Full-on and full-scale, England vs India was a series so packed with events and excitement that you’ll struggle to remember more than a handful looking back

Osman Samiuddin06-Aug-2025You know what? Let’s go there right away. Of course you want to. You probably already have. It’s an entirely human urge. As good as ’05? Better than ’23 surely? Does it beat any BGT from this century, even the three-match epic that kick-started the modern rivalry? No, spare yourself and don’t go down that rabbit hole. Or down that cloying path of self-congratulation, where we collectively phew and pat ourselves on the back because Test cricket has been saved. Again.Stay in the present. Let this Anderson-Tendulkar series take over your head. Let it swirl through your veins. Let it be the natural dopamine rush you didn’t have to exercise for. Process what you have seen. Digest it. Take your time – no, actually the time to go back and pore over every bit of it, to make sense of how, nearly every day – every , and sometimes every ball – this series dragged you one way, then yanked you the other and finally wrung out every drop of emotion from you like you were some wet tea towel.Did so much really happen in this one series? Could so much really happen in one series? So much that no matter how much you recall, there’ll always be that much you won’t because, the human brain. Shubman Gill really did go for Bradman’s record. As hard as he went for Zak Crawley’s masculinity. Jofra Archer really did return to Test cricket and Jofra Archer really did bowl those two deliveries to Rishabh Pant. England really did chase down their second-highest total ever and it felt a little underwhelming and quite inevitable. England did really want to be humbler and not so nice and also not d***heads, all in the same series.Related

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KL Rahul really did become the Test batter he has for so long promised to be, the absolute picture of old-school judiciousness. Mohammed Siraj, for all the big stuff he did, really did take that catch at Edgbaston, arguably the catch of the series. There really was a brouhaha over handshakes. There was definitely one over the Dukes balls. Personally, this would be incomplete without mention of Washington Sundar and his entirely unexpected gatecrashing of this series. He saved one Test with old-school stonewalling, won the last with new-age freewheeling, and got such wicked, deceptive drift with the ball, it should rightfully be labelled grift: as in, 5.369 degrees of grift on that one to Ben Stokes at Edgbaston. He has some of the gait and bearing of R Ashwin, with less genius to be sure, but also, thankfully, less uncle; the Ashwin you fret your daughter will bring home, not the one you want her to be with.There’s still so much that hasn’t made it here, but will no doubt make your lists. Every moment, for instance, when Stokes was involved, was a moment in which Test cricket was an Extreme Sport, with his body on the line. Or, of his 481 runs, the six that Harry Brook swept while falling over off Siraj at The Oval, which, despite Pant having normalised the shot and Brook’s own electric range, was entirely abnormal nonetheless. Or Joe Root who, like Rahul, hummed along, the James Earl Jones (or Morgan Freeman) voiceover to the series, imparting deep and sensible authority unto a fraying, steaming silliness. And imagine, all these feats of memory and none for the very first wicket India took in this series.That was 46 days ago, occurring both like yesterday as well as a lifetime ago. Which is the thing about five-Test series. In more ways than we might think, they are actually perfect for the modern age. Watching seven hours a day more or less. Five days at a stretch. Over six to eight weeks. There’s a term for this you might be familiar with, which made its way into the dictionary officially a decade ago, when streaming platforms truly began to take over our screens, but describes the preferred, and only, mode of following Test cricket since 1877. That’s right: binge-watching.4:04

How do you move on from such an epic series?

Like any bingeable series, a great Test series also becomes our world for a while. We obsess over its plays and ploys, plots and subplots, heroes and villains and their character arcs. We move to its pace and speak its language and live by its logic. We live by its episodic highs and lows and lulls, its continuity, although we can never really know what comes next. And there can never be spoilers.Simply watching one is never enough. We must obsess over it online, listen to all the podcasts, read all the pieces, snigger our way through TikToks, and yes, exult and outrage and hot-take all over everyone else’s feeds. A long Test series enforces an element that is the opposite of the binge-watch: the stinge-watch, when you hoard episodes and space them out for your viewing convenience. Barely a break to breathe between some Tests, but a week or more to meditate between others, and yet somehow the arrhythmia feels normal.Here we were doubly blessed to have, on the final day of the series, a 56-minute recap of every sensation of the 24 days that preceded it. The two boundaries off the first two balls, one authoritative, one unintended, cutting the target down by a fifth; the wicket off the seventh multiplying it back again by five; a chance missed, another turned into a six, a review upheld, one overturned; the breathless, relentless surge and counter-surge of an entire series. England, now India, England again, India again, compressed into under an hour. A recap, but also it hit you like that tool so beloved of the auteur, the long one-shot take, always fraught, always tense, always building to more fraughtness and tension, and never hiding its fragility, of how easily and suddenly everything could go south.Main men: Washington Sundar finished with seven wickets and 284 vital runs, and Shubman Gill averaged 75-plus in his ten innings•Getty ImagesIt was the perfect tribute to the inseparability of the two sides, a closeness that a couple of comfortable-looking results and a comfortable-looking draw don’t necessarily convey (neither does the generally bat-dominated look of the stats tables). Three of the five Tests, after all, were essentially one-innings shootouts, where often the second innings felt like different Tests altogether from the first. But for a catch here or a drop there, a collapse or a call at the toss, a timely ball change or an untimely run out, or just the simple physics of backspin after a perfect back-foot defensive, but for all of this and so much more, who knows? And yet, who cares, because at the end, at two-all, it landed exactly right.As right as it was that Chris Woakes and his sling were on the field at the end, a reminder of how non-fiction this entertainment was, of the unquestionable, unscripted authenticity of this drama. In this series alone, Pant returned to play with a broken foot, Shoaib Bashir took a match-winning wicket with a broken finger, and Stokes bowled an eight-over spell on the final morning at Old Trafford with a torn shoulder muscle of unpronounceable provenance.All four were game-related injuries that could have happened in a shorter series, but there’s no doubting that a five-Test series takes a toll like little else. This one has been almost uniquely exacting. When the sides came out for the final day on Monday, it was only the third time this century that each Test of a five-match series had gone into the final day. It was uncharted territory for all but Root, England captain during the 2017-18 Ashes, when it last happened.It cost the final Test four of the biggest names in the game in Stokes, Archer, Jasprit Bumrah and Pant. But it says everything about the series that their absence was barely noticed, that without these stars, it produced its best game.

Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum tried to protect their players, but it has left them exposed when it mattered most

Vithushan Ehantharajah07-Dec-20256:09

‘Australia have sat back, waited for England and pushed them over’

For all the fight shown by Ben Stokes and Will Jacks with the bat, there was an indignity to England coming out to bowl on day four. Somehow, an innings defeat at the Gabba might have been less embarrassing.The sun was setting, the floodlights in play. By virtue of the longest partnership by either side across the first two Tests, Stokes and Jacks had managed the situation in front of them, meaning that witching hour was England’s to exploit. Just as Australia had done on Saturday.They gave it a go, to be fair. Jofra Archer bowled like the wind. Gus Atkinson found his snap off the pitch. And Australia blazed to their target of 65.Related

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“Bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion,” was Steven Smith’s retort to Jofra Archer looking to start something. It was a sentiment many shared. Why bring this energy now? Where was this when it mattered? Smith may as well have been talking to England as a group. A pulled six off Archer and another off Atkinson sealed the match.Stokes looked bereft in his press conference. And why wouldn’t he be? Sunday brought us up to six days cricket in this Ashes series. Barely a week and yet a three-and-a-half-year project to make dreams for a lifetime is already being pulled apart before we have even got to the third Test. This was his Everest and they are somehow still at base camp tending to the frozen.It is true that England series in Australia have often gone this way, but this one was supposed to be different. The score at present is 15-0 to the hosts since England’s last successful venture in 2010-11, and somehow these two defeats carry the weight of the previous 13. Because it was from those that Bazball’s free spirit was forged. And it is here, under the Australian sun, that it is being broken down and held up to the baying masses.But the sweating, shame-ridden harshness of cricket in these parts cannot be blamed. England are solely at fault for their own catastrophe.Ben Stokes leads his beaten team from the field•Getty ImagesAt Brisbane, a first-innings collapse of 6 for 88 was followed by one of 5 for 38 two days later, sandwiching a truly woeful bowling performance. If the first Test in Perth could be chalked off as simply a team losing their footing in a downhill sprint race with Australia, this was England choosing to sprint again while the hosts decided to take the winding roads of sensible batting and straightforward bowling plans that were available to both sides.They will wonder how so little cricket can carry so many regrets.They flunked the opener against a Pat Cummins- and Josh Hazlewood-less Australia, and have now done the same in the second with Nathan Lyon thrown out of the mix.Even Australia’s bankers in the schedule had their edge blunted. The Perth Test was a month earlier than usual, taking place in a more amenable climate and at the Optus Stadium, rather than the furnace of the WACA ground, and the English skeletons that lie within, which sat dormant across the way. Likewise for Brisbane, which saw Australia roll their most-statistically dominant venue and format into one while dialling down the heat, given the day-night timings. Worse still, England won both tosses.It is also worth considering the waste. A chastening experience during the 2021-22 tour, blighted by Covid, triggered a more holistic approach: investment in people and roles within the team that now seem so blurry. Perhaps worst of all, Joe Root’s first hundred in Australia reduced to a footnote in the rot.

“Stokes has long taken it upon himself to set fields, believing bowlers should just concentrate on bowling. The result of that is when the team are under pressure in the field, they cannot think off the cuff”

