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Tottenham Hotspur fans are running out of patience with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after the Italian produced another error-strewn performance in his side's 3-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest. Vicario was booed by his own supporters in last month's loss to Fulham and is unlikely to win back the trust of the Spurs faithful after yet another disappointing display at the City Ground.

• Forest run rampant over Spurs

  With Spurs boss Thomas Frank under severe pressure, the last thing he needed was his goalkeeper to have an off day in a tricky away trip to the Midlands. With the scores level at 0-0 after 28 minutes, Vicario put his team-mate Archie Gray in a difficult spot with a bobbling pass to the edge of the area. The teenager was robbed by Ibrahim Sangare, who unselfishly squared to Callum Huson-Odoi to tap into an empty net and put Forest ahead.

  The Italian’s day did not get any easier either and shortly after half-time, he was caught out by Hudson-Odoi again. The former Chelsea youngster picked the ball up by the left touchline before cutting back and sending a looping cross towards Igor Jesus at the back post. Vicario, unsure whether to remain on his line or to come and claim the cross, was caught in no-man's land and ended up missing the ball completely. The flailing goalkeeper was unable to stop the cross from curling all the way in and putting the hosts two goals ahead.

  Sangara and Hudson-Odoi combined once again after 79 minutes to put the game beyond all doubt. Vicario could do little to stop Sangare's stunning strike into the far corner, but had played more than his fair part in causing the preceding damage.

  After the game, Frank said to Sky Sports: “Of course, the first two goals are two mistakes, that happens. We need to work to be more consistent. It's two steps forward and a step back today.”

  He added that he understands the fans’ disappointment, saying that “if you don't perform that's more than fair enough their frustration”.

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  Spurs fans fume at Vicario

  TSpurs fans took to social media to lambast Vicario, with many demanding the Italian be replaced by deputy Antonin Kinsky. The young Czech keeper has been largely overlooked for a starting berth by Frank since his appointment, but may now come into the team.

  On X, @xAlexTHFC called Vicario a “complete disaster”, adding that “no serious team has a keeper like this.”

  @thfcjorro tweeted: “Vicario might actually be the worst keeper in the league you know.”

  On a similar vein, @owenthfc__ posted that “Vicario is a f*cking abomination” and @KrazeeOfficial said that “this guy is shit man”.

  One Spurs fan is even beginning to consider switching sides following the disappointing result against Forest. @101Usman said that they were "slowly losing my love for Spurs this season" before adding: "A repeat of last season with loads of fuck ups. Vicario is a clown. Spurs are a bunch of let downs. Thomas Frank hasn’t got a clue. I’m supporting Manchester City."

• Another erroneous day for Vicario

  Vicario was at the centre of another Spurs defeat this season, having gifted Harry Wilson a chance to score an open goal from distance in the club's 2-1 defeat by Fulham last month. Spurs had found themselves 2-0 down to the Cottagers after just six minutes and it did not take much longer for the crowd to turn on the players – with Vicario taking much of the ire.

  The Italian was the subject of jeers from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and after that game, Thomas Frank slammed his own fans for their supposed lack of respect. The Dane had said: “I didn't like that our fans booed at him straight after and a few times he touched the ball. They can't be true Tottenham fans because everyone supports each other when you are on the pitch.”

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• AFP
  

  A refresh at Spurs?

  Vicario may be relieved to have not been playing in front of his own supporters against Forest, but will count himself lucky if he remains in between the sticks for the club’s next game against Liverpool.

  After another humiliating performance that has dented Tottenham's European aspirations, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that a new manager and goalkeeper find themselves lining up against Arne Slot next weekend.

The USWNT opened its final camp of 2025 with a strong start, fueled by another Moultrie goal and two second-half strikes from Macario.

It took the U.S. women’s national team only 90 seconds to put its stamp on Italy in a 3-0 win, powered by Olivia Moultrie and Cat Macario. 

