Varun: “Yeah, I feel great. Definitely, at that time, I was going for the wickets, and Fakhar [Zaman] and Sahibzada Farhan were going well. Yes, I had done some plans, and it worked out and the way Kuldeep came and finished – yeah, it gave me memories of KKR, when we were playing together. He’s always a star. He’s the best one of the best spinners.”If you see the trend in the last few matches, [in] the first ten overs, everyone is going berserk if they don’t lose wickets. After that, we knew that if we bowl on the right space, and [on the] right line and length, we can curtail them. And obviously, I would like to mention Hari [team analyst]. He’s a guy who’s done a lot of work behind the scenes, and due credit to him also.”Kuldeep: “Of course, it’s very important to bowl [well] in the middle overs. And, of course, me, Varun and Axar playing together is obviously a luxury to have. Everyone has a different role, so obviously they started really well, after 10-11 overs, they were like 100 for 1. We knew that if we get a couple of early wickets; probably not early, but after ten overs, we got a couple of wickets from him [Varun]. Obviously, it’s not going be easy for [a] new batter to come and score runs easily. Obviously, when I was bowling in the fourth over, I was looking to get them out.”Before the game, he [Hari] just sent the screenshot of the lengths of the lengths where we’re going to bowl to the batters. Especially, big thanks to Hari, and obviously [a] masterclass from Tilak – he was unbelievable today.”Sanju Samson: “Yeah, I really enjoyed the pressure actually. I have not played many India-Pakistan games, but today, I think the pressure was all over there. Three wickets down in the powerplay, so I just had to use my experience, calm the nerves down, and just watch the ball and react. That’s what I did, and it came off nicely. I think I had a really good partnership with Tilak, and really enjoyed playing the game today.”As you all know that the game dictates what type of cricket you need to play, and according to the conditions, you have to respect the conditions, you have to respect the situation. I think that’s what we have learned. Years and years of IPL, years and years of cricket, and that’s what cricket has taught us. So I just had to go out there and then look to time the ball, and that’s what really helped me.”Closer ones [games] are really good. That’s when your characters are being tested and that’s when you also get to test your own mental abilities. So I think that’s a really good awareness which we had just before the World Cup. I think this game was really crucial. Some of these knockout games do actually prepare us for the big games coming a few months ago [later]. And you’ve made some potent contributions.”Shubman Gill: “[Feels] pretty amazing. The whole tournament unbeaten, so it feels pretty amazing to be here in this position. Pretty amazing [to play with Abhishek Sharma]. We have played almost all our cricket together, and I think we know each other pretty much inside out, and it’s amazing to be able to bat with him. The way he bats, [he] takes off the pressure off the non-striker, whosoever is there, and he’s been phenomenal this tournament.”The conversation was to take it as deep as possible. The target wasn’t much, but it was important to soak in the pressure in the start. Losing three wickets early, [it’s] never easy, but I think the way first the partnership for us with Sanju and Tilak, how they batted, and then how Dube came in and hit those big sixes for us was very important.”[In the] final, playing against them, 30 runs in three overs, there wasn’t much panic, but the game can go both ways. You have seen, especially on a slow kind of a wicket, the boundaries are big here, so you really need to connect to be able to get those sixes and, like I said, the way both of them batted, first soaking in the pressure and then got the balls in the zone and they made sure that they hit it out of the park.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo aplicou o conceito de estratégia para vencer o clássico contra o Flamengo, pelo Brasileirão. Isso fez com que os alvinegros fossem à loucura. Os torcedores votaram e elegeram o grande responsável pela vitória. A enquete foi realizada no canal do WhatsApp do Lance! Botafogo.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoJornalista diz que Luiz Henrique, do Botafogo, deveria ter recebido amarelo por comemorar gol com máscaraFora de Campo28/04/2024BrasileirãoLance! Final: Botafogo vence o Flamengo e assume a liderança do BrasileirãoBrasileirão28/04/2024Fora de CampoTorcedores enlouquecem com golaço de Luiz Henrique pelo Botafogo: ‘Caçador de urubu’Fora de Campo28/04/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Botafogo

A torcida do Fogão escolheu o técnico Artur Jorge, que recebeu 89% dos votos (2 mil votos). Na sequência, Luiz Henrique foi o segundo colocado na enquete com 7% dos votos (154 votos). Por último, Savarino com 4% dos votos (104 votos).

