New Zealand remain on top after taking a 158-run lead

Hemant Brar31-Jul-2025

The Zimbabwe bowlers put in a more disciplined performance on the second day of the first Test in Bulawayo, but Daryl Mitchell’s gritty 80 ensured New Zealand kept their advantage intact.New Zealand started the day on 92 for no loss and marched to 158 for 1 before losing five wickets for 42 runs. But Mitchell, with the help of the lower order, steered them to 307, ensuring a lead of 158. New Zealand then removed the Zimbabwe openers before stumps, still 127 ahead.In the morning, Blessing Muzarabani gave Zimbabwe a dream start, removing Will Young with the first ball of the day. It was a short delivery and Young fended it towards Nick Welch, who was slightly deeper than usual at short leg and completed the catch with a dive. Welch was not sure if he had taken it cleanly, but the TV umpire found no issues with it.Devon Conway was fluent at the other end. With Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga operating from around the wicket, he used the cover drive to good effect and picked up three boundaries with it in three successive overs. Muzarabani switched to over the wicket to deny Conway but by then he was into the last over of his spell.Henry Nicholls, playing his first Test since December 2023, came in at No. 3 and looked a little uncertain. The Zimbabwe seamers found his outside edge a couple of times but they did not carry to the slip cordon. Nicholls grew in confidence as he spent time in the middle. When Newman Nyamhuri missed his line or length, he pounced on it, taking 22 runs off just 24 balls from the left-arm seamer. During this, he also completed 3000 Test runs.Blessing Muzarabani celebrates Michael Bracewell’s dismissal•Zimbabwe Cricket

Conway and Nicholls took New Zealand into the lead before Muzarabani returned to end the 66-run stand for the second wicket. Seeing Nicholls back away, Muzarabani followed him. Two balls earlier, Nicholls had hit a boundary using the same ploy. But this time, he was cramped and ended up hitting the ball straight to Brian Bennett at gully.That triggered a collapse in which New Zealand lost five wickets for 42 runs.Rachin Ravindra was the next to fall, edging Sikandar Raza to slip, where Craig Ervine completed an otherwise regulation catch on the second attempt.After lunch, Chivanga got the reward for his hard work. His extra bounce had Conway, on 88, miscuing an uppercut to Bennett, who took his second catch at gully. In his next over, Chivanga used the short ball to get rid of Tom Blundell, who pulled one into the lap of deep square leg.Muzarabani, too, used the short ball to have Michael Bracewell top-edging a pull. For a moment, it looked like wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga had misjudged it but he put in a full-stretch dive in the end to complete the catch near fine leg. That left New Zealand at 200 for 6.Mitchell and Mitchell Santner added 33 for the seventh wicket to lend the innings some stability before Santner chipped one back to legspinner Vincent Masekesa. After that, Mitchell took the lead. In the company of Nathan Smith, he brought up his fifty and added 61 for the eighth wicket. Smith played his part by scoring 22 and resisting for 79 balls, of which he took two on the body. He had to eventually retire hurt.With Matt Henry falling soon after and Smith not coming back, Mitchell was forced to take risks. He moved across his stumps to scoop Nyamhuri but missed and lost his middle stump. By then, though, New Zealand had regained their advantage. They extended it when Henry had Ben Curran hooking one to fine leg and Will O’Rourke had Bennett edging one to the wicketkeeper before stumps.

Scott McTominay could be on his way back to the Premier League after Newcastle United entered the race to secure his signature alongside a number of rivals.

The Magpies, with their PSR problems behind them, have set their sights on building a side capable of staying inside the Premier League’s top four and that may start with their midfield.

Already, those at St James’ Park have tied Sandro Tonali down to a new deal at the club after holding secret talks with the Italian and now rumours are emerging as to who could join the former AC Milan man.

At 25 years old, Tonali is increasingly likely to play a key role under Eddie Howe for years to come and Newcastle could even decide to build the heart of their side around the midfielder, whilst also pursuing the likes of Elliot Anderson.