In the first of two friendlies between the USWNT and Italy, manager Emma Hayes went with a starting lineup that leaned heavily on experience, with only three players entering the match with fewer than 10 caps. Her side appeared to capitalize early, with Rose Lavelle sparking a sharp sequence of one-two passes that freed Moultrie on a delayed run into the box. The 20-year-old finished to make it 1-0 within just 90 seconds, her fifth international goal. 

Moultrie mentioned Hayes had her group focused on seizing the moment early in the contest, which ultimately played a role in the quick start.

"Honestly, we just talked about starting fast and starting strong, and I think, like, the energy momentum, just carry that, and we had a really good week of training, so I feel like we just kind of flowed into the first minutes of the game," she said at halftime to Turner Sports. 

After the opener, the U.S. settled into the match with stretches of control and a few hiccups in transition, moments that required returning center back Naomi Girma to step up – and she showed why she's largely considered to be the best center back in the world. It had been over 150 days since the defender's last appearance and the Chelsea star acknowledged the challenges to get back to her best. 

"I think there's been a lot of ups and downs this year, but I just feel grateful to be back here with this team closing out in the final camp of the year, and it's always to be called in, so I'm excited for this game and I'm excited to see how the team does," Girma said to Turner Sports prior to the match. 

The second half belonged to Macario, who scored in the 64th and 76th minutes to remind everyone of her scoring pedigree and effectively seal the win for the Americans. The forward now has six goals in 2025.

"It's always a pleasure being with this team. I feel so happy to be in this environment. I feel like it really allows you to be the best version of yourself, and I'm lucky enough that Emma knows me very well and she knows what I can bring to the team," Macario said to Turner Sports. "It was a good year in which I personally have just been trying to find some consistency. I'm just trying to be available for every practice, every game." 

Hayes also introduced new faces, handing first caps to Jameese Joseph and Kate Wiesner. From Macario’s clinical edge to the team’s ninth clean sheet in 14 matches, Hayes’ squad looks strong heading into the new year.

GOAL rates the USWNT's players from Inter&Co Stadium…

ImagnGoalkeeper & Defense

Claudia Dickey (7/10):

Dickey didn't have too much action, but she made the necessary saves and was composed when the ball was at her feet, playing out pressure and making her passes. 

Naomi Girma (9/10):

It didn't take Girma long to remind everyone that she's one of the best defenders in the world. In the first half, Girma, who started at center back alongside Emily Sonnet, made a series of smart tackles and consistent combination play in the back. Her key moment of the match came in the first 45 minutes when she hunted down the ball, making a long sprint to stop a clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity. 

Emily Sonnett (7/10): 

Sonnett looked right back at home next to Girma, working flawlessly with her to keep the backline condensed when defending and up and wide on the attack. 

Lilly Reale (7/10): 

Reale and Sonnett both started in the backline after winning the NWSL Championship last Saturday with Gotham. Reale looked fresh and solid. 

Emily Fox (8/10): A class defender whose speed, accuracy, and ability to go forward were instrumental in the USWNT's win. When she took players on, she often got past them and looked in lock step with the other three defenders.

AdvertisementImagnMidfield

Olivia Moultrie (9/10):

Moultrie didn't just score, but she also took several chances and was one of the most dangerous attacking players on the field on the night. Moultrie took risks in front of the box and was constantly active in her runs, finding a way to be involved even when not on the ball. 

Claire Hutton (7/10):

It was a quiet game for Hutton, who got on the ball a fair amount but wasn't able to find as many holes in the attack like she usually does.

Sam Coffey (6/10): 

This wasn't Coffey's best performance, and not because she didn't score. While she's usually the pace maker in the midfield, Friday night, her passing wasn't as crisp as usual. It took her most of the match to get into her rhythm with the other three midfielders.

Alyssa Thompson (8/10): 

Thompson didn't score, but she was involved in almost every play out wide. Her runs were strong and created all kinds of space for players like Moultrie and Lavelle to fill in gaps. In the moments when she could run at the Italy backline, she did. 

ImagnAttack

Rose Lavelle (9/10): 

Lavelle was all over the pitch on Friday night, not looking fatigued at all from her MVP performance less than a week ago. Lavelle was pivotal in the first goal of the game with her cheeky combination play. 

