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Tottenham are reportedly ready to try an audacious swap deal this summer as they look to bolster their midfield on a budget, it has been claimed.

Spurs in need of additions

After a promising season under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham's Premier League campaign fizzled out and they were forced to accept Europa League football next season, despite at one point seeming nailed on for a return to the Champions League. Now, all attention is set to turn to the summer transfer window, and the club are set to be busy.

Emerson Royal is thought to be free to leave and has admitted to enjoying the reports linking him with a move to AC Milan, while the club have already made their first signing of the summer by making Timo Werner's loan move valid for a further 12 months, extending his stay in north London.

Meanwhile, Tanguy Ndombele and Ryan Sessegnon have both been released, and decisions will have to be made on returning loanees Joe Rodon, Sergio Reguilon and Bryan Gil, all of whom seem to be out of Postecoglou's plans.

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ByTom Lever Jun 24, 2024

Another man expected to leave is Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who was named man of the match for Denmark during their 1-1 draw with England at EURO 2024.

No decision will be made on his future until after the tournament, but the Dane's agent explained: “I am working on the many requests that we have already received, yes; but we will analyse all the possibilities after the Euros, during the holidays when we will spend some time together and then look forward to the next chapter”.

With that in mind, Tottenham are going to need midfield additions, and now they are trying to find a way to land one on the cheap.

Spurs target swap deal

That comes as The Sun claim Tottenham are eyeing up an audacious swap deal for Southampton's Carlos Alcaraz, in a move that would see Welsh defender Joe Rodon head the other way. Alcaraz was in and out of Russell Martin's side for the first half of the season, though the Saints boss did praise the Argentinian for his performances.

"His mentality has been great", he explained after one performance against Leeds United. “We wanted to free him up a little bit. We did that I think – he was amazing with it. I’m really proud of him and really pleased for him. He was outstanding."

He spent the second half of the season on loan with Juventus though, making three starts in what turned out to be a difficult spell in Turin, and his future seems unclear.

Carlos Alcaraz's difficult 23/24

For Juventus

For Southampton

Games played

12

26

Starts

3

15

Goals

0

4

Assists

1

3

Yellow Cards

0

5

Total minutes

379

1313

The 21-year-old still has four years left to run on his £25,000 a week deal on the south coast, but The Sun claim that he likely won't be there much longer, with Spurs keen to sign him this summer. Valued at £30m by Southampton, Spurs are willing to offer Rodon, who is wanted by the Saints and is valued at around £10m, in a bid to get a deal done.

However, they may also have to stump up some cash to get it over the line should they be serious about the young midfielder ahead of the new season.

Harry Kane picked up another match ball in his latest outing, with the prolific Bayern Munich striker shattering a Bundesliga hat-trick record.

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Hit four hat-tricks in debut campaignStrike rate maintained in second seasonDesperate to land elusive silverwareFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The England international may not have landed major silverware since moving to Germany, with a barren run on the trophy front yet to be broken, but he has continued to star as an individual. Kane registered 44 goals across his debut campaign at the Allianz Arena – with that haul including four trebles against Bochum, Darmstadt, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz.

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The 2024-25 campaign has seen Kane pick up where he left off, with three hat-tricks recorded in just 13 games. Two of those have come in the German top-flight, when facing Holstein Kiel and Stuttgart, while a four-goal showing against Dinamo Zagreb was delivered in Champions League competition.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kane has reached six Bundesliga hat-tricks through just 39 appearances, with nobody able to get close to matching that record. Legendary Mullers, Dieter and Gerd, sit second and third on the trebles chart, but required 118 and 127 games respectively in order to claim six match balls.

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WHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

Kane has hit that mark in 79 fewer games than his closest challenger, with Bayern hoping that impressive standards can be maintained by a frontman that has faced criticism at times for supposedly failing to deliver in matches that matter most.

Leeds United are currently putting their plans together to go through the upcoming summer transfer window after they failed to earn promotion from the Championship.

The Whites lost 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley last month and will now prepare for a second season in the second tier next term.

Daniel Farke was tasked with leading the club back to the Premier League at the first time of asking but fell short at the final hurdle in the capital, after finishing third in the league.

