se.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalVisão da 30ª rodada: ‘Contagem regressiva para o título, G4, G6 e Z4’Futebol Nacional03/11/2019Humor EsportivoRubro-negros provocam Cássio: ‘Saiu para não tomar mais gols’Humor Esportivo03/11/2019CorinthiansFalta de ofensividade e protestos: os motivos da demissão de CarilleCorinthians03/11/2019

Fast bowler Alister McDermott has been cut from Queensland’s contract list for 2015-16, along with his brother Ben, who has moved to Tasmania

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Apr-2015

Fast bowler Alister McDermott has been cut from Queensland’s contract list for 2015-16, along with his brother Ben McDermott, who has moved to Tasmania. The Bulls have finalised their squad for next summer with the notable omission of a captain, after James Hopes agreed to sign on for another year as player but has stepped aside as skipper.Usman Khawaja is considered a strong candidate to lead Queensland, although Chris Hartley, Chris Lynn and Peter Forrest have reportedly also been considered. The group is also without a coach, with no replacement yet named for Stuart Law, whose tenure ended during the 2014-15 season.Former Test fast bowler Peter George has been handed a contract after making his Queensland debut last season and collecting 20 Sheffield Shield wickets for them at 33.30, while Simon Milenko and Charlie Hemphrey have also earned deals. Batsman Sam Heazlett, who made 160 for Australia in their recent Under-19s Test against England in Perth, has been given a rookie contract.The McDermott brothers were both squeezed out, with former rookie Ben joining Tasmania on a rookie deal for next summer. Alister, who was called into Australia’s ODI and T20 squads for a series against Pakistan in 2012 but did not debut in either format, has been dropped after featuring in only one Shield match last season. Ronan McDonald has also been cut from the rookie list.”We believe the Queensland Bulls squad for the 2015-16 season has a good blend of youth and experience,” Queensland Cricket’s high performance manager Brett Jones said. “To have emerging players such as Mark Steketee, Jimmy Pierson and Jack Wildermuth amongst international performers Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns and Chris Lynn is an exciting prospect for the state.”Looking at last season, although we just missed out on finals in both competitions, we blooded a lot of new talent and had three players represent Australia for the first time, so we are very optimistic about what the future holds.”As always we have had to make some tough decisions and we know that players who have not been awarded contracts will be disappointed. We will, like always, be using grade cricket and the Cricket Australia Second XI competition to ensure the state’s best performers have a pathway to Shield and Matador Cup cricket.”Queensland squad Joe Burns, Cameron Boyce, Nicholas Buchanan, Ben Cutting, Jason Floros, Luke Feldman, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Peter George, Ryan Harris (Cricket Australia contract), Chris Hartley, Charlie Hemphrey, James Hopes, Usman Khawaja, Chris Lynn, Simon Milenko, Michael Neser, James Peirson, Nathan Reardon, Mark Steketee. Rookies James Bazley, Sam Heazlett, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Nick Stevens, Jack Wildermuth.

While Australia no longer have that air of invincibility around them, home advantage and strong ODI form could skew the odds in their favour