Cat Macario (9/10): 

Goals don't lie, and Macario chipped in a brace against Italy to make her mark known. This is Macario's sixth goal on the year.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Emily Sams (7/10): 

The applause may have been the loudest for Sams, who got called into the match in the second half and was able to represent the local Orlando Pride on her home turf. 

Lily Yohannes (7/10): 

Yohannes was a solid addition in the midfield, taking care of the ball and doing what she does best: creating chances that look well beyond her years.

Jaedyn Shaw (6/10): 

Shaw was quiet when she eventually entered the game, but had some strong moments holding the ball up and making runs off the ball when it counted.

Jameese Joseph (6/10): 

What a moment for the Chicago Stars player who earned her first cap. 

Kate Wiesner (6/10):

In a similar vein to Joseph, a special moment for Wiesner, who entered the match in the second half and earned her first cap. 

Emma Hayes (8/10): 

Hayes kicked off her Florida trip in good spirits, and her team didn't look like they had too much Turkey on Thursday, putting on a solid performance against a good Italy team.

Everton secured their first victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford for 12 years on Monday night despite a first-half red card, but the game will be best remembered for the bizarre manner in which the Toffees were reduced to 10 men. In a rare example of the lesser-seen on-pitch team-mate bust-up, midfielder Idrissa Gueye and defender Michael Keane completely lost it with one another under the eyes of 74,000 fans and plenty more watching on at home.

There is little doubt that Gueye was the aggressor in this case; the 36-year-old sold the centre-back short with a weak pass deep in his own half, and Bruno Fernandes seized on the loose ball to flash a first-time shot just wide of Jordan Pickford's far post. Refusing to take accountability for his own error, Gueye launched into a frenzied tirade and gesticulated furiously at his team-mate as they came together in their own box.

After Keane had pushed him away, the Senegal international responded by planting a slap on his cheek and was swiftly given his marching orders by the watching referee, with a combination of Pickford and Iliman Ndiaye struggling to restrain their still-incensed colleague as they escorted him from the pitch. Gueye was swift to apologise, and he has his team-mates to thank for holding on to grab a remarkable and rare away victory over Man Utd.

This was the latest entry in the limited catalogue of players on the same team coming to blows. Below, GOAL looks back on some of the most infamous incidents of football infighting of all time…

• AFP
  

  Ricardo Fuller vs Andy Griffin

  At the peak of their Barclays era under Tony Pulis, Stoke City's XI was full of hard-man players that you simply would not want to mess with, but in December 2008 two of them turned on each other in an ugly incident that was very similar to Gueye's clash with Keane at Old Trafford.

  Stoke had been leading West Ham at Upton Park, but a poor clearance from captain Griffin inside his own box allowed Carlton Cole to equalise with a fine finish on the turn. That error led to the defender being berated by his own team-mate, striker Fuller, as the two exchanged words before the game had resumed. The flashpoint ended with Fuller planting a slap on his skipper and having a red card flashed in his direction after being restrained by his team-mates. Ugly stuff.

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  Emmanuel Adebayor vs Nicklas Bendtner

  Two former Arsenal players who were no strangers to controversy, Bendtner has admitted in an interview with that he "didn't get on at all" with fellow striker Adebayor at the best of times during their period as team-mates at the Emirates Stadium – but training ground tensions boiled over onto the pitch in January 2008.

  With Arsene Wenger's side 4-1 down to arch-rivals Tottenham in the dying embers of their League Cup semi-final second leg at White Hart Lane – on their way to a crushing 5-1 defeat – there was a flare-up between the two frustrated centre-forwards. The pair started pushing and shoving each other off the ball, and the Dane was even left bloodied after Adebayor's head made contact with his nose.

  To make matters even worse, Arsenal's fierce north London foes would go on to lift the trophy at Wembley the following month.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Hugo Lloris vs Son Heung-min

  Tottenham legends Lloris and Son are still team-mates to this day, after the attacker followed the goalkeeper to LAFC in MLS, so presumably they put this incident behind them – but that didn't make in any less bizarre. Amid the Premier League's 'Project Restart' in July 2020 against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, the pair became embroiled in a furious half-time bust-up during a home clash with Everton.