The Nottingham Forest star has been linked with a return to Tyneside just over a year since leaving Newcastle for the Midlands in what would be a sensational move.

Howe even went as far as to admit that there’s some regret that Newcastle were left with no choice but to sell Anderson amid PSR problems last year. That alone suggests that he’d be more than happy to welcome the England international back with open arms.

By signing Anderson just after securing Tonali’s future, PIF could also be opening the door for a Ballon d’Or nominee to take his place in Newcastle’s midfield.

Newcastle in pole position to sign Scott McTominay

Newcastle are now in pole position to sign McTominay from Napoli alongside Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, according to TeamTalk. Both sides are reportedly joined by Barcelona in the race to welcome the Scotland international, who is also expected to be offered a new deal in Italy.

When McTominay left Manchester United in 2024, the Red Devils were happy to show him the door. Now, over a year later, he has the world at his feet and was even a 2025 Ballon d’Or nominee. His rise has been sensational, and he could yet make a return to England to end some unfinished business.

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To no surprise, Howe also reportedly believes McTominay is the perfect fit for his Newcastle side and views him as someone who would help the Magpies stay in the Champions League.

Described as “special” by former Man United boss Jose Mourinho, the midfielder has finally realised his full potential and now has another big decision to make.

Ross Wilson now wants Newcastle to sign Joelinton heir

Celtic are on the lookout for a new manager this week after Brendan Rodgers officially resigned from his role with the Scottish Premiership champions on Monday night.

Martin O’Neill will take interim charge of the Hoops and will be in the dugout for their league clash with Falkirk at Parkhead on Wednesday night.

Football Insider have already reported that the club are planning to make contact with out-of-work former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou about a potential return to the club.

However, the Hoops are now reportedly looking at another potential replacement for Brendan Rodgers who could be their next version of Postecoglou.

Celtic eyeing move for Championship manager

Following Rodgers’ resignation on Monday night, the board will be compiling a list of possible managers before finalising a shortlist and deciding who they want as their next head coach.

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According to The Scotsman, Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is one of the people on the club’s list of potential targets to replace Rodgers in the coming days and weeks.

The report claims that the Hoops are considering a swoop to bring the Tractor Boys head coach to Parkhead, and that he is one of the early names under consideration at this moment in time.

It states that he has fans inside the boardroom at Celtic, hence the interest in his services, but it remains to be seen whether or not he would be interested in taking the job.

Why Kieran McKenna would be Celtic's next Ange Postecoglou

The Northern Irish coach, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, would be Postecoglou 2.0 for Celtic because he is another excellent coach whose teams play beautiful football.

Gary Neville described Postecoglou’s style of play as “breathtaking” in the Premier League, whilst Hoops supporters saw how exciting it was to watch as their team won five trophies in two seasons with him in charge, per Transfermarkt.

McKenna has earned similar praise for the way that his Ipswich team has played in recent years. Former Barnsley boss Danny Wilson claimed that the Tractor Boys play “sublime football” under the ex-Manchester United coach.

The goal in the clip above provides a taste of the kind of football McKenna’s team can play, with brilliant combination play and movement off the ball to create chances whilst playing through the opposition.

25/26 Championship (11)

16

TBC

24/25 Premier League (38)

22

19th

23/24 Championship (46)

96

2nd

22/23 Championship (46)

98

2nd

21/22 League One(23)

41

11th

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic target took Ipswich from midtable in the Championship all the way to the Premier League, and they are now in the Championship again with an opportunity to get promoted back to the top-flight.

He has improved the Tractor Boys, clearly, during his time there and has been incredibly unlucky not to win two league titles, with 98 and 96 points somehow not being enough for a single title over two seasons.

In the view of his former skipper, Sam Morsy, McKenna’s “one of the best managers around”.

Like Postecoglou, he has a demonstrable style of play that could be exciting for Celtic supporters to watch week-in-week-out, and it is one that has proven to be successful, given the incredible points returns in his two promotion-winning seasons.