Brydon Coverdale09-Feb-2015SummaryTwenty-three years since the World Cup was last held on Australian shores, Michael Clarke’s men face the task of achieving what Allan Border’s side could not in 1992. Back then, Imran Khan lifted the trophy as Pakistan jogged around the boundary of the MCG on an evening in late March, England the vanquished opponents. Australia had not even made the semi-finals. When the last week of March comes this time, will the Melbourne crowd again be neutral or will it be a partisan audience out for Australian success?At the very least, Australia enter the tournament with a more realistic chance than they did in India in 2011, if for no other reason than the conditions are so familiar. The 2011 World Cup ended with defeat at the hands of India in a quarter-final, and Ricky Ponting stood down from the captaincy in the days that followed. Quite what his successor decides to do after this World Cup remains to be seen. Clarke’s participation in the tournament has been a subject of great debate – the selectors set him a deadline of the second match against Bangladesh on February 21 to have recovered from his hamstring surgery, and he looks a good chance of making it. But it would not be a surprise if Clarke eases out of one-day cricket after the World Cup.Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson are the only four players remaining from Australia’s 2007 World Cup glory and their chances in this tournament will largely rest in the hands of newer men. Neither Aaron Finch nor David Warner were picked for the 2011 World Cup but their work at the top of the order will be critical to Australia’s hopes in conditions where the ball will come on to the bat. Equally, Johnson and his fast-bowling colleagues must make a few opponents uncomfortable. James Faulkner is a key man with his ability to finish an innings, and the side strain he picked up in the tri-series final against England earlier this month is a concern.World Cup pedigreeNo team can match Australia’s World Cup history. Six times they have reached the final and their four titles included a hat-trick of triumphs in 1999, 2003 and 2007. There was also a run of 34 consecutive World Cup matches without a defeat from 1999 to 2011, a record that will almost certainly never be matched. But their early exit in 2011 signaled the end of their era of dominance, and although they will enter the 2015 tournament confident at home, long gone are the days when Australian victories could be assumed.X-FactorIt’s easy to lose track of how often Glenn Maxwell has been described as “the X-factor”. By coaches, by selectors, by team-mates. By himself. In other words, he’s that guy who might win it for you single-handedly in the space of a few overs, with 50 off 20 balls. Or with a breathtaking, athletic catch. He might bat anywhere in the order, bowl at any time or not be used at all. He may go three or four games without a contribution. But when he hits his straps Australia will probably win, and win fast.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Players in focusMitchell JohnsonThe man who delivered the Ashes back into Australian hands might be a key to returning the World Cup to his country as well. It is a quirk of Johnson’s one-day career that some of his best work has been performed in Asian conditions, but on the quicker pitches at home and on the big stage of a World Cup, he can be expected to rattle batsmen from virtually every team. At times, his speed may translate to the ball flying just as quickly off the bat, but if he picks up plenty of wickets along the way his job will be done.Aaron FinchDuring their golden era of one-day cricket, Australia were well served by destructive opening batsmen like Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Mark Waugh. Aaron Finch is the latest to join that list. A muscular man with a good eye, Finch will be coming off a highly productive 2014 that included, among other achievements, an unbeaten 181 in the Lord’s bicentenary celebration match, when he batted with Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. He likes the ball coming on to the bat and is a proven hundred-maker, with the potential to be Australia’s key batsman.George BaileyOne of the key players to have joined Australia’s one-day side since the previous World Cup, Bailey enters this tournament in a very strange situation. If Clarke is unfit for the first game against England, Bailey as his vice-captain will lead the side. But his lack of recent form – he averages 19.68 in the past year – means he will almost certainly be dropped when Clarke returns. In his first two years in Australia’s ODI team, Bailey scored 1647 runs at 53.12, a remarkable record that placed him way out in front on the Australian list over that period – Shane Watson was second with 949. His clean hitting can make him an effective finisher but he is versatile enough to have rebuilt Australia’s innings several times when the top order has stumbled. Unfortunately, he himself has stumbled at just the wrong time.Fact box

Previous World Cups
1975: Finalists
1979: Group stage
1983: Group stage
1987: Winners
1992: Group stage
1996: Finalists
1999: Winners
2003: Winners
2007: Winners
2011: Quarter-finals
Squad
Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson
Fixtures
Saturday, Feb 14 v England in Melbourne
Saturday, Feb 21 v Bangladesh in Brisbane
Saturday, Feb 28 v New Zealand in Auckland
Wednesday, March 4 v Afghanistan in Perth
Sunday, March 8 v Sri Lanka in Sydney
Saturday, March 14 v Scotland in Hobart

Game styleUnder coach Darren Lehmann, aggression has been the key word for Australia in all three formats. “There are no fielders in the car park,” Lehmann likes to say, which reflects the style he brought to his own batting game. That extends to attacking intent in the field and with the ball as well. Match-winning though such an approach can be, it can also lead to the occasional collapse.PredictionThey may no longer be unbeatable, but on their familiar pitches with pace and bounce, Australia should still be a handful for most teams. They will consider it a disaster if they do not at least reach the semi-finals and there is every chance they will be there for the decider at the MCG on March 29.World Cup stats Australia have lost only two of their past 36 World Cup matches – it just so happens that those two defeats were their two most recent games Ricky Ponting is the all-time record holder for most appearances in World Cup matches and will remain so after this tournament; no current player can reach his mark of 46 World Cup gamesIf they were an actorJack Nicholson: Swaggering multiple trophy winner – but best work in the past?Theme song”Don’t Dream It’s Over” – Crowded House