Além das enquetes e muita interação, a torcida do Fogão pode acompanhar muito conteúdo e informação no canal do Lance! Botafogo no WhatsApp.

Como faço para participar? Clique aqui para entrar no canal Lance! Botafogo no WhatsApp, a casa da torcida do Fogão.

Tudo sobre

Artur JorgeBotafogoBrasileirãoFutebol Nacional

Braves left fielder Jurickson Profar made one of the best catches you'll ever see Saturday to steal a home run from Marlins designated hitter Agustín Ramírez.

In the top of the fourth inning, Ramírez sent a deep shot to left that appeared to be headed straight over the wall for Miami's first run of the game. Profar wouldn't let that happen though as he climbed the wall and reached his glove as far as he could into the bullpen, timing the play perfectly to make an immaculate grab for a long out.

Braves starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep held his hands on his head with his jaw on the floor, unable to believe what he just saw. Profar threw the ball back in with a huge smile on his face and flexed his throwing arm, knowing he just made potentially the catch of the year.

Athletics rookie Denzel Clarke made a similar home-run robbery earlier this season where he climbed up the wall at Angel Stadium for a spectacular catch. The impeccable saves are just a part of a long list of the best catches over the season.

Profar's play indisputably has a case for the best catch thus far through the year, though. And maybe one of the greatest you'll ever see.

He joined the Braves over the offseason and has a .741 OPS with six homers and 14 RBIs in 35 games this year. He was suspended for 80 games because he violated Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drugs policy and made his return in early July.

يستعد النجم الدولي المصري عمر مرموش، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي مانشستر سيتي للانضمام إلى معكسر منتخب مصر للمشاركة في كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025.

وتستضيف دولة المغرب بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا في الفترة بين 21 ديسمبر 2025 و18 يناير 2026.

كان المنتخب الوطني بقيادة حسام حسن، يأمل في تواجد الثنائي محمد صلاح وعمر مرموش قبل المباراة الودية المقرر إقامتها أمام نيجيريا في 14 من شهر ديسمبر الجاري.

منذ قليل كشف الهولندي آرني سلوت، المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول أن محمد صلاح، قائد منتخب مصر سيغادر الريدز في 15 من شهر ديسمبر.

وسيسافر منتخب مصر إلى المغرب في 17 ديسمبر قبل مواجهة زيمبابوي (22 ديسمبر)، وجنوب أفريقيا (26 ديسمبر)، وأنجولا (29 ديسمبر) في المجموعة الثانية.

وبطبيعة الحال، سيكون هذا نفس موعد مغادرة عمر مرموش لفريق مانشستر سيتي استعدادًا لكأس أمم إفريقيا المقبلة.

اقرأ أيضًا | المباريات التي سيغيبها محمد صلاح عن ليفربول بسبب كأس أمم إفريقيا

وبالتالي، وفي حال وصول مصر إلى نهائي البطولة، ستكون المباريات التي يغيبها عمر مرموش عن مانشستر سيتي على النحو التالي:-

مانشستر سيتي وبرينتفورد، على ملعبه، ربع نهائي كأس كاراباو: 17 ديسمبر.

مانشستر سيتي ووست هام يونايتد، على ملعبه، الدوري الإنجليزي: 20 ديسمبر.

مانشستر سيتي ونوتينجهام فورست خارج ملعبه، الدوري الإنجليزي: 27 ديسمبر.