Of course, the concern may be that he has not won a league title or done anything of note in a top-flight, but that was also true of Rodgers, who had been sacked by Liverpool, when they first appointed him.

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Therefore, McKenna could be an interesting appointment for the Scottish giants and one that could get fans excited at Parkhead because of his lovely style of play, as Postecoglou did during his time at the club.

Isaac Mohammed, the 17-year-old nephew of Moeen Ali, scores maiden half-century

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay10-Aug-2025Isaac Mohammed evoked the spirit of his uncle, the England allrounder Moeen Ali, with a maiden half-century to get Worcestershire’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign off the ground with victory at Chelmsford.The 17-year-old opener, who only made his first-team debut in the Vitality Blast less than two months ago, played enterprisingly in laying the foundations for Worcestershire’s 60-run win against Essex with 28 balls to spare.Worcestershire’s 340 for 9 was built around four big-hitting half-centuries from top-order batters, who shared 11 of 12 sixes in the innings with Mohammed landing four of them. His 63 from 75 balls was the appetiser before Kashif Ali (80 from 73) and Jake Libby (70 from 63) put on 110 in 17 overs. That preceded Ethan Brookes exploding on to the scene to take the game away from the still winless hosts.Brookes was at the crease for 27 minutes while hammering four sixes and six fours in a 25-ball 56. His stand of 80 with Libby encompassed just six overs.In response, Essex opener Robin Das took his tally to 147 runs in three innings with back-to-back fifties. But while others got in, they just as quickly got out and the target was never seriously threatened. Brookes made sure of that with 3 for 52.It was not all rosy for Worcestershire, though. Rob Jones had declared himself unfit to play earlier in the morning but was named in the XI at the toss in what was later described as an ‘administrative error’. He came out at the fall of the ninth wicket, faced two balls, scored five not out and was not seen again.The visitors recovered from an underwhelming 33 without loss in the 10-over powerplay, to add 117 in 15 overs between the halfway mark and the 40th over before six wickets went down in the last half-dozen overs as they chased late runs.Worcestershire’s openers put on 60 before Nick Browne snaffled a leading-edge skier in the covers to dismiss Brett D’Oliveira.Mohammed, meanwhile, had looked in trouble early on as Shane Snater benefited from the extra grass left on the wicket to gain lift and carry that had the youngster groping outside off-stump. It did not last long as the left-hander took control and reached his maiden half-century in 67 balls. His four sixes were equally distributed between long-off and square leg.He departed when he misjudged a ball of fuller length from Tom Westley that beat his tentative forward prod and rapped him on the pad.Kashif and Libby’s second successive century stand was less thrilling than Mohammed’s innings, but with lots of nudging and nurdling they kept the scoreboard ticking along.Kashif reached his fifty by punching Luc Benkenstein through the covers. However, he had earlier been hit on his right hip, and when he reached 58, called for the aid of a runner. Re-enter Mohammed. Despite his mobility being severely restricted, Kashif still managed to launch his next ball over midwicket for six. His evident discomfort was ended, though, when he lofted Benkenstein to long leg.Brookes was a whirlwind of hyper-activity with four sixes in his 23-minute fifty, reached with a delicate leg glance for his fifth four. He departed at 297 for 4 when caught at short third. The late wickets were largely self-inflicted.Ben Allison ended his former team-mates’ opening stand of 71 when Matt Critchley stepped aside to give himself room and was bowled. Das reached fifty from 49 balls but next ball was caught just inside the midwicket boundary.Charlie Allison dug in for a 46-run stand with Westley before he was bowled off his pads by Fateh Singh and Benkenstein’s belligerent 23 from 17 balls was ended when he drove D’Oliveira to extra cover.Westley also fell stepping away from his wicket against Singh for 43; Simon Fernandes chipped to short midwicket and Noah Thain was caught-and-bowled by Brookes as Essex’s reply spluttered and died.