The German head coach will now need to prepare for a turnover in his squad over the coming months, as Crysencio Summerville has been linked with Liverpool and teen starlet Archie Gray is reportedly of interest to Bayern Munich and Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

New signings will be needed to replace any stars who may leave and to freshen the team up ahead of another promotion push next season, and the Whites are reportedly eyeing up a talent from the Premier League to bolster their side.

Leeds United's interest in Premier League forward

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are one of the teams lining up a possible swoop to sign Fulham attacker Bobby Decordova-Reid ahead of next season.

The report claims that the 31-year-old winger has decided to call time on his spell at Craven Cottage this summer and is due to become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of this month.

Fulham had offered the talented whiz a new two-year deal to remain with the Premier League outfit but the former Bristol City star has decided to go in search of a new challenge.

Leeds and Everton are two of the teams keeping tabs on Decordova-Reid's situation due to their respective financial situations and their need to sign a winger, as the Cottagers ace is set to be available on a free transfer.

The Jamaica international could be snapped up as a bargain replacement for current Whites forward Wilfried Gnonto, who could be on his way out of Elland Road this summer.

Calcio Mercato journalist Francesco Guerrieri recently claimed that the Italy U21 international would like to return to his home country ahead of next season.

The reporter stated that any offers from teams in the Serie A would come as a priority for the winger, who is seemingly seeking an exit from Yorkshire.

Wilfried Gnonto's season in numbers

The 20-year-old forward enjoyed a solid season in the Championship as he showcased his quality as a scorer of goals from a position on the right flank.

Gnonto ranked within the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.44), as he racked up eight strikes in 36 appearances.

This shows that he was among the best in his position at scoring goals from open play, rather than relying on penalties, with one strike almost every other 90 minutes.

The right-footed ace, who only started 19 league games, scored those eight goals from an xG of 5.36, which speaks to the ruthlessness of his finishing as the young gem outperformed based on the quality of chances that were created for him.

However, as you can see in the table above, his creativity was not quite on the same level as he only registered two assists in 36 Championship games.

He ranked within the bottom 43% of his positional peers for assists per 90 (0.11) and these statistics suggest that his goal threat was his biggest weapon in a Leeds shirt.

This means that any replacement coming in for the winger this summer, should he depart for the Serie A or elsewhere, would need to be a player who can be relied upon to chip in with goals and be efficient in front of goal.

It would also be a dream scenario if Farke could lure a star who could also provide more in the way of creativity, so that Leeds would have a winger who can provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals on the right flank.

This is why Decordova-Reid, who has proven himself in the Premier League and the Championship, could be a dream replacement for Gnonto.

Why Leeds should sign Bobby Decordova-Reid

Firstly, Leeds should sign the 31-year-old star because he is a Premier League quality attacker who could be a good option for them if they get promoted.

This means that he could help them to get out of the Championship next season whilst also having the ability to make the step up if required the following term.

Decordova-Reid plundered six goals from an xG of 4.55 across 33 appearances and 17 starts in the Premier League for Fulham this season, which shows that he is a quality finisher by top-flight standards as he exceeded his xG.

The experienced forward ranked within the top 19% of his positional peers in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.38), and this suggests that he is similar to Gnonto as they are both wingers who consistently chip in with non-penalty goals and outperform their xG.

His form in his last season in the Championship, which came in the 2021/22 campaign, also suggests that he could even be an upgrade on the Italian forward.

As you can see in the table above, they both offer a similar goal threat in the second tier but the Fulham man has the potential to provide significantly more as a creator for his teammates.

This is why the 5 foot 7 attacker, who was once dubbed a "real handful" by journalist Josh Bunting, could be a dream replacement for Gnontot his summer.

Not only could he replace the goalscoring prowess that the former Zurich man provides but he can also improve Farke's squad from a creative perspective, based on his terrific form for Fulham at this level.

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Jun 5, 2024

Therefore, Decordova-Reid could be a bargain signing for Leeds on a free transfer this summer and this appears, on paper, to be one that the club should be pushing to get done.

كشف المدير الفني لفريق برشلونة، هانز فليك، آخر الاستعدادات الخاصة بفريقه قبل مواجهة ليجانيس في الدوري الإسباني.

ويلاقي برشلونة نظيره ليجانيس ضمن منافسات الجولة السابعة عشر من منافسات الدوري الإسباني “لاليجا”، على ملعب “مونتجويك الأولمبي”، غداً الأحد.