نهاية دور المجموعات في كأس أمم إفريقيا سيكون 29 ديسمبر.

مانشستر سيتي وسندرلاند، خارج ملعبه، الدوري الإنجليزي: 1 يناير.

دور الـ16 من كأس أمم إفريقيا: 3/5/4 يناير.

مانشستر سيتي وتشيلسي، على ملعبه، الدوري الإنجليزي: 4 يناير.

مانشستر سيتي وبرايتون، على ملعبه، الدوري الإنجليزي: 7 يناير.

دور ربع نهائي كأس أمم إفريقيا: 9/10 يناير.

دور نصف نهائي كأس أمم إفريقيا: 14 يناير.

مباراة تحديد المركز الثالث في كأس أمم إفريقيا: 17 يناير.

مانشستر سيتي ومانشستر يونايتد، خارج ملعبه، الدوري الإنجليزي: 17 يناير.

نهائي كأس أمم إفريقيا: 18 يناير.

مانشستر سيتي وبودو جليمت، خارج ملعبه، دوري أبطال أوروبا: 20 يناير.

إلى جانب مباراة في بطولة كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي سيتم الإعلان عنها لاحقًا عند إجراء القرعة وذلك في دور الـ64، مع العلم أن تلك الجولة ستنطلق يوم 10 يناير المقبل.

Not since David and Victoria Beckham began their relationship in the late 1990s had there been a football couple as high profile as Gerard Pique and Shakira when they got together in 2010. Defender Pique was a key cog in Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Barcelona side of the late noughties and early 2010s, while Shakira had been a global pop sensation since the release of hit single 'Hips Don't Lie' in 2005. This was the kind of story the tabloids thrive off – and even more so when it goes badly wrong.

After crossing paths on a music video shoot ahead of the 2010 World Cup, their relationship would span more than a decade. Despite both living their lives in the intense glare of the spotlight and the added scrutiny of being a celebrity couple, the pair seemed to be the picture of happiness – welcoming two sons in 2013 and 2015, regularly appearing together at events and making some very public displays of affection.

However, things would go seriously awry in the summer of 2022 as they suddenly split against the backdrop of cheating allegations levelled against the now-former footballer, in what became an increasingly messy separation.

From football's modern-day power couple to 'betrayal', diss tracks and social media point scoring, this is the story of the breakdown of Pique and Shakira's picture-book relationship…

• AFP
  

  Musical meeting

  Perhaps unsurprisingly, Pique and Shakira's respective careers were the reason for their paths crossing in 2010, as they met on the set of a music video shoot. Rather bizarrely, Shakira – who is Colombian – had been chosen to co-write and sing the official song of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)'.

  Pique was among a clutch of prominent players to feature in the music video, and he met Shakira on set in June 2010 shortly before the tournament began. The footballer happens to be 10 years the singer's junior to the day, with both born on February 2.

  "I wasn't a soccer fan, so I didn't know who he was," Shakira told in a 2020 interview. "When I saw the video, I was like, 'Hmm, that one's kind of cute'. And then someone decided to introduce us." From there, their relationship blossomed.

Advertisement

• Shakira Facebook
  

  Secretive beginnings

  The couple did not initially make their relationship public, but that changed in March 2011 when both Pique and Shakira posted a photo of themselves embracing on Twitter (now X) and Facebook, alongside the caption "I present to you my sun".

  It was reported that they had gone public at the request of legendary former Barcelona boss Guardiola, as the manager was growing concerned about the media scrutiny that his player's secretive encounters with the singer was generating and even believed the defender's on-pitch form had been affected.

  Pique had paparazzi camped outside his home and they would follow him to the club's training ground, with tabloids and gossip magazines offering up a price of €150,000 for photos of the pair together.

• Twitter @3gerardpique
  

  Building a family

  Pique and Shakira would be seen in public with each other increasingly often, and he even joined her on stage during the Barcelona leg of her 'The Sun Comes Out' world tour in May 2011. The couple shared a kiss to send the crowd into frenzy.