All the big numbers from South Africa’s collapse to 106 against Afghanistan in Sharjah

ESPNcricinfo stats team18-Sep-20244 Totals lower than South Africa’s 106 for which Afghanistan have bowled out a current Full Member side in ODIs. They have bowled out Zimbabwe under 100 three times in the format and Ireland for exactly 100 once. South Africa’s total in this match is the lowest against Afghanistan by one of the first eight Full Member teams in ODIs. The next lowest is West Indies’ 149 in Gros Islet in 2017.7 Wickets lost by South Africa inside their first 10 overs. This was the first time they had lost as many inside the first 10. Their previous worst (where information is available) came when they lost their seventh wicket inside 13 overs against India in Johannesburg last year.0 Lower scores at which South Africa have been seven down in an ODI. South Africa were 36 for 7 in this match. This was also the first time they had lost seven wickets before getting to 50 in ODIs. Their previous worst had come against Australia in 2002, when they lost their seventh wicket at the score of 50.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 Lower totals than today’s 106 by South Africa while batting first in ODIs. Their lowest totals batting first are 83 against England at Trent Bridge in 2008 and 99 against India in Delhi in 2022.32 Runs scored by South Africa’s top six in this match – their lowest in an ODI when all of them have been dismissed. Their previous lowest was 45 against Australia in 1993-94 in Sydney.0 Fifty-plus scores in 43 innings in international cricket by Wiaan Mulder before his fighting 52 in this match. Coming in at 29 for 5, Mulder scored nearly 50% of South Africa’s total. In fact, South Africa’s 106 is the second-lowest all-out total in ODIs with at least one individual fifty. The lowest is their own 101 against Pakistan in 1999-00 when Herschelle Gibbs top-scored with 59.102 Wickets by Fazalhaq Farooqui in international cricket. He became just the third seamer from Afghanistan to take 100 wickets when he dismissed South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram in this match. Dawlat Zadran and Gulbadin Naib are the other two Afghanistan seamers with 100 or more international wickets.144 Balls that went unused in Afghanistan’s first ever win in international cricket against South Africa. This was Afghanistan’s fifth-biggest win in terms of balls remaining in ODIs and third biggest against a Full Member team. For South Africa, this ranks as their tenth-worst defeat in ODIs.1 Full-member teams Afghanistan haven’t yet beaten in international cricket. Post their win against South Africa, India are now the only team they haven’t defeated yet. They have come close twice, though. The first instance was a tied ODI during the 2018 Asia Cup. The second instance came earlier this year in a T20I in Bengaluru, where they lost in the second set of Super Overs.

Leroy Sane has returned to the Germany squad for the final World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia, with Julian Nagelsmann also handing a shock first senior call-up to Koln’s breakout talent Said El Mala. The national coach says Sane has “earned his nomination” after previously casting doubt on his future with the national team due to his summer transfer to Galatasaray.

Sane returns after Nagelsmann warning

Nagelsmann has named his 25-man squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia, with several notable selections reflecting both immediate competitive needs and long-term national team planning.

The high-profile return is Gala winger Sane, who has been recalled for the first time since his summer transfer from Bayern to Galatasaray. Sane, who has contributed three goals and three assists in 14 matches for Galatasaray, last played for the national team in June and Nagelsmann warned he would need to excel after trading the Bundesliga for the Super Lig, declaring it a "worse league".

After confirming the 29-year-old's return on Thursday, Nagelsmann explained his decision at a press conference, saying: “I’ve been in constant and very good communication with Leroy Sane; he earned his nomination with strong performances in the Champions League and the Super Lig.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportEl Mala gets the nod amid Koln rise

The most eye-catching decision from Nagelsmann is the inclusion of 19-year-old Koln star El Mala. The winger has enjoyed a meteoric rise since Koln’s promotion, scoring four goals in nine Bundesliga games, many of them decisive impacts from the bench. Despite having only two league starts, Nagelsmann believes El Mala’s dynamism and unpredictability can add a new dimension to Germany’s attacking options.

"Said El Mala should show his true colors with us, bringing all his carefree and lighthearted style," the coach said. "We’re keeping an eye on the talents from our U21 team and, in consultation with [U21s coach] Toni Di Salvo, want to give them the opportunity to showcase their skills with the senior national team from time to time."