Atkinson has dulled, the sharp metronome anointed as James Anderson replacement already adding 2.59 on the bowling average of 22.01 he arrived with, with just three wickets in 54 overs. Atkinson’s pull shot straight to Smith at midwicket was a shot to rival Harry Brook’s grim drive to the first ball he faced off Mitchell Starc in the first innings. Unbecoming of a Test vice-captain but worryingly in keeping with his recent work.Jamie Smith’s no-nonsense start to Test cricket has given way to a worrying meekness that speaks to the fact that keeping is taking its toll. Scores of 0 and 4 accompanied a drop off Travis Head that saw him the subject of sarcastic cheers for the vast majority of the 117.3 overs spent behind the stumps in Australia’s first innings. This is as tough as it gets and Smith is shrinking.Stokes has blame to take for this. His insulation of the team for their own good has resulted in group seemingly unable to learn from mistakes and consequence. Worst still is a lack of collective nous.The bowling attack is a particularly interesting case study. Stokes has long taken it upon himself to set fields, believing bowlers should just concentrate on bowling. The result of that is when the team are under pressure in the field, they cannot think off the cuff. And this week, with Mark Wood missing, the most inexperienced bowling attack Stokes has had to work with – Archer, the “veteran”, with 17 caps – were unable to correct themselves, particularly when wasting the first 21 overs of the new ball on day two, with Australia racing to 130 for 1 in response to the 334 that England had clawed for.At the same time, it is maddening at this juncture that the likes of Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope have not lightened Stokes’ load. The pair have 124 caps between them but seemingly none of the experience that is supposed to come with that number.Stokes’ rearguard at the Gabba went in vain•PA Photos/Getty ImagesThen again, that’s not all their fault, nor Stokes’. There are coaches who should know better, who should be improving these players but end up hurting them with their public utterances.On Saturday, for instance, assistant coach Marcus Trescothick (charged with priming the batters) said they had not spoken about the perils of driving on the up after being found out in Perth. It was odd for two reasons.The first being that Stokes, ahead of England’s training session at Allan Border Field last Saturday, revealed the team had reflected behind closed doors about how they let that second day at the Optus Stadium slip from their grasp. And they did, as individuals, discuss the best ways to approach Starc. They even workshopped ideas to combat the pink ball under lights – both as batters and fielders in the lead-up to this Test. Stokes had taken it upon himself to disseminate bowling and batting information around the quirks day-night brings to each pack.The second, and more infuriating, part of Trescothick’s sugarcoated dead-batting was that he was actually trying to shield a group already wallowing in misery. Instead, he perpetuated the notion that they do not care. That they are free of consequence and devoid of true ambition.That was compounded on Sunday by Brendon McCullum’s assertion they trained too hard ahead of this match. A passionate English fanbase – many of whom truly believed in this group and what it was about – have never been more riled, now fully of the mind they are being gaslit.It didn’t have to be like this. But now, this group need to wise up and open their eyes to reality. Their walls are falling around them, and life is coming at them quick.This tour, genuinely the best opportunity since 2010-11 to win an overseas Ashes, and the most optimistic since 2013-14 after retaining the urn months earlier, may be the end of this chapter of English Test cricket.On paper, the remaining three Tests are a shot at redemption. But right now, it looks like it could break Stokes and the players he has taken it upon himself to protect.

She isn’t used to batting too early in the innings in ODIs, but it’s happened two games in a row now, and Chloe Tryon has come good on both occasions

Vishal Dikshit14-Oct-20253:33

Review – South Africa find ways to win under pressure

“We like the challenge, we like the pressure.”South Africa have flipped the script in this World Cup more than once since being rolled over for 69 in their opening game against England. And even though the routes they have taken to get to two points in their last two fixtures haven’t been cruises, they have almost started to enjoy the obstacle-ridden paths, as their latest hero Chloe Tryon put it.If stumbling to 142 for 6 in a chase of 252 against India was not enough, South Africa tottered to 78 for 5 chasing 233 against Bangladesh on Monday. Nadine de Klerk smashed the winning six on both occasions, but what will really soothe South Africa’s nerves heading into the second half of the league stage is that they have had a new batting star in each game since Tazmin Brits’ century against New Zealand, South Africa’s only convincing win so far. After de Klerk silenced the home crowd the other night, half-centuries from Marizanne Kapp and Tryon against Bangladesh have given their batting a new lease of life.Related

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Despite the staggering form Brits has been in this year – a record five centuries so far – such was her fate that on one of the best batting tracks of the tournament, she bagged back-to-back ducks and couldn’t even get the ball past the bowler. Against Bangladesh, the lower order would have felt the glare of the spotlight even more after Laura Wolvaardt fell for 31 – Sune Luus sat out with a hip flexor strain. When they were five down, Tryon joined Kapp, who has batted from No. 3 to 8 and turned out in more than 20 ODIs in India. Tryon, a lower-order specialist, found herself in the middle in the 23rd over, not too far from her entry point in the 20th over against India.Tryon is not used to batting so early in the innings: she had faced more than 70 deliveries only twice before in 96 ODI innings. It was not just an unfamiliar situation but unknown territory too. While the crowd against Bangladesh was sparse, she had been in front of over 12,000 vocal home fans in the fixture against India.As much as the WPL in particular and the women’s game in general have seen crowds of over 50,000 on occasion in India in recent years, Tryon has hardly been part of the party. She has been in the Mumbai Indians squad in all three WPL seasons but somehow never got a game. She last toured India in July 2024 for three T20Is but barely faced 35 deliveries in the whole series, and her last ODI assignment in the country was over ten years ago. It didn’t matter as she put her head down and narrowed it down to spending time in the middle to get South Africa closer.