  Shakira would attend the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony with Pique in early 2012, and later that year the couple announced that they were expecting their first child together, with Milan Pique born in January 2013. They then confirmed their latest pregnancy in August 2014 and the couple's second son would follow in January 2015 when Sasha was born, seven days after his brother's birthday.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty/GOAL
  

  'Marriage scares the sh*t out of me'

  In 2020, Shakira explained why she didn't want to marry Pique, despite them seemingly being very happy together. "To tell you the truth, marriage scares the sh*t out of me," she said in her interview with . "I don't want him to see me as the wife. I'd rather him see me as his girlfriend. His lover, his girlfriend. It's like a little forbidden fruit, you know?

  "I wanna keep him on his toes. I want him to think that anything's possible depending on behaviour."

Celtic are now reportedly confident that they’ll beat Manchester City to the signature of a rising star who made history back in February.

O'Neill confirms fresh Celtic timeline

It’s set to be a chaotic week at Celtic, with Wilfried Nancy set to arrive and Martin O’Neill set to take charge of his final European game as caretaker boss. The 73-year-old has done an admirable job and the Bhoys’ trip to Feyenoord represents the perfect way for him to pick up a win in the Europa League in his final attempt.

The veteran manager also confirmed that Nancy’s arrival is “imminent”. Whether that means the new manager will be in place in time to take charge of Celtic’s game against Hibernian this Sunday remains to be seen, however.

The Columbus Crew manager is already reportedly planning January reinforcements from the MLS side. Both Wessam Abou Ali and Diego Rossi have both already been linked with moves to Scotland ahead of Nancy’s arrival and both would certainly help to solve the Bhoys’ goalscoring issues.

If Celtic are to stand a chance of catching Hearts in the Scottish Premiership then the January window will be crucial. They must make up for their summer failure by reinforcing their attack in January, before continuing that work into the next window.

It’s then that they could welcome 17-year-old Michael Noonan by fending off interest from Premier League giants Manchester City.

Celtic confident they'll sign Michael Noonan

According to the Scottish Sun, Celtic are now confident they’ll sign Noonan ahead of interest from Man City next year in what would be an impressive coup for a rising star. The 17-year-old made history when he became the youngest goalscorer in Europa Conference League history at 16 years and 197 days old in February.

After scoring three goals at the U17 World Cup, Noonan earned the praise of scout Jacek Kulig, who dubbed the forward “a superb advanced striker” and “the future of Irish football”.

Related Nancy must unleash Celtic's most frustrating player since Engels

Wilfried Nancy must unleash this Celtic star who is their most frustrating player since Arne Engels.

Posts 1 ByDan Emery Nov 26, 2025

Everything points towards a top star on the rise and one that Celtic should do everything to sign. Beating Man City to such a talent would be an impressive move too, and the Hoops’ confidence suggests that Noonan could yet be on his way to Glasgow.

Celtic agree deal to appoint 54-year-old coach to Wilfried Nancy's backroom team

Doran’s 73 got Tasmania close to the home side’s total after they had been facing a large deficit

Alex Malcolm29-Oct-2025Test allrounder Beau Webster was knocked over cheaply while Mitchell Perry continued his outstanding start to the season with a five-wicket haul to hand Victoria a narrow but important lead over Tasmania at the Junction Oval.Perry claimed the second best figures of his Sheffield Shield career, 5 for 58, as Tasmania were bowled out for 232 on day two with wicketkeeper Jake Doran continuing his excellent start to the season with a fighting 73 on a difficult batting surface.Victoria turned a 24-run first innings lead into 59 by stumps for the loss of only Harry Dixon.Webster, in his first Shield innings of the summer, was clean bowled for 11 by a cracking delivery from Will Sutherland that snaked back through the gate off the seam as he tried to defend on the front foot.That backed up some great early work that Perry, Fergus O’Neill and Todd Murphy and left Tasmania struggling at 126 for 7. After Perry had made the big breakthrough on the first night dismissing Test hopeful Jake Weatherald for a duck, O’Neill took two key wickets on the second morning. He had nightwatcher Gabe Bell caught behind and then later trapped Tim Ward lbw from around the after he had played nicely for his 42.Ward and Caleb Jewell had put together a 50-run stand in challenging conditions in the morning against a ball that was still relatively new.The introduction of spin turned the momentum back in Victoria’s favour. Todd Murphy extracted some turn to have Jewell caught at slip as he lunged forward to defend.Mitchell Perry celebrates a wicket•Getty Images