In contrast, several players miss out, including Robert Andrich, Robin Koch, Angelo Stiller and Maximilian Beier, while multiple established first-teamers, including Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Antonio Rudiger, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Niclas Fullkrug, remain unavailable due to injury.

Injuries, selection battles and competition for spots ahead of 2026

Nagelsmann continues to manage a delicate balance between high-stakes results and squad development. The absences of Musiala, Havertz, Fullkrug and Rudiger have forced tactical reevaluation in every department, creativity, goalscoring, and defensive leadership.

Meanwhile, even players showing progress at club level have been held back from selection, most notably Bayern's sensation Lennart Karl, who has been widely praised for his maturity and composure since breaking into the first team this season. The 17-year-old wonderkid has featured regularly under Kompany in Bayern’s revamped midfield setup, demonstrating a strong passing range, tactical awareness, and the willingness to play through pressure. His development has been seen as one of the bright spots in Bayern’s early season, where he also scored stunners at the highest-level.

One subplot also emerging is competition for attacking roles, with Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade expected to shoulder responsibility across the front line. Jonathan Burkardt, in strong domestic form, has another opportunity to secure a longer-term place.

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Getty Images SportGermany still fighting for World Cup spot

Germany currently lead Group A level on points with Slovakia, meaning these final fixtures will likely determine who qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup.

Nagelsmann's team travel to Luxembourg on November 14, before facing Slovakia in Leipzig on November 17 in what is likely the deciding fixture for the group. Two wins guarantee automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, while finishing second would send them into the playoff route, though Germany are already guaranteed a playoff spot through the Nations League.

For Sane, these games represent the chance to re-establish himself as a crucial starter ahead of the Euros-to-World Cup cycle transition. For El Mala, they represent something simpler, a platform to prove he belongs, and Nagelsmann has made his intentions clear that the door is open, but every position must be earned.

The gloom of the fog hanging over San Francisco could be felt in the Giants' clubhouse after a 2-1 loss to the Pirates in extra innings and the team trading reliever Tyler Rogers to the Mets.

The Giants sent Rogers to the Mets Wednesday in exchange for prospects Blade Tidwell, Drew Gilbert and reliever José Butto. Rogers, who is 4-3 with a 1.80 ERA across 50 innings pitched this season, leaves after spending all six and a half seasons of his MLB career with the Giants until this point.

Giants starter Logan Webb, who allowed 1 run and struck out 11 in the loss, simply said of the Rogers trade, "The Mets got a good one."

"Ty's one of my best friends in baseball," Webb also said. "We live right near each other in the offseason. Our entire big league careers, we've been together. … Sucks we're losing a guy like that, but at the end of the day it's what happens. … He's saved me a lot of times, he's saved the Giants a lot times. He's been one of the best relievers in baseball."

The trade not only signified Webb's close friend moving away, but that the Giants would be sellers—rather than buyers—at the deadline this year. After getting off to a hot start this season, they have lost 10 of their 12 games since coming back from the All-Star break. They are 54-55, and reality is setting in as they currently sit outside of the wild card conversation in the National League.

"It sucks," Giants All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman said. "We lost the last six in a row. We haven't given Buster [Posey] and the front office any reason to add. We did it to ourselves. Obviously you can tell that everybody's pretty upset, and it's not how we saw this thing going. … When you trade one of your best arms in the bullpen, I think it shows where we're headed."

Tottenham Hotspur produced one of their best performances of the 2025/26 campaign on Tuesday night when they smashed Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League.

Thomas Frank’s side strolled to a comfortable victory in North London, despite Brennan Johnson’s second-half red card, and could have had a fifth when Richarlison missed a penalty late on.

The pick of the goals on the night was, undoubtably, the unbelievable solo run from central defender Micky van de Ven, which will

surely be in contention for the Goal of the Season award next year.

In terms of performances, Dutch attacking midfielder Xavi Simons will be pleased with his personal contribution after an impressive outing.