“Yeah, I wish I could stay in for the last couple of runs and actually take the team over the line, but yeah, I’ve just been taking that responsibility”Chloe Tryon

“I was still quite positive the way I wanted to go about it, and so really good intent,” Tryon said after the Bangladesh game – she scored a 69-ball 62 to go with Kapp’s 56 in 71 balls. “I think, the other day with India, the crowd can play into it a lot and you can kind of put pressure on yourself for no reason. So, I think for me, it’s just cutting all of that out and just going, sticking to my plans and what works best, but still trying to be really positive and just building really good partnerships.”In both games, Tryon had the advantage of stitching stands with more experienced batters – Wolvaardt and Kapp – but she had to grind it out for over an hour-and-a-half on both occasions, battling a fitness issue that has left her left leg completely strapped; she even needed some attention in both chases.”It’s just something that’s there,” she said of her leg. “But, yeah, I don’t think too much about it, whether I’m batting or bowling.”I feel like, in a tournament like this, you want to be batting as long as you can and getting good partnerships and once you get a really good partnership going, it can thrive off that. And yeah, we then got finishes at the back end, that make it look nice and easy. But I think, for me, just making sure that I’m taking the responsibility. You know, I’ve been at my third or fourth World Cup, so a lot of experience on that, but just knowing that the longer you bat, the easier it can get. So just grinding a little bit more in the beginning.”Chloe Tryon did not let the momentum slip for South Africa at any stage•Getty ImagesThat grinding paid off most against Bangladesh – although with a slice of luck – when Kapp fell with 70 to get from 58 and de Klerk was fresh in the middle. Tryon soon whacked legspinner Rabeya Khan to wide long-on but knew she didn’t get enough to clear the rope. Once she saw the catch slip through Sumaiya Akter’s hands for a four, she added more muscle for the slog sweep the next ball and this time sent the ball sailing for six.When she ended the over with a four on the other side of the pitch, the equation had come down to nearly a-run-a-ball, which tilted the scales heavily in South Africa’s favour. Even though she was run-out trying to pinch a single in the next over, she knew most of the job was done.”Yeah, I wish I could stay in for the last couple of runs and actually take the team over the line, but yeah, I’ve just been taking that responsibility,” she said. “And now coming in really early in the India game and today as well, myself and Marizanne just spoke about taking it as deep as we could and just take it over. We knew we had time on our hand and we knew we had Nadine in the back end. We didn’t want to bring [her] in too early, so we kind of went low risk and still kind of chipped away at the runs as much as we could. And I’m just happy we still find ways to get over the line.”Tryon and South Africa know they “haven’t played our perfect game yet” but for now they sit third on the points table and such is their tried-and-tested batting depth that their remaining three oppositions have to start finding new ways to put pressure on this batting order.

Manchester United’s impressive start to the 2025/26 campaign has no doubt been aided by their hierarchy’s £200m backing in the market during the summer transfer window.

Bryan Mbeumo has certainly made the biggest impact of the new arrivals, with the Cameroonian international already scoring four times in his ten Premier League outings.

The 26-year-old’s best display came against Brighton and Hove Albion, as the forward netted a double in the 4-2 triumph, helping Ruben Amorim’s side to rise up the league table.

Matheus Cunha has also partnered Mbeumo within the final third over recent months, also catching the eye with his first goal in the same victory over the Seagulls.

The Brazilian’s £62.5m transfer is now looking like an excellent piece of business, with the aforementioned duo both handing the fanbase the chance to get off their seats at Old Trafford.

However, despite the recent flurry of new additions at the Theatre of Dreams, the hierarchy could be set to make additional reinforcements in the upcoming January window.

United’s hunt for new additions in the January window

Over the last couple of weeks, United have been hugely touted with a winter transfer to land Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson after his recent rise in 2025/26.

The 23-year-old has been a regular starter this campaign, impressing at the City Ground, which has led to the youngster becoming an England international regular.

The Red Devils have since been touted with a potential £70m deal to land the youngster, but Sean Dyche’s side may be reluctant to offload their star man during the winter window.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque another star they’re hunting, according to Spanish outlet SPORT.

They claim that Amorim’s side are currently in pole position for the 20-year-old’s signature, despite keen interest from fellow Premier League outfit Chelsea.

It also states that the Brazilian could be available for a fee in the region of £42m this winter, but it remains unclear if the United board would pay such a figure in the months ahead.

Why United’s £42m target would be an upgrade on Sesko

As part of the club’s summer spending spree, the United board forked out a deal in the region of £74m for the signature of striker Benjamin Sesko from German side RB Leipzig.

Such a fee generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase, with huge expectations on the 22-year-old to transform the club’s fortunes within the final third of the pitch.

However, it’s not all been plain sailing for the Slovenian international, with the centre-forward only scoring twice in his ten Premier League appearances to date.

After scoring two games in a row, Sesko is now three matches without a goal, even registering just 21 touches of the ball in the recent clash with Forest – the lowest of any player out of both sides.

There’s no denying that the fanbase have seen glimpses of his quality, but they would have certainly been expecting more given the nature of the transfer fee.

Any deal for Roque could see the supporters handed the number nine they’ve craved, especially if the youngster can replicate his goalscoring numbers from his homeland.

In his 28 league appearances this season, the 20-year-old has netted 13 goals, massively outscoring the Slovenian – with his underlying figures also highlighting why he’s better than the United talisman.

How Roque & Sesko compare in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Roque

Sesko

Games played

28

10

Goals scored

13

2

Shot on target accuracy

48%

38%

Pass accuracy

72%

63%

Key passes

1.6

1.1

Take-on success

40%

25%

Progressive carries

2.5

0.6

Carries into 18-yard box

1.2

0.4

Fouls drawn

3.5

0.3

Stats via FBref

Roque, who’s been dubbed a “future superstar” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has achieved a better shot on target accuracy rate – further showcasing his edge over Sesko in terms of his goalscoring ability.

Other figures, such as a higher pass completion rate and more key passes completed per 90 showcase the Brazilian’s creativity, which could hand the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha the chance to improve their own tallies.