  Lloris took issue with Son's failure to track back, charging up to the South Korean on the half-time whistle and repeatedly shoving him and yelling at him. Amazon Prime's documentary, which followed Spurs at the time, showed that the dispute continued into the dressing room as the stopper screamed: "Make the run! One minute to go, we nearly concede a goal! Make the run for the team". Defender Serge Aurier and then-manager Jose Mourinho were then forced to keep the pair apart before tempers eventually simmered down.

  Tottenham would ultimately hold on to their 1-0 lead to win, and Son and Lloris embraced after the game.

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  Frank Ribery vs Arjen Robben

  The iconic 'Robbery' partnership between revered wingers Robben and Ribery was notorious for terrorising defences across the Bundesliga and Europe, but on one high-stakes Champions League night the revered duo turned on each other in the Bayern Munich dressing room in an incident that the Dutchman later described as an 'explosion'.

  Bayern trailed Real Madrid 2-1 at the break at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg of their semi-final in April 2012 after a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo and a Robben spot-kick, with the scores locked at 3-3 on aggregate. The legendary wide men had argued over who should take a free-kick on the stroke of half-time, and Ribery reportedly punched his team-mate as the spat erupted behind closed doors in the belly of the stadium.

  "We've always got on really well and it exploded between us once," Robben said in an interview with five years later. "But the incident only made us stronger." Ribery added: "Sometimes these things happen in football."

Sciver-Brunt scored century in a game where India’s batting collapsed in the absence of senior players

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2025Without Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Pratika Rawal, India’s batting order crumbled against England at Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence ground in a warm-up fixture ahead of the ODI World Cup. Chasing 341, India were all out for 187, with Arundhati Reddy not coming out to bat due to a leg injury she sustained while bowling.Wicketkeeper Uma Chetry, who was included in the squad in place of the injured Yastika Bhatia, made a promising 45, while captain Jemimah Rodrigues top-scored with 66 off 68 balls. Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, and Sneh Rana combined to make just 43 runs in the middle order.Related

Reddy suffers blow to knee during warm-up match against England

Sent in to bat, England, propelled by captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s brisk 120 and Emma Lamb’s 84, piled up 340. India’s pace spearhead Renuka Singh struck in her first over to remove Tammy Beaumont, and the hosts had both Amy Jones and Heather Knight back before the halfway stage. However, Sciver-Brunt and Lamb’s 173-run stand put England in front, despite Kranti Goud’s three-wicket haul later in the innings.Shafali Verma notched up 70 off 49•Getty ImagesShafali Verma, left out of India’s World Cup squad, scored a blistering 49-ball 70 in India A’s four-wicket win over New Zealand in a rain-affected fixture.After New Zealand posted 273 for 9 on the back of Izzy Gaze’s unbeaten 101 at No. 7, multiple rain interruptions left India chasing a revised target of 225 in 40 overs. Shafali’s brisk knock – which included 11 fours and a six – gave the innings early momentum. Captain Minnu Mani remained unbeaten on 39, while wicketkeeper Madiwala Mamatha contributed a crucial 56 not out off 60 balls at No. 8.Earlier, Sayali Satghare, the reserve seamer for India at the World Cup, picked up three wickets. India A had New Zealand reeling at 146 for 7, but Gaze’s counterattacking century helped the Sophie-Devine-led side post a competitive total.In Colombo, both the Pakistan-Sri Lanka game and South Africa’s match against Bangladesh were washed out. Sri Lanka were 33 for 1 in 7.3 overs when play came to an end, while in the other contest, South Africa had reached 45 for 3 in nine overs before rain intervened. Bangladesh’s young pacer Marufa Akter dismissed both Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen, while Nahida Akter bowled Marizanne Kapp – a dream start for Bangladesh.

Folarin Balogun scored a crucial goal to put the United States Men’s National Team ahead 2-1 against Paraguay during the November 2025 international window. The strike was Balogun’s third goal in his last four appearances, with Gio Reyna creating the chance moments after ending his own scoring drought with the USMNT’s opener – his first goal since March 2024.