How Xavi Simons may have kickstarted his season

The £52m summer signing from RB Leipzig ended a run of 11 matches without a goal contribution in all competitions for Spurs with his assist for Johnson’s opening goal.

Xavi played a brilliant pass through to the Wales international, which allowed him to slot into an empty net after rounding the goalkeeper, and that was his second assist of the season.

The Netherlands international created three ‘big chances’ for the team in total, per Sofascore, and was the first Spurs player to create three chances in a Champions League half since the 2016/17 campaign.

Xavi, now, needs to use this impressive performance as a platform to kick on and provide consistency on a regular basis for the Lilywhites.

The Dutchman was not the only star player who could use Tuesday night’s match as a platform, though, as Wilson Odobert had his best night for the club.

Why Copenhagen was Wilson Odobert's best performance for Spurs

Since his move to Spurs from Burnley in the summer of 2024, Odobert has only managed two goals and no assists in the Premier League and the Champions League, with the second of those two goals coming against Copenhagen.

The French winger, who earned the same player rating (8/10) as Xavi from GOAL, remained incredibly composed to finish his chance, as shown in the clip above, when it would have been easy to snatch at it or try to smash it towards goal.

On top of scoring, the former Burnley man also completed three dribbles and created one chance, per Sofascore, which speaks to how direct and effective he was with the ball at his feet.

The Athletic’s Jay Harris suggested it was his “best performance in a Spurs shirt”, and that is hard to argue with, when compared to the only other game in the Premier League or Champions League that he has contributed to a goal in.

As you can see in the table above, Odobert was better in duels, as a dribbler, as a creator, and as a passer against Copenhagen than he was against West Ham when he scored his first league goal for the club.

These statistics suggest that the French sensation, who was as effective as Xavi on Tuesday night, did play his best match for the Lilywhites against the Danish outfit.

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Like the Dutchman, Odobert should look to use this performance as a platform to build from for the rest of the season to kick on and become a star for Tottenham.

Fabrizio Romano has now shared an update on Endrick’s future at Real Madrid, with West Ham’s striker search taking a significant twist.

Endrick is gearing up to leave Real on loan in January, and Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have been touted as one of the fierce contenders for his signature.

The 19-year-old, still widely regarded as one of Brazil’s brightest young prospects, hasn’t exactly had a smooth ride since joining the La Liga giants.

With first-team opportunities limited at the Bernabeu as a result of fitness issues and competition for places in Xabi Alonso’s side, a loan move appears to be the next logical step for his development.

West Ham have reportedly held talks about bringing Endrick on loan, already positioning themselves well in the race for his signature ahead of January.

Other clubs are also interested, like Sevilla, Real Sociedad and Brentford, according to some reports, but West Ham’s reported early discussions could give them an edge.

This comes as Nuno allegedly urges David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers hierarchy to sign a new defender, midfielder and forward (GiveMeSport), but with funds tight, temporary deals could be a key theme of their winter window.

Endrick is poised to be one of Europe’s finest talents available on loan in January, leaving little wonder why West Ham are very keen to secure his signature.

While the teenager has struggled for game time under Alonso, Endrick did score five Copa del Rey goals to fire Los Blancos to the final of the competition last season, before they eventually lost to Barcelona.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

The former Palmeiras sensation would be an excellent signing for West Ham, and one who’d inject much-needed flair and enthusiasm to their forward line.

The prospect of a Premier League move could also tempt Endrick, as it would do with any other player on the continent, but according to Romano, West Ham now face growing competition for his services.

Fabrizio Romano shares Endrick update as West Ham striker search takes twist

Taking to X, the reliable transfer journalist now claims that Ligue 1 giants Lyon have opened talks to sign Endrick on loan — which could seriously impact West Ham’s chances of a deal.

Endrick is believed to be intrigued by the possibility of a move to France, as Paulo Fonseca’s side already make their intentions known with an “official approach” just over two months before the January window opens.