Roque’s all-round dominance over the United talisman is further highlighted in his higher tally of take-ons completed and more carries into the final third per 90.

Such figures demonstrate the youngster’s ability to create his own chances and often being able to muster an opportunity out of nothing – something which Sesko has so far been unable to do.

£42m would be another huge statement of intent from the ownership group, reaffirming their backing in Amorim to transform the squad and take them to the next level.

Such a move may be harsh on Sesko, but such a transfer could provide the striker with the added competition he needs to match the expectations placed on him after his own mammoth transfer.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Nov 5, 2025

This weekend might be the first one in a long time that West Ham United fans are actually looking forward to.

The East Londoners have been subjected to some terrible football and even worse results over the last year or so, but finally, the London Stadium was treated to an impressive win over Newcastle United last week.

It was Nuno Espírito Santo’s first win in charge, but he’s not got an altogether different challenge to face in Scott Parker’s Burnley.

The Clarets’ manager is still a firm fan favourite among West Ham fans, and it could be argued that one of their current players is now emulating him – and no, it’s not Freddie Potts.

West Ham's record against Burnley

West Ham’s game against Burnley this afternoon will be the 97th competitive meeting in all competitions.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The two claret and blue sides first met back in November 1923, in a league game that the Hammers sadly lost 5-1.

However, while their first meeting didn’t end well for the East Londoners, they have won 40 games, drawn 21 and lost 35.

Moreover, the last five meetings between the two teams have been more fruitful for the Irons, with them winning twice and sharing the spoils three times.

Their last meeting was a Premier League match on March 10th, 2024.

The game ended 2-2 courtesy of goals from Lucas Paqueta, Danny Ings, David Datro Fofana, and an own goal from Dinos Mavropanos.

While another draw wouldn’t be the end of the world, Nuno and Co. will be looking to make the most of last weekend’s win and go on something of a run.

While the whole team will have to play their part to make that happen, much of the goalscoring burden will fall on the player who’s something of a modern-day Parker for West Ham.

West Ham's modern-day Parker

Parker joined West Ham from the Toon in the summer of 2007, and while he had to deal with a number of injuries early on, he established himself as one of the team’s most important players.

In fact, he was so crucial that he was named Hammer of the Year for three consecutive seasons and was even named England’s Player of the Year in 2011.

Unfortunately, when the Irons were relegated at the end of the 11/12 season, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur to keep his place in the national side.

Now, when it comes to a modern player who could be talked about in a similar way, there is only one who comes to mind: Jarrod Bowen.

Yes, he plays in an entirely different position, but over the last few years, he has been just as, if not more, important to the club.

For example, in 249 appearances, totalling 19881 minutes, the incredible “game changer,” as dubbed by journalist Roshane Thomas, has scored 77 goals and provided 53 assists.

That comes out to a staggering average of a goal involvement every 1.91 games, or every 152.93 minutes, over a period of more than five years.

On top of that, he has also taken the responsibility of the captaincy, which, as things stand, must be a particularly heavy burden.

Finally, not only has he been a constant source of goals and assists for the club, but he is also the scorer of the goal that secured them their first European trophy.

Appearances

249

Minutes

19881′

Goals

77

Assists

53

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

Minutes per Goal Involvement

152.93

Ultimately, while someone like Potts might come to resemble Parker’s style of play more, Bowen embodies his spirit and truly is the current Mr West Ham.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 7, 2025

Glasgow Rangers crashed out of the League Cup at Hampden Park on Sunday afternoon after they were beaten 3-1 by their city rivals.

Danny Rohl lost for the second time in four matches since his arrival at Ibrox, but it did take extra time for Celtic to eventually clinch their victory after a hard-fought 90 minutes.

The Gers had to dig in and fight for the majority of the match because they were sent down to ten men in the 38th minute when Thelo Aasgaard was given his marching orders.

How Thelo Aasgaard let Rangers down

The Norway international was in the team to provide creativity and flair in the left-sided central midfield position, but he had little impact on the match in his time on the pitch.

Aasgaard’s biggest contribution to the game was how his red card changed the match, as it meant that Celtic had an extra man advantage for the rest of the 90 minutes and extra time.

It was an unfortunate situation for the central midfielder, rather than a malicious challenge, as he caught Anthony Ralston whilst turning and attempting to control the ball.

Regardless, Aasgaard let his side down by putting his foot in that position to control the ball, which gave the referee a decision to make.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The former Luton Town man was far from the only underwhelming performer on the pitch for the Light Blues, though, as Youssef Chermiti was just as bad.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Youssef Chermiti

The Portugal U21 international had registered a goal and an assist in his last two outings in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers, per Sofascore, which earned him a place in the XI for this semi-final clash.

After his goal against Kilmarnock off the bench, Chermiti started in the 1-0 win over Hibernian earlier this week, but struggled outside of his assist for Danilo’s brilliant goal.

Minutes

77

Shots on target

0

Big chances created

0

Assists

1

Dribbles completed

0/2

Possession lost

14x

Duels won

8/19

As you can see in the table above, his all-round play left plenty to be desired, as he lost the majority of his duels and lost the ball 14 times without registering a single shot on target.

The Portuguese centre-forward was then just as bad as Aasgaard in the 3-1 loss to Celtic because he missed two huge opportunities to find the back of the net in the first half when the score was 0-0.