GOALUSMNT’s aggressiveness

The goal originated from Diego Luna’s aggressive pressing, which forced Paraguay into a turnover deep in their own half. Luna’s pressure allowed the USMNT to regain possession in a dangerous area, setting the stage for a swift counterattack. Reyna picked up the ball from Balogun’s hold-up play and attempted a cutback pass. Although the initial pass was blocked, it deflected back to Balogun, who quickly slashed a left-footed shot into the net.

AdvertisementWatch the goalGetty ImagesBalogun’s scoring form

Balogun’s goal reinforces his growing importance to the USMNT attack. With three goals in his last four appearances, the Monaco forward continues to show reliable scoring form at the international level. His link-up with players like Reyna also underscores the expanding attacking options for Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

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Getty Images SportUSMNT builds momentum

The goal against Paraguay and their subsequent 2-1 win reflects the USMNT’s growing confidence and attacking dynamism under Pochettino’s guidance. They will face Uruguay next on Nov. 18 in their final international game of the calendar year.

Being a left-back has changed over time, and now, being one of the best on the left-hand side of defence requires world-class attacking and defensive attributes.

In today’s game, Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes and FC Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde are seen as some of the best left-backs in the world.

The Best 15 Left-Backs in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the top left-back around in 2025?

ByCharlie Smith Oct 8, 2025

But who is the greatest left-back in history? Here is a look at 20 of the best left-backs, considering their longevity, consistency at the highest level, while also highlighting personal accolades and team honours.

20 Patrice Evra

Starting the countdown is Patrice Evra, who is one of Man Utd’s best money buys in their history. Costing just £5.5m from Monaco in 2006, Sir Alex Ferguson helped turn Evra into one of the world’s best.

The Frenchman spent eight years at Old Trafford, captaining club and country, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

He possessed blistering pace, could defend one on one with ease and contributed to goals with his pinpoint crossing ability.

19 ​Jose Antonio Camacho

In the 1970s and 1980s, Spain and Real Madrid could rely on ​tough-tackling Jose Antonio Camacho at left-back, and he’d spend his entire club career at the Bernabeu.

Making more than 500 appearances for Madrid, Camacho’s passion and grit was combined with athleticism and skill, which saw him win 19 honours for Los Blancos.

18 Leo Junior

A favourite of Pele’s, Leo Junior was a regular for Brazil between 1979-1992 and after retiring, would go on to represent his country on the beach, winning six Beach Soccer World Championships.

On the grass, Junior began and ended his career with Flamengo and was nicknamed “Capacete” because of his afro hairstyle. An attacking full-back who played further forward when needed, Junior was comfortable with either foot and his knowledge of the game resulted in him going into coaching with Flamingo and Corinthians.

17 Andy Robertson

Not many would have predicted Andy Robertson to turn into one of the best left-backs the Premier League has ever seen when he joined Liverpool in 2017, but that is what’s happened.

The Scot has even arguably gone under the radar at Anfield and his attacking ability is just as good as his defensive attributes. A left-back who never tires, Robertson has been key in Premier League and Champions League triumphs at Anfield.

16 ​Hans-Peter Briegel

German left-back ​Hans-Peter Briegel was so athletic that he could have been a long jumper. However, he chose football, which turned out to be the correct call.

Named the German Footballer of the Year in 1985, Briegel won the 1980 European Championship with West Germany and, at club level, starred for 1. FC Kaiserslautern in Germany before heading to Italy with Hellas Verona and Sampdoria.

15 David Alaba

David Alaba began his career as a left-back and in his prime, was one of the best we’ve seen in the modern era, spending 11 years with German giants Bayern Munich.

As time has gone on, Alaba has also been used centrally after his move to Real Madrid. He has won more than 100 caps for Austria, 10 Bundesliga titles, four Champions Leagues and was named as his country’s Footballer of the Year on 10 occasions.

14 Jordi Alba

One of Barcelona and Spain’s best ever left-backs, Jordi Alba retired in 2025 following a glittering 19-year career.