Commenting further, Romano also says that while Endrick is still waiting to assess all of his options, potentially including West Ham, the attacker is pretty keen on Lyon as an option.

If a move for Endrick eventually becomes out of West Ham’s reach, it is worth noting that they’ve also held rumoured discussions about signing his Real teammate, Gonzalo Garcia.

The Spaniard, who finished last summer’s Club World Cup as the competition’s joint-top scorer, has also struggled to establish himself as a starter for Alonso this season and could be a great alternative to Endrick.

There are other options for West Ham as well, but it is absolutely imperative that the club back Nuno with a new centre-forward, especially considering Niclas Fullkrug’s injury woes and their lack of decent options.

West Ham already working on deal to sign £40 million striker in January.

MatériaMais Notícias

Antes de desembarcar no Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Galdames era desconhecido pela torcida do Vasco. O volante chileno, de 27 anos, foi um dos nomes que precisou superar a desconfiança do torcedor dentro de campo. Em entrevista exclusiva ao Lance!, o jogador abriu o jogo sobre a sua chegada ao clube até os dias atuais. Confira no player acima.

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Eles queriam liberar uma vaga de extracomunitário na equipe (Genoa). E faalram sobre essa possibilidade do Vasco. Eu analisei com a minha família e o meu representante. Falei com o Gary (Medel), que houve interesse por parte do Vasco. Ele me disse que eu tinha que vir, que era um time importante, grande e tinha a melhor torcida do país, que a cidade era perfeita para se viver. Foram coisas que me motivaram. Sabia da importância do Vasco no futebol brasileiro. Mas quando cheguei aqui fiquei surpreso, porque era muito mais do que eu pensava

---

contou Pablo Galdames. E emendou:

– Foi uma negociação bastante rápida. Genoa e Vasco tem os mesmos donos, a 777. Fiquei muito feliz com a mudança. Eu precisava porque não estava jogando muito na Itália. E jogar uma competição tão importante como o Brasileiro, numa equipe tão importante como o Vasco. Acho que foi o passo perfeito para a minha carreira.

🎙️ VEJA TODAS AS RESPOSTAS DE PABLO GALDAMES:

AMIZADE COM MEDEL
– Gary me conhece desde que eu tinha 13, 14 anos. Eu jogava com o irmão mais novo do Gary. Depois participei da seleção chilena, quando tinha 16, 17 anos. Ele me levava para treinar. ELe me conhece há muito tempo e sempre foi muito importante para mim. Fizemos uma amizade muito linda. Desde o primeiro momento que houve o interesse do Vasco, primeiro eu liguei para o Gary, que me falou muito bem da instituição, do grupo, da cidade, da torcida.

ADAPTAÇÃO
– Foi espontâneio, foi ingênuo. É verdade que cheguei e tive um bom desempenho desde o início. Fazia muito tempo que estava trabalhando dessa maneira e não estava jogando os minutos que merecia. Quando cheguei ao Vasco, infelizmente tivemos a lesão do Jair e do Paulinho, e eu tive que começar a jogar. Tive bastante confiança. Aa medida que os jogos avançavam, fui respondendo bem. A relação com o Vasco e os torcedores foi muito espontânea, ingênua, de carinho e humildade. Eu sou uma pessoa muito positiva, muito feliz e que busca o melhor sempre para a equipe.

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ESTRUTURA/SAF
– Confesso que me surpreendi com a estrutura do Vasco. Temos tudo que um jogador precisa e vejo que existe uma busca da direção em melhorar e proporcionar ainda mais para os atletas. É isso que esperamos e acreditamos. Temos hoje tranquilidade para trabalhar.

GOLS E ASSISTÊNCIAS
– Trabalhei muito tempo para conseguir esta regularidade e rendimento. Sigo trabalhando para ter a mesma regularidade com a mesma vontade e motivação. Eu quero muito que o time esteja bem este ano e faça um bom campeonato, um bom Brasileirão. Espero poder voltar à seleção.