Mohamed Diomande played a perfect ball across to the striker, who was unmarked in the middle of the box, but his effort veered wide of the target when it seemed harder to miss. It was a miss that caused Premier Sports TV pundit Michael Stewart to describe him as “so poor” during their live coverage.

The summer signing from Everton then evaded his marker at the back post to attack a sublime free-kick delivery from James Tavernier, only to fail to find the target from two or three yards out.

Chermiti’s lack of composure in front of goal ultimately cost Rangers because they could have been one or two goals up with those chances, but, instead, they failed to take the lead, then they went down to ten men and one goal down.

It was a dismal showing from the £8m summer signing, whose performance was as poor as Aasgaard’s, and that is why Rohl should ruthlessly ditch him from the starting line-up.

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Oct 31, 2025

Liverpool were left furious after Virgil van Dijk’s first-half header against Manchester City was ruled out for offside, despite Andy Robertson not touching the ball. The Dutchman thought he had equalised from a Mohamed Salah corner, but VAR sided with the on-field officials. And here's why Arne Slot's team did not end up getting a goal that could have had a big impact on the game.

Van Dijk goal ruled off in Man City loss

Liverpool were denied what they believed to be a legitimate equaliser in the first half of their Premier League clash with City at Etihad Stadium. After falling behind to Erling Haaland’s opener, Van Dijk met a corner from Salah and directed a powerful header past Gianluigi Donnarumma, seemingly restoring parity for the visitors. The Liverpool captain sprinted away in celebration, only for the assistant referee’s flag to cut short the jubilation.

Robertson was deemed to be in an offside position during the play, standing just a yard from Donnarumma inside the six-yard box. Although the Scotland international made no contact with the ball and attempted to duck out of its flight path, VAR confirmed that his movement was enough to interfere with the goalkeeper’s ability to play the ball. The Premier League’s Match Centre later clarified that Robertson’s proximity constituted “an obvious action which impacted an opponent’s ability to play the ball,” meaning the goal could not stand.

The decision proved divisive, particularly as Donnarumma appeared unlikely to have reached the header regardless of Robertson’s position. While City took advantage of the reprieve and doubled their lead before the interval, Liverpool’s players were left visibly frustrated — with Arne Slot animatedly remonstrating with the officials on the touchline. It was a key moment in a match where fine margins once again played a decisive role.

AdvertisementFans fume at VAR's offside decision

@TheKopWatch commented on X: "Side netting. GK is getting nowhere near it. Robertson doesn’t block his view of the ball. How on earth is that disallowed?"

@markgoldbridge wrote: "Got to say that is a joke. Keeper is at full stretch and Robertson isn't interfering with play. Another shocker."

@Abdulba71267148 fumed: "Complete robbery."

@JonnyGibson33 explained: "He's miles away from the keeper the ball, literally moving away from the goal and then ducks. Incredible decision."

@holly82649091 claimed: "They want a title race between Arsenal and City."

@mo11salahh took shots at the inconsistency: "Bernardo Silva against Wolves last season. Robertson against city this season. Man City goal given. Liverpool goal NOT given."

Getty Images SportWas Robertson actually in Donnarumma's 'line of sight'?

The controversy stems from Law 11 of the FA’s rules on offside, which outlines that a player can be penalised even without touching the ball if they “make an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball”. In this instance, Robertson’s quick duck to avoid Van Dijk’s header was deemed an “obvious action”. Officials concluded that his proximity to Donnarumma caused hesitation in the goalkeeper’s movement, constituting interference.

The Premier League’s post-match explanation described Robertson as being “in an offside position directly in front of the goalkeeper”. However, replays suggested the full-back was actually slightly to Donnarumma’s left, leading to debate over whether the “line of sight” element of the rule applied. While Robertson’s motion to evade the ball was instinctive, officials interpreted it as influencing Donnarumma’s reaction, and therefore as active involvement in the play.

The controversy reignited broader frustrations over VAR’s inconsistency in judging offside interference. Similar incidents in previous seasons have seen goals allowed when players appeared to obstruct goalkeepers, further blurring the line between passive and active involvement.

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VAR continues to split fans on a weekly basis

The fallout from the disallowed goal is likely to continue, with Liverpool supporters and pundits demanding greater clarity from the Premier League’s officiating body. While the decision may have adhered to the letter of the law, the interpretation will once again draw criticism for its subjectivity — particularly in high-stakes fixtures like this one.

City, meanwhile, took full advantage of Liverpool’s deflation, controlling the tempo in the second half to preserve their lead and maintain their unbeaten home record.

Tottenham are emerging as prime contenders to sign an Inter Milan star Yann Bisseck after West Ham saw a bid rejected for the player last summer, according to a new report.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank is now just under two months away from his January at the club, and the winter is also set to mark Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange’s first transfer window as co-sporting directors.

Paratici assisted Lange, Frank, CEO Vinai Venkatesham and ex-chair Daniel Levy during the summer window in an advisory capacity, and worked regularly as an outside consultant for the club since he was forced to resign from his post as managing director in 2023.

The Italian was repeatedly linked with a return to N17 once his worldwide FIFA ban came to an end this year, but Levy’s departure briefly threatened Paratici’s Tottenham comeback given the chiefs were close allies during their time together at Spurs.