The attack-minded full-back won 17 honours at the Nou Camp, including the Champions League, while also being a 2012 Euros winner.

A left-back loved by Lionel Messi, Alba provided an assist for the Argentine in his final league game, whereas Messi returned the favour.

13 Denis Irwin

An extremely reliable and underrated Man Utd star in the 1990s, Denis Irwin was worth every penny of the £650,000 transfer fee.

He was so good at Old Trafford that Ferguson said Irwin, who won seven Premier League titles, would be the only certainty in his all-time Man Utd XI.

The Irishman was also a free-kick specialist and was arguably ahead of the times, paving the way for how full-backs play today.

12 Bixente Lizarazu

French left-back Bixente Lizarazu starred for Bordeaux after coming through their academy which earned him an eventual move to Bayern Munich where he would end his career.

A 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euros winner, Lizarazu was part of one of the most iconic France teams in history. At club level, Lizarazu won five Bundesliga titles in six seasons with Bayern and the Champions League.

11 Andreas Brehme

Not only could German left-back Andreas Brehme defend, he could also score and nearly hit 100 career goals for club and country.

A set-piece specialist, Brehme was known for his unbelievable delivery and is rightly regarded as one of Germany’s best ever full-backs, starring for 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

تحدث جون ألدريدج، النجم السابق لنادي ليفربول، عن محمد صلاح بعد أدائه في مباراة يوم السبت الماضي ضد أستون فيلا، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

واستضاف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة فريقي ليفربول وأستون فيلا، في الجولة العاشرة من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث فاز حامل اللقب بهدفين دون رد.

وتمكن محمد صلاح من تسجيل الهدف الأول لصالح ليفربول، بعد خطأ فادح من حارس المرمى إيميليانو مارتينيز، ليصل إلى هدفه رقم 250 مع الريدز في مختلف المسابقات.

وكتب ألدريدج، في مقاله عبر شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” الإنجليزية: “عندما يكون محمد صلاح بهذا المستوى الذي أظهره ضد أستون فيلا، لا يوجد فريق يستطيع إيقافه”.

وأضاف: “كان مهاجم ليفربول في مزاج رائع يوم السبت، كانت هذه أفضل مباراة له هذا الموسم بدون شك، كان من دواعي سروري رؤيته، الوصول إلى 250 هدفًا مع النادي إنجاز عظيم”.

اقرأ أيضًا | بينهم محمد صلاح.. ماكمانامان: رباعي ليفربول لعبوا دور الحسم أمام أستون فيلا

وواصل: “المهاجم أحيانًا يمر بأوقات يجد فيها صعوبة في التسجيل، وعندما لا يفوز الفريق، تُوجه أصابع الاتهام إليه أكثر، خاصة بالنظر إلى مستوى التوقعات المحيطة دائمًا بـ محمد صلاح”.

وأردف: “كان هدفه أمام برينتفورد نهاية الأسبوع الماضي ممتازًا، وآمل أن يكون هذا قد منحه الآن الرغبة والإصرار والثقة للمضي قدمًا، بدا الأمر كذلك بالتأكيد ضد أستون فيلا، حيث كان هدفه مجهودًا غريزيًا”.

واسترسل: “صدقوني، كمهاجم سابق، نحن نعرف ما نفعله، لقد غرس هذا في نفسه، كان من الطبيعي أن يُنهي المباراة بهذه الطريقة، لا أعتقد أن داروين نونيز كان سيسجل”.

واختتم ألدريدج: “إذا كان ليفربول يريد الفوز على ريال مدريد، فهو بحاجة إلى أن يكون محمد صلاح في أفضل حالاته”.

ويستضيف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة فريقي ليفربول وريال مدريد في الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري، مساء الثلاثاء.