ويحتل برشلونة صدارة ترتيب الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم برصيد 38 نقطة، بينما يأتي ليجانيس في المركز السابع عشر برصيد 15 نقطة.

جدير بالذكر أن المدرب الألماني لن يتواجد على مقاعد بدلاء برشلونة، وذلك عقب تلقيه للبطاقة الحمراء في مباراة ريال بيتيس الماضية.

وبذلك سيغيب عن مواجهتي ليجانيس وأتلتيكو مدريد تفيذاً للعقوبة المقررة له من رابطة الدوري الإسباني “لاليجا”.

اقرأ ايضاً.. بويول: كوبارسي يشبه بيكيه.. ويجب عدم مقارنة يامال بـ ميسي

وقال هانز فليك في المؤتمر الصحفي قبل المباراة: “بخصوص عقوبتي، أعتقد أن ردة فعلي لم تكن مبالغًا فيها كثيرًا، فقد ذهبت إلى مقاعد البدلاء للتحدث مع فريقي الفني، أنا دائمًا أقول لفريقي إنه لا يجب أن نشكو من أشياء لا يمكننا تغييرها، فعندما يتخذ الحكم قرارًا، لا يمكننا تغييره، وعلينا قبوله”.

وعن مباراة ليجانيس أكد فليك: “كل شيء يعتمد علينا، أريد أن يخرج الفريق بتركيز بنسبة 100% وأن يحترم الخصم، بغض النظر عن مركزه في الترتيب”.

وتابع فليك: “غدًا سنلعب ضد ليجانيس، ونحن ما زلنا لا نفكر في مباراة أتلتيكو مدريد، بل نركز فقط على مباراة تلك المباراة، كمدرب يجب اتخاذ قرارات، قرارات تتعلق باللاعبين الذين شاركوا في المباريات الأخيرة”.

وأكمل: “لدينا أيضًا لاعبين بمستوى عالٍ جدًا على مقاعد البدلاء، وهذا أمر دائمًا إيجابي، من الواضح أن وجود لاعبين بأرجل جديدة في الملعب أمر جيد، وهذا ما سنراه غدًا. قد تكون هناك تغييرات في التشكيلة، سنرى ذلك”.

عن جاهزية فاتي وأراوخو أوضح مدرب برشلونة: “من الطبيعي أن تحتاج إلى وقت بعد الإصابة قبل العودة إلى أعلى مستوى، فاتي تدرب مع الفريق، أراوخو يمكنه اللعب، وهذا تقدم كبير، إنه في حالة جيدة، وكل العمل البدني يسير بشكل ممتاز، والخطة هي أن يشارك أراوخو لعدة دقائق غدًا، لا اعلم إذا كان أساسيًا، لكنه جاهز لكي يلعب”.

وردا ً على أحد أسئلة الصحفيين فيما يتعلق بالحكام أفاد فليك: “لا أحب التحدث كثيرًا عن الحكام لأنني أعلم أن هذا موضوع مثير جدًا للصحفيين”.

وحول إمكانية إراحة رافينها أجاب: “اليوم هو عيد ميلاده، وبصراحة رأيته بحالة جيدة جدًا، مليء بالطاقة الإيجابية، أما بالنسبة للقرار، فسأتحدث معه غدًا، لم أتخذ القرار بعد”.