Perry returned from the southern end and had Brad Hope and Jordan Silk caught down the leg side in almost identical fashion either side of Ward’s dismissal. Tasmania lost 3 for 2 and 4 for 18 in 11.1 overs. When Webster fell five overs later Tasmania were staring a three-figure first innings deficit in the fcae.But Doran and Nikhil Chaudhary dug them out of trouble with an excellent 60-run eighth-wicket stand. Doran rode his luck early, top edging a pull shot over the keeper. But thereafter he played with great control off the back foot to the quicks and handled Murphy with ease including launching him against the turn over long-on.Chaudhary struck five boundaries in his 38 and scarcely looked troubled as he rotated the strike beautifully. But he was the architect of his own demise when he fell for a short ball trap, pulling a Perry bouncer with no control to a well placed man at deep square.That left Tasmania 186 for 8, still 70 runs behind Victoria’s first innings total. However, Doran extracted another 46 runs with Kieran Elliot and Riley Meredith, who contributed just three between them. Doran was the last man out, clean bowled trying to lunch Perry down the ground. It handed Perry his third five-wicket haul in Shield cricket and made it 13 wickets in five bowling innings so far this season.Victoria’s lead swelled in a 14-over final session with Dixon and Campbell Kellaway playing positively. Dixon struck four crisp boundaries, including a couple of superb cover drives, in his 19 before the extra pace of Meredith caused a mistake. He attempted to leave a rising delivery outside off but failed to withdraw his bat in time and it came off the bottom edge onto the stumps.

Australia continue to top the table while Sri Lanka jump to fifth after their first points of this World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2025

Abandoned Sri Lanka will probably be the happier team to get a point out of their washout against world champions Australia in Colombo on Saturday. The conditions didn’t look as bad a day before the game and even on Saturday when the two teams had walked out before toss time to assess the ground. But the rain picked up quickly, and even though the entire ground was covered, the match had to be abandoned about two and a half hours after the scheduled start time.The two teams came into this match with contrasting results in their opening games – Australia had beaten New Zealand by 89 runs in Indore and Sri Lanka had lost to India by 59 runs (via the DLS method) in Guwahati.Australia continue to top the table with three points and Sri Lanka have jumped to fifth place, but with a negative net run rate of -1.255. Australia were the favourites for this game – like they are in the tournament – as Sri Lanka have never beaten them in international cricket across 11 ODIs and eight T20Is.This also means Sri Lanka head into their next fixture – against England on October 11 – after what is now a gap of 10 days, having played India in the World Cup opener on September 30. Australia had flown into Colombo on Thursday from Indore and will continue to stay in Colombo to play Pakistan on October 8 before flying to Visakhapatnam to face India on October 9.Colombo is also set to host the India vs Pakistan match on Sunday, and the weather forecast doesn’t look too optimistic for that either.