1. Cristian Romero

£42.5m

2. Dejan Kulusevski

£25.5m

3. Rodrigo Bentancur

£21.5m

4. Pedro Porro

£40m

5. Djed Spence

£20m

However, Venkatesham and co elected to re-hire Paratici after all, with the 53-year-old set to partner Lange as the Lilywhites officials take on very different sporting director roles.

While Lange will mainly oversee the talent spotting, scouting, academy and data-driven recruitment side of things, Paratici is tasked as Spurs’ dealmaker to get high-profile signings over the line — using his renowned negotiating skills and extensive contact list (Sky Sports).

It’s poised to be a very intriguing January with this restructured leadership model, and reports suggest that Paratici is already “working behind the scenes” on a few key Tottenham targets like Brentford star Kevin Schade.

It is also believed by some media sources that Spurs are keen to bring in a new centre-back at the turn of the year, having reportedly considered late summer moves for the likes of Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji.

Radu Dragusin could be back in action after the November international break as he nears the end of his recovery from an ACL injury, with the Romanian unable to feature since their Europa League clash against Elfsborg last January.

Kevin Danso has impressed as a reliable deputy for Cristian Romero when needed as well, but it will be a while before Dragusin is a reliable option once again and a serious injury to star man Micky van de Ven would spell disaster.

As such, it is little surprise that the north Londoners are considering their long-term options at centre-half, and Inter’s Bisseck is apparently an option for them.

Yann Bisseck increasingly keen to join Tottenham after rejected West Ham bid

The one-cap Germany international, who has been in and out of Cristian Chivu’s starting elevens so far this season, was subject to a rejected bid from West Ham in the summer window, but a Premier League move could still be on the cards for him.

That is according to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, who report that Bisseck and his camp are growing intrigued by the prospect of joining Tottenham, with Inter pondering the defender’s sale as they look to raise transfer funds.

The towering 6 foot 4 centre-half was a regular under Simone Inzaghi last term, making 46 appearances in all competitions — even chipping in going forward with three goals and three assists.

Bisseck has a desire to test himself in England, but he’ll have to settle for playing second fiddle to the likes of Romero and van de Ven, who are currently one of the best centre-back partnerships in England.

The former Aarhus sensation has been called a “diamond” by members of the Italian press, with reports in the summer even claiming that the Nerazzurri wanted as much as £44 million to consider a sale.

Even with Tottenham’s £100 million of new injected capital via the Lewis family, which could be reinvested into the club’s recruitment strategy, it is very debatable whether Spurs would be willing to cough up such a fee on a back-up defender.

Price will be a major factor here, with the player’s willingness apparently there.

Borussia Dortmund legend Marco Reus is reportedly close to extending his contract with LA Galaxy, with his agent confirming that "both sides want to continue and expand the successful cooperation." The 36-year-old German midfielder, who joined the MLS club in 2024, is described as "simply a very good fit" for the West Coast team, potentially extending his stay until the end of 2027.

• Marco Reus and LA Galaxy in advanced contract extension talks

  Reus is in advanced discussions to extend his contract with MLS side LA Galaxy. His current deal runs until the end of 2026, but talks are underway to add another year, taking his commitment to the club until the end of 2027, according to .

  Dirk Hebel, Reus' long-time advisor for over two decades, confirmed the positive nature of the negotiations. Hebel said: "We are in very good talks with Galaxy. Marco Reus and LA – it's simply a very good fit. Both sides want to continue and expand the successful cooperation."

  Reus, 36, joined LA Galaxy during the 2024 MLS season following his departure from Borussia Dortmund, where he spent over a decade. He quickly made an impact, helping the West Coast club win the MLS championship in his inaugural year. In his 39 appearances for the club so far, he has scored nine goals across all competitions. This includes five goals and eight assists in 21 MLS appearances during the 2025 season.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Reus's impact and role at LA Galaxy

  Despite LA Galaxy missing the playoffs in the recent season, Reus's individual performances have remained consistent. His five goals and eight assists in 21 MLS appearances highlight his continued attacking prowess and playmaking abilities. Reus primarily operates as an attacking midfielder but can also play on both wings, offering valuable versatility to the squad.

  He is currently the fifth-highest earner at LA Galaxy, with a reported weekly wage of around $25,000, equating to an annual salary of $1.3 million. While he is not among the top five earners across the entire MLS, which features stars like Lionel Messi and Lorenzo Insigne, his significant contribution to the team's salary structure reflects his importance to the club.

  His arrival has undoubtedly boosted the profile of LA Galaxy, particularly after a period where the club had not reached the same heights. Reus's immediate success in winning the MLS championship in his first season underscores his quality and leadership, seamlessly integrating into the team.

• Future role as Borussia Dortmund brand ambassador

  Beyond his playing career in MLS, Reus is also set to take on a significant role with his former club. He will work for Dortmund as a brand ambassador, focusing on boosting the club's presence, particularly in the Asian market.

  Reus is "by far the most famous Borussia player, especially in Asia," making him an ideal figure to expand the club's global brand. This post-playing career plan demonstrates his enduring loyalty to Dortmund and his continued value to the club, even from afar. His long-standing relationship with BVB, spanning over two decades from youth teams to captaincy, solidifies his legendary status at the club.

  His time at Dortmund saw him achieve numerous accolades, including being named Best German Player in 2018 and making the UEFA Team of the Year in 2013. He also consistently featured in the Bundesliga Team of the Season, solidifying his reputation as one of Germany's most gifted attackers.