CSA was concerned about the wellbeing of its premier fast bowler after he was banned for drug use

Firdose Moonda13-May-2025Kagiso Rabada’s well-being was top of mind for Cricket South Africa (CSA) when the organisation learnt of his positive drug test and subsequent month-long ban. Now, coach Shukri Conrad, Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma and director of the national team and high performance Enoch Nkwe are all satisfied that Rabada is not a regular recreational drug user, has educated himself, and is ready to get back to his best at the World Test Championship (WTC) final next month.”I’ve been engaging with KG ever since I learnt about it,” Conrad said at a press conference in Johannesburg, where South Africa’s squad for the WTC final was announced. “The biggest thing for me was whether KG is all right and to close ranks around him and ensure that he’s in a good space. At the end of the day, we care for all our players. He served his sentence, and all that I’m interested in now is KG producing performances that we know he’s capable of.”Rabada tested positive on January 21 after a match between MI Cape Town and Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20 for what the South African Institute of Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS, which is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Agency) calls a “substance of abuse”. SAIDS will reveal the exact substance on June 4, 30 days after Rabada’s appeal period lapses, but according to their doping code, it can only be one of four: cannabis, cocaine, heroin or ecstasy.Bavuma on Rabada: “If there is an issue there, then he gets the support that he needs. If there’s not an issue, if it was him being reckless, then he deals with it”•Gallo ImagesSeveral sources around Rabada said they hoped it was a one-off while recognising that the chances of someone using a substance just once and being caught are minimal, which has raised questions over Rabada’s general well-being. Nkwe confirmed that the incident happened “out of competition” (which is not on a match day) but had no further details, while Bavuma, also a long-time friend of Rabada’s, said his “biggest concern is more from a personal point of view”. “If there is an issue there, then he gets the support that he needs. If there’s not an issue, if it was him being reckless, then he deals with it,” Bavuma said. “The sledging, the media from the UK, from Australia, he deals with that. Just make sure that he comes out better from the situation.”Related

Rabada sorry about drug use but 'won't be Mr-I-Apologise too much'

Rabada heads six-man pace attack in SA's WTC final squad

Kagiso Rabada cleared to play again after serving doping suspension

Rabada serves suspension for recreational drug use

The timing of Rabada’s indiscretion, with a WTC final against Australia in England as his next assignment, means that there would be more spotlight on his sanction than usual. Already, former Australian captain Tim Paine has criticised the communication around Rabada leaving the IPL for what was at the time said to be “personal reasons” even though, by then, Rabada knew he was banned.Nkwe explained that CSA was unable to communicate any more detail because they needed to “respect SAIDS in driving the process and ensuring that everything was completed correctly”. “SAIDS embarked on that process and unless an individual feels that they want to come out straight away, it is a private matter,” he said. “We needed to respect that when it was time for information to be shared, it was shared by SAIDS.”Conrad was blunt in his response to Rabada’s naysayers. “To Tim Paine and everybody else out there, I’d probably say something simple like, ‘Let he without sin cast the first stone’. I’d leave it at that.”

“As much as he’s a superstar, he can also make a mistake. But for us now, it’s the educational side of things and putting that into practice”Enoch Nkwe

Paine resigned as Australia’s captain in 2021, after it was revealed that he was involved in an explicit text-message scandal before he took over as captain. He had ascended to that post in the wake of Sandpapergate, when Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper on the ball during the Newlands Test – in a series where tensions had been simmering all the way through.Rabada earned demerit points for a shoulder brush against Smith in the second Test and was initially banned from the following two games before a successful appeal; his history with Australia is fraught. Nkwe expected that to continue: “We know the Australians are probably going to use it against him. But he’s gone through that journey, in 2018 with Sandpapergate and we saw the outcome of that.”For now, Nkwe said, Rabada had paid his penance, which included two educational sessions.”As much as he’s a superstar, he can also make a mistake,” Nkwe said. “But for us now, it’s the educational side of things and putting that into practice. It’s one of the things that he wants to drive – educating the youth and turning this thing around and making it into a positive message. For a 19-year-old or a 16-year-old, to hear it from someone that has done great things for South Africa, I think it becomes even more impactful.”

Ipswich Town’s deal for a young Premier League talent has been completed, but manager Kieran McKenna’s plan for the player does not involve first-team minutes this season.

McKenna trying to remain positive after draw

It hasn’t been an ideal return to the Championship for the Tractor Boys, with Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Derby County leaving them 20th in the league table.