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QUEDA DE RENDIMENTO
– Eu também senti isso. Principalmente na primeira semifinal. Talvez o segundo jogo nem tanto. Mas são muitas variáveis. A quantidade de partidas jogadas em pouco tempo. Eu vinha de pouca sequência no Genoa, no último semestre. Joguei apenas quatro partidas de agosto a dezembro. Cheguei aqui em uma intensidade alta. O Vasco jogou nove partidas em um mês. Foi bastante difícil, mas não gosto de dar desculpas. As coisas aconteceram, mas sinto que essa parada que tivemos de duas ou três semanas me ajudou muito.

PREPARAÇÃO PARA O BRASILEIRÃO
– Me sinto fisicamente muito bem. Sinto que o acúmulo de jogos seguidos me fez sentir nas semifinais e essas duas semanas me ajudaram a trabalahr com a equipe de preparação física. A equipe de fisioterapia fez um ótimo trabalho com os médicos. Quando terminou o treino, eu me senti perfeito.

– Tem que falar com ele (titular contra o Grêmio). Se ele quiser, estou à disposição.

ESTRANGEIROS NO VASCO
– Temos um relacionamento muito bom. Estamos praticamente o dia todo juntos. Na concentração também. Jogamos carta, tomamos mate. O chileno é mais parecido com o argentino e o uruguaio culturalmente, né? Por causa do idioma também. É muito mais fácil se adaptar chegar em um clube com muitas pessoas parecidas com você.

CONVIVÊNCIA COM DIMITRI PAYET
– Dimi (Payet) é muito tranquilo. Uma pessoa muito calma. Totalmente diferente do que você imagina (Payet xingando Emerson Carioca, do Nova Iguaçu). Ele é super positivo, trabalhador. Eu, pessoalmente, falo em inglês com ele. Falo um inglês perfeito. Dimi é um craque. Treina bem, positivo com o grupo, sempre querendo trabalahr. Esperamos que se recupere rápido, porque ele é muito importante para nós.

SUBSTITUTO DE PAYET?
– Somos muito diferentes. Eu sou mais um volante, um camisa 8 talvez e ele é um 10 nato. Mas se em algum momento a equipe precisar que eu jogue em outra posição, posso jogar sem problema. Mas não posso me comparar com o Dimi, porque ele é único. Não tem outro.

MELHORES AMIGOS NO VASCO
– Gary. Principalmente os estrangeiros. Me dou muito bem com o Pumita, Sfroza, Rojas e Vegetti. Também tenho um relacionamento muito bom com os brasileiros. Com o Praxede, com o Paulo Henrique, Piton. Sou muito tranquilo.

O QUE GALDAMES GOSTA DE FAZER NO DIA A DIA?
– Termino de treinar, vou para casa dormir. Gostou muito de ir à praia. Tomar mate. Durante a semana saio para comer com Gary, mas a vida é tranquila.

ESTREIA NO BRASILEIRO
– Tenho muita gana. Muita vontade que comece o torneiro. Estou ansioso para que chegue domingo. Estou motivado e ansioso. Confio no grupo e na equipe. Sinto que fizmos ótimas semanas de trabalho e quero que isso se reflita em campo. Quero ter a torcida vascaína nos apoiando o jogo todo, cantando o jogo todo. Que venha o Grêmio e sinta que vai ser difícil quando entrarem em São Januário. Que sintam que vai ser difícil quando nos vencer em nosso estádio. É uma grande prova para a gente demonstrar um golpe de personalidade. Demosntrar que o Vasco quer este ano. Sobretudo, na nosssa casa com o nosso povo.

EXPECTATIVAS PARA A TEMPORADA
– (Os torcedores) devem ficar tranquilos que vamos deixar tudo em campo como eles deixam a garganta cantando e gritando por nós. Vamos fazer o mesmo dentro de campo. É importante que estejamos juntos. Principalmente nos momentos difíceis. Pois o que queremos é conquistar vitórias para o Vasco, dar alegrias para eles e terminar na melhor posição da tabela.

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Futebol NacionalPablo GaldamesVasco