Offspinner battles through injury to finish with 14 in the match

ECB Reporters Network11-Aug-2020

Simon Harmer spun his way to match figures of 14 for 131 as county champions Essex beat Surrey by 169 runs to maintain their perfect start to the Bob Willis Trophy.Offspinner Harmer had taken 6 for 67 in the first innings, before producing his well-worn fourth-innings trick by steamrolling Surrey with 8 for 64. Harmer had been on course for the first 10-wicket haul in county cricket since Ottis Gibson for Durham in 2007, but Aaron Beard took two late poles to deny him history.Incredibly, Harmer, who bowled unchanged from his River End on day four, is playing through an abductor strain, which medical staff had recommended would rule him out for up to six weeks.With 20 wickets in two matches this season, he continues his quest to be the country’s leading red-ball wicket-taker for a second successive season – and already has a six-wicket lead over his nearest challenger.Essex, who have now won their last ten first-class matches at Chelmsford, jump to the top of the South Group table, while heavily depleted Surrey remain the only winless side in the conference.”The wicket at Chelmsford always suits me,” Harmer laughed. “Professional cricket is about performance and failures and when it is your day you have to make the best of it because I don’t know what will happen next week at Hove.”When the wicket is turning, I’m going to cash in as much as I can and that’s what I did today. I knew they would be under pressure. I am very happy with the way the ball is coming out at the moment but cricket is a funny game so you can’t take anything for granted, but touch wood may the form continue.”When I got to six wickets the boys started talking about how if I pulled my finger out then I might have been able to get all 10. Those things don’t happen very often in cricket but I’ll take that catch and an eight-for any day.”Harmer had started his haul with the last ball of the third day, when Mark Stoneman was leg-before to one which didn’t turn – with Surrey requiring an unlikely 310 to win from the final day.It took his 23 morning deliveries to breakthrough Scott Borthwick’s defences as the once-capped England Test player attempted a forward defence only to see the ball spin off his outside edge and into Adam Wheater’s gloves.Surrey weren’t going to roll over and hand Harmer and Essex the wickets they required, with Ryan Patel and Will Jacks providing a blocking rearguard.Patel, in particular, seemed immovable as he grappled to hold onto his wicket, showing intense concentration to see out 97 balls. But the 22-year-old lapsed for a moment to sky a pulled short to Jamie Porter at midwicket while attempting to cash in on a shorter delivery from Harmer.Jacks saw out 93 balls with his laser focus, while also putting on a 51-run stand with Jamie Smith – as the pair held Essex up for 20 overs.But having refuelled over lunch, Harmer took his next two wickets in three balls. Jacks, who had batted beautifully scored 70 in the first innings, attempted to go back and work to leg side only to be pinned – that brought up Harmer’s 10 wickets in the match. Two balls later, Evans, on loan from Sussex, skipped down the track, missed the ball and was stumped by Wheater.Rikki Clarke twice used his feet to strike Harmer for two boundaries down the ground but departed for 14 from 27 balls when Varun Chopra held on to a simple catch at short leg.Wicketkeeper-batsman Smith once again showed why he is so highly rated at The Oval with a two-hour vigil. The 20-year-old scored 45 in 89 balls but departed at the hands of Harmer – although not through his bowling. Smith edged Beard to second slip, where Harmer swooped low to pull off a stunning catch, which ended his own shot at immortality.Harmer returned to his first skill again in the next over as Gus Atkinson, who had hit him for six, ran past a straight one to be bowled.Beard saw off James Taylor, caught at cover, for a seven-ball duck before Harmer wrapped up the victory at 3.35pm when Amar Virdi slapped to mid-off.

MatériaMais Notícias

Cenas lamentáveis marcaram o fim da partida entre Botafogo e Brusque, válida pela 12ª rodada da Série B do Brasileirão, na noite deste sábado. Após o apito final, o lateral-direito João Carlos, do time catarinense, comemorou a vitória por 2 a 1 próximo ao banco de reservas da equipe carioca e olhando para os jogadores. A cena foi vista como uma provocação.

>Nova camisa lançada! Relembre os últimos uniformes II do Botafogo

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Assim, jogadores do Botafogo partiram para cima de João Carlos para tirar satisfação. Do outro lado, os atletas do Brusque tentaram acalmar os ânimos. Pelas imagens, pode ser visto que o zagueiro Kanu e o diretor de futebol Eduardo Freeland estavam muito exaltados.

> Veja a tabela da Série B

O Brusque volta a campo na próxima quarta-feira, às 16h, diante do Vila Nova, no Estádio Onésio Brasileiro Alvarenga. Já o Botafogo recebe o Goiás, às 19h, no Estádio Nilton Santos, na próxima terça-feira. Ambos os compromissos são válidos pela 13ª rodada da Série B.