Despite this, McKenna till tried to find positives after the game, saying he could see signs of improvement compared to the opening weeks of the campaign.

“We’ve been through a lot today and the supporters have been through a lot. There was a really good performance out there. You can see the growth in the team. You can see the direction of travel. You can see players coming in now having a big impact and the potential for us to really push on.

“But you can also see the challenges of the division and how hard people are going to make it for us. How we’re probably not up to full speed yet to do it for 90 minutes. How we probably don’t have the full consistency and the confidence in the group to really stay strong in that moment when it went against us with the first goal and we really did lose our way.”

Some late-summer business for Ipswich could help aid their quest to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, but while they are set to seal an exciting new arrival, this one will not boost their promotion hopes this term.

McKenna's plan for Luca Fletcher revealed

As first reported by Fabrizio Romano on X, Ipswich have agreed a deal to sign Manchester City attacker Luca Fletcher on loan for the rest of the season, with an obligation to snap him up permanently. However, Ben Jacobs has since revealed McKenna plans to use him in the youth team only this campaign.

Fletcher is admittedly a young player who is still raw, but he could prove to be such an exciting addition for Ipswich, initially shining in the youth team before making the grade at senior level. The 18-year-old striker bagged 20 goal contributions in just 46 appearances for City’s Under-18s, highlighting his prolific end product, and he is also a 12-cap England Under-17 international.

Bringing in talented homegrown youngsters is always something that should be encouraged at Ipswich, and with Fletcher’s path to the first team likely to be blocked at City, given their elite attacking talent, this could be a perfect move for him.

Real Madrid’s humiliating 5-2 defeat to city rivals Atletico Madrid has sent shockwaves through the Spanish capital, forcing key players to own up to their mistakes. Dean Huijsen publicly apologised to fans, Dani Carvajal urged the team to learn from failure, and Jude Bellingham admitted it was a “bad day” while vowing to refocus ahead of the Champions League outing against Kairat Almaty.

• Madrid still coping with woeful derby loss

  Madrid’s promising start to the season came crashing down with a crushing 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the derby at the Metropolitano. Julian Alvarez tore through Los Blancos’ backline, scoring twice as Atletico dominated from the outset. Real’s defensive fragility and lack of intensity cost them dearly, allowing Barcelona to leapfrog them at the top of La Liga after their 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad.

  For a team that prides itself on resilience, this was a humbling setback – one that has forced both senior and younger players to break their silence and face the fans.

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  Bellingham’s call to reset

  Bellingham, who has already become a leader in Madrid’s midfield, addressed the setback in his own way. Sharing a post from Almaty, Kazakhstan, where Madrid are preparing for their Champions League clash against Kairat, the England international admitted it had been a “bad day” but stressed the importance of moving on.

  In his Instagram story, the former Borussia Dortmund player wrote, "Bad day at the weekend and still work to do but time to refocus on UCL."

• Carvajal and Huijsen address fans after Atletico humbling

  Spanish centre-back Huijsen was singled out for criticism after a difficult outing. The critics argued he struggled in his debut Madrid derby, losing most aerial duels and being physically overwhelmed by Atletico’s attackers.

  His defensive positioning and decision-making were also questioned as Real’s backline was repeatedly exposed. Despite these difficulties, Huijsen showed maturity by apologising to fans and acknowledging the long season ahead for the team.

  “I apologise to the fans for this weekend. We’ll keep going, we have a long way to go,” he wrote on Instagram, showing accountability after the derby collapse.

  Veteran Carvajal also took to social media to address the supporters, striking a more reflective tone: “The way forward is to keep working, learn from our mistakes, and rise stronger.”

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  Madrid eyes Champions League redemption

  The derby humiliation has left Los Blancos with bruised pride but it has given them a chance to respond quickly. Their Champions League group stage trip to Kazakhstan to face Kairat comes at the perfect time and provides the team with an opportunity to prove the defeat was an aberration rather than a trend.

  With players owning up to their mistakes and facing fans head-on, it shows that the team are committed to the season and won't repeat the same mistake in their next fixture on September 30.