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  What next for Marco Reus and LA Galaxy?

  With contract extension talks progressing positively, Reus's immediate future appears to be with LA Galaxy. The focus for both player and club will be on improving their performance in the upcoming MLS season and aiming for another championship title. Reus's leadership, experience, and attacking output will be crucial for the team's ambitions.

  Reus will likely sign an extension that runs until the end of December 2027. At 36, he continues to showcase remarkable longevity in a physically demanding league. His ability to perform consistently and contribute significantly to LA Galaxy's attack is a testament to his professionalism and enduring quality. This proposed extension would see him play at an elite level past his 38th birthday, further cementing his status as a long-serving professional.

Zimbabwe end their tri-series campaign with no wins in four games with serious questions around their batting depth

Firdose Moonda24-Jul-2025

Tim Seifert brought his fifty up in 33 balls•Zimbabwe Cricket

New Zealand smashed the highest score of the tri-series and any hope of Zimbabwe earning a consolation win as they laid down a marker ahead of Saturday’s final against South Africa.After choosing to bat first – despite captains in this tri-series usually bowling – a second-wicket stand of 108 between Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra set New Zealand up well. Both went on to score half-centuries before a Michael Bracewell cameo of 26 of 16 balls pushed New Zealand to 190. They bowled Zimbabwe out in 19 overs, as only three Zimbabwean batters got into double figures.As dominant as New Zealand were, Zimbabwe will be particularly unhappy with their lapses in the field. They put down three catches – Tim Robinson on 0, Seifert on 13 and Bracewell on four – and bowled seven wides and a no-ball in a messy display which left them needing to complete their second-highest successful chase to win.Any chance of that happening was blown away when Zimbabwe were reduced to 44 for 5 in the eighth over. Ish Sodhi took three of those wickets, bowling in the powerplay, and proved too much to handle for Zimbabwe’s top-order. A sixth-wicket stand of 51 between Tony Munyonga and Tashinga Musekiwa leant the innings some respectability Sodhi’s career-best 4 for 12 scripted a simple win for New Zealand. With 150 T20I wickets, he also climbed to third on the all-time wicket-takers’ list in the format.Zimbabwe will be spectators on Saturday and have no more fixtures scheduled before they host the Africa Region T20 World Cup Qualifiers in September.Ngarava among the wickets again Richard Ngarava has been Zimbabwe’s most successful bowler of the series and almost struck with his second ball when Robinson chased a delivery that angled away and got a thick outside edge. Ryan Burl at wide slip could not hold on. There was not too much damage done from that miss as Ngarava had Robinson caught at deep third off the second ball of his next over. Ngarava was brought back at the death and though he was hit for three successive by Seifert, he eventually foxed him with a slower ball that he feathered through to Clive Madande. Two balls later Bevon Jacobs tried to hit a short, wide ball out of the ground but was done for pace and sliced it to backward point.Ngarava’s change-ups worked again when he had Mitchell Santner caught behind off a slower ball in an over that lasted 10 balls. His next challenge is to enhance his wicket-taking skills with a bit more discipline in order to truly lead Zimbabwe’s attack.Ish Sodhi (150*) moved past Shakib Al Hasan (149) to take the No. 3 spot on the T20I wicket-takers’ list•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Seifert sees another opportunity to cash inDon’t drop Seifert. He was put down on 0 by South Africa in the previous match and went on to score 66* in a clinical run-chase. In this match, he was on 13 and had already hit two fours when Munyonga, at deep backward square, put him down off Tino Maposa and Seifert didn’t need a second invitation.Two overs later, he smacked Dion Myers into the leg side for his third four and the runs kept coming. Wellington Masakadza was sent through extra cover, Myers through the slip area and Sikandar Raza past short fine. Seifert brought up his 12th T20I fifty off 33 balls and went on to score his first six when he deposited Raza over long-on. He was especially good in a wide ‘v’ down the ground with 50 of his runs coming between extra cover and mid-wicket before he eventually fell to Ngarava for 75.Myers might be an opening option In search of a solid start, Zimbabwe asked Myers to open the batting, ahead of Wessly Madhevere, for the first time in his T20I career and he was off to a flier. He drove and cut Matt Henry for back to back boundaries to give Zimbabwe a blazing start and then showed off his pull shot to end the first over on 14 without loss. Myers was less in control against Zakary Foulkes, who he inside-edged over the keeper but showed intent against legspinner Sodhi, albeit without success.He walked across his stumps off the second ball he faced from Sodhi and tried to flick him fine but gave himself too much room and was bowled. A score of 22 from 18 balls is not much to write home about but given how poorly Zimbabwe have batted through this series, it could be an option worth exploring in future.Henry gets Raza and Zimbabwe unravel Zimbabwe were 28 for 3 after five overs thanks largely to a Sodhi double-strike and New Zealand clearly in control despite Henry’s expensive opening. He switched ends to complete the powerplay, started with a wide and then went short to Sikandar Raza, who met with him aggression. Raza swiped Henry to the leg side three times, and the third was well enough to get four before Henry adjusted his length and caught Raza in the crease. Raza was given out lbw and indicated he was not happy with the decision which left Zimbabwe 37 for 4 and in danger of their lowest score against New Zealand which sits at 84.They got to 130 but were never in the hunt to chase down the target and have serious questions about their batting depth.