Sri Lanka’s own top order appears reasonably secure, even without the injured Danushka Gunathilaka

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando21-Feb-2020

Big PictureOn the surface, Sri Lanka are favourites. They are one spot higher on the rankings (eighth to West Indies’ ninth), finished stronger in the World Cup last year – beating West Indies in a thriller. And they are, of course, at home. But the spirit of resurgence in the West Indies side is difficult to overlook. Late last year, they pushed India close, in India. More recently, they swept Ireland in a three-match series at home.And yet, West Indies being West Indies, they are missing key players for strange reasons. Evin Lewis top-scored in that series against Ireland, but has been omitted from the squad to Sri Lanka because he “came up short in the fitness test”, according to CWI chief selector Roger Harper. Shimron Hetmyer, whose spectacular 139 off 106 balls propelled West Indies to their win over India in December is missing for the same reason.In their two practice matches, however, the West Indies top order built up some decent form, and have not seemed to miss Hetmyer and Lewis terribly. Darren Bravo, who might not have got a place in the squad had either of those batsmen been picked, made an unbeaten 100 off 88 in the first game, before Roston Chase struck 136 off 113 in the more serious warm-up on Thursday.Sri Lanka’s own top order appears reasonably secure, even without Danushka Gunathilaka, who is out with injury. But they will worry, as usual, about the inexperienced attack, that has been inconsistent since the retirement of Lasith Malinga. Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga has shown glimpses of promise, but needs another good series to really nail his place down. Left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan, who has been around the team for years, has not quite made himself a feature in the XI either, though he has been improving steadily in the background.Form guideWest Indies WWWLL (completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LLWWWIn the spotlightNicholas Pooran didn’t have quite as good a series against Ireland as Lewis, but his 112 runs at an average of 56 put him on second at the table, and he has eased himself nicely into this tour with a 41 not out off 38 balls in the first practice match. Perhaps more importantly, Pooran will have good memories of playing Sri Lanka, with his best international innings coming against them during the World Cup – his 118 off 103 balls giving West Indies hope of chasing down a target of 339. He had a minor back complaint in the week leading up to this match, but should be at somewhere near full fitness for this match.AFP

Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur confirmed that Thisara Perera was likely to return to Sri Lanka’s ODI XI for this game, owing largely to his bowling, which they see as superior to that of Dasun Shanaka, his competition for the No. 7 spot. Thisara’s recent bowling returns, however, haven’t been encouraging. He has not taken a wicket in his five most-recent ODIs (though during that sequence, he has occasionally been economical, such as against India in the World Cup, where he conceded only 34 from his 10 overs). With Shanaka in good batting form in the ongoing first-class competition in Sri Lanka, Thisara needs to impose himself on this series to keep Shanaka out of the XI.Team newsWith Brandon King having had two modest outings in the practice games, West Indies may go with Sunil Ambris at the top of the order to partner Shai Hope. With Roston Chase’s fingerspin also available, they may feel they do not need more than one specialist spinner – left-arm spinner Fabian Allen, most likely.West Indies (possible): 1 Sunil Ambris, 2 Shai Hope (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Roston Chase, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Kieron Pollard (capt.), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Fabian Allen, 9 Keemo Paul, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Sheldon CottrellArthur confirmed that only 12 players are in contention for the first ODI. The only decision Sri Lanka have to make is whether to play Lahiru Kumara as a third specialist seamer, or whether to field wristspinners Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga together. You suspect they will take the latter option.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt.), 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Isuru Udana, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Nuwan PradeepPitch and conditionsA decent one-day deck is expected at the SSC, where spin almost always plays a role. Although for once Sri Lanka are playing home matches in what is supposed to be the dry season, the arrival of international cricket has as usual brought with it the spectre of rain. There could be showers in the afternoon.Stats and trivia Although Thisara’s recent bowling performances have not been heartening, he did have an outstanding 2018, when he took 25 wickets at an average of 20.72. If West Indies win the series, they move up to eighth on the rankings, pushing Sri Lanka down to ninth.Quotes”The key around that No. 7 position – Dasun shades the batting without a doubt, and Thisara shades the bowling. If we go with the two spinners, we’re going to need a third seamer, so we will give Thisara a go tomorrow.”
Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur“The guys showed in India how we should play. They gave us that blueprint. We have that set, and it’s just a matter of ticking boxes.”
West Indies captain Kieron Pollard

Manchester United appear to be in the race for a "wonderkid" this summer, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.

Ten Hag proves youth stands a chance at Old Trafford

Though it has been a disappointing campaign for the Red Devils, their bright sparks have largely come in the form of their young talents.

Alejandro Garnacho has become almost undroppable in Erik ten Hag's front line, while Kobbie Mainoo has done likewise in central midfield and has already seen his performances rewarded with an England debut over the most recent March international break.

There have also been Premier League appearances (though perhaps more due to necessity than choice) for centre-back Willy Kambwala and attacker Omari Forson.

United have previously missed out on young stars as a result of failing to offer first-team assurances, with Jude Bellingham a notable case in point when he turned down a move to Old Trafford in favour of a switch to Borussia Dortmund in 2019.

Manchester United's young talents in the Premier League

Player

Age

Appearances

Goals + Assists

Alejandro Garnacho

19

30

10

Kobbie Mainoo

18

18

2

Willy Kambwala

19

7

0

Omari Forson

19

3

1

But with Ten Hag in charge, that appears to have changed, and it is even reportedly a contributing factor in why he may keep his job at the end of the season despite finishing bottom of his Champions League group and on course to fail to qualify for next season's competition.

They remain in contention to lift the FA Cup, but that could only paper over the cracks of what has otherwise been a poor and inconsistent season. However, Ten Hag's youth policy could help them attract future stars once more.

Man Utd eyeing "wonderkid"

Now, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has given fresh insight into just that, in the form of League One sensation Baylee Dipepa, who was linked with a move to Old Trafford last month.

The 17-year-old is currently starring for Port Vale, where he has made 20 appearances this season, scoring three times and grabbing two assists in just 609 minutes of action. That has caught the eye of a whole host of clubs, and the Red Devils are firmly among them.

Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano confirmed that they have "followed and tracked" the teenage talent, but that any future move is currently uncertain.

“Finally on Man United, 17-year-old Port Vale wonderkid Baylee Dipepa has been followed and tracked by the United scouting team. Let’s see if they decide to proceed with negotiations, but it will depend on the new board they are building now, so we can just be patient on that one.”

Fabrizio Romano shares new Man Utd update on "great manager"

He has been linked to replace Erik ten Hag.

ByBen Browning Apr 18, 2024

Port Vale chief Matt Hancock has already accepted that they may not be able to keep Dipepa should bids arrive, though he did reveal no official approaches had been made.

"We have had no official approaches or offers. We are not naive enough to think that someone who is playing ahead of Premier League forwards for England under-17s and then getting regular games and scoring in League One, won't have eyes on him. We will see what the future may hold."

That future may just be at Old Trafford.

There were heroes aplenty as the U.S. booked a spot in the Paris Gold Medal match with a 1-0 win over Germany

Just 12 days and five games since this all began, here we are. The U.S. women's national team has been redefined in less than two weeks. A new era has begun and, in truth, it's looked a lot like the old one – the GOOD old one, not the recent years.

Narratives have been written and rewritten as a team facing a rebuild already looks as good – better? – than ever before.

All of that in 12 days, but there is still one game remaining. On Saturday, the USWNT will know exactly where they stand, taking the pitch in the 2024 Olympics Gold Medal match against Brazil, which upset Spain in Tuesday's other semifinal. They'll know if once again, against all odds, they are back among the elite teams in the world.

The USWNT took one step closer to the summit on Tuesday, beating Germany 1-0 in extra time in the Paris Games semifinals. The win booked their spot in the Gold Medal game for the first time since London 2012 – and they'll have a chance to show the world what many are starting to believe: the U.S. is back.

The USWNT has the most Olympic gold and most total medals in the history of the competition, winning four golds, one silver and one bronze. But after being shut out of the medal round in 2016 and taking bronze at the 2021 Games, this is their first chance to claim gold in 12 years, thanks to back-to-back 120-minute matches and 1-0 extra-time victories over Japan and Germany.

It hasn't been easy. On Tuesday, they survived another grueling extra time, emerging only thanks to a Sophia Smith goal. It was similar to the quarterfinal against Japan, which required extra time heroics from Trinity Rodman for the victory.

“All I kept thinking as the game’s getting harder was `Dig harder. Suffer a little bit longer,’” U.S. coach Emma Hayes told reporters. “Listen, this is top level, you’re only going to get one shot. You can’t play the same team twice and have it be the same game. So I’m really proud of our ability to just hang in even though it was tough.”

This team is flush with heroes, and Smith is far from the only one who made their mark on this memorable win. GOAL takes a look at the winners and the losers from the USWNT's semifinal victory over Germany