Could rain affect India vs Pakistan in Colombo on Sunday? The day in Colombo started with the sun out, happily for fans waiting to watch on TV or at the R Premadasa Stadium, but word is that things might change quickly, and a severely rain-affected match isn’t ruled out.The weather in Colombo has been a matter of interest and concern, especially after the washout in Saturday’s game between Australia and Sri Lanka without a ball bowled. Will it be the same on Sunday, taking out arguably the most anticipated contest in the tournament? The morning didn’t suggest so, but the forecast is of showers through the day. The fact that it has been a dry morning “doesn’t mean anything”, locals say, since the north-east monsoon appears to have arrived in Sri Lanka before schedule.On Saturday, the skies didn’t look too bad – certainly not as gloomy as on Friday – and the signs were positive when Australia and Sri Lanka walked out before the scheduled toss time to look at the ground. But even the toss wasn’t possible as the rain picked up quickly and, even though the whole ground was covered quickly, the match had to be called off about two-and-a-half hours after the scheduled start time (3pm local).India, the hosts of the tournament, and Pakistan go into the match with contrasting results behind them. India beat Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Guwahati on September 30 by 59 runs (rain had reduced that to a 47-overs-a-side game too) and Pakistan lost their opening game to Bangladesh by seven wickets in Colombo.

When it comes to the greatest Chelsea players of the last 15 years or so, it’s impossible to look past Eden Hazard.

The Belgian wizard joined the Blues in the summer of 2012 and, over the next seasons, made 352 appearances, scoring 110 goals, providing 88 assists, and winning a host of trophies, including two Premier Leagues.

The international superstar was more than just output, though; he was an entertainer, someone who could make something of anything, and a legend of the league.

So, fans should be delighted about reports linking Chelsea to another superstar who could become their new Hazard.

Chelsea target their new Eden Hazard

The transfer window reopens in just over a month, and as a result, Chelsea are being linked with some seriously exciting players.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, for example, has been touted for a £79m move to Stamford Bridge, as has Nottingham Forest’s defensive powerhouse Murillo.

Yet, while both would improve the Blues’ squad and potentially the starting lineup, neither can be described as the next Hazard, unlike Vinícius Júnior.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Chelsea are one of a few teams keen on signing the Real Madrid winger.

In fact, the report has revealed that, alongside Manchester City, the West Londoners are leading the race for the Brazilian’s signature, while Manchester United trail behind.

However, on top of the competition, the Blues will have to stump up a fee of up to £100m to secure the superstar’s signature.

It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Vini Jr’s immense ability, it’s one Chelsea should be all over, especially as he could be another Hazard.

Why Vini Jr would be another Hazard for Chelsea

Now, while Vini Jr obviously isn’t a carbon copy of Hazard, there are undeniable similarities between the two.

For example, in addition to sharing a position with him, the Brazilian is also a winger most would describe as an entertainer; he is not merely efficient.

In other words, the 25-year-old is more than happy to take on an opposition defender, is capable of scoring a myriad of goals and isn’t afraid of pulling off a trick or two, even if he sometimes gets heat for doing so.

While this is all obvious from simply watching the former Flamengo gem play, it’s also borne out in his underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, the top 3% for successful take-ons, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and more, all per 90.

Simply put, the São Gonçalo-born star is someone who wants to carry the ball into dangerous areas and is one of the very best at doing so.

With all that said, while Vini Jr has the entertainment side of Hazard to his own game, he’s also as, if not more, dangerous when it comes to backing that up with output.

Appearances

340

Starts

267

Minutes

24,291′

Goals

111

Assists

92

Points per Game

2.15

For example, in 340 appearances, for Los Blancos, totalling 24291 minutes, he has scored 111 goals and provided 92 assists.

That comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.67 games, or every 119.66 minutes, which is even more impressive when you consider his slow start in Madrid.

With numbers like those, and the fact he’s one of the few players in the world guaranteed to get fans on their feet, it’s hard to disagree with Ronaldo’s assertion that he is “the best player in the world.”

Therefore, while it will cost an arm and a leg, Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign Vini Jr, especially as he could be their next Hazard.

Chelsea: Enzo Maresca provides major Cole Palmer update ahead of Arsenal

The Blues are set for a mouth-watering Premier League clash this weekend.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 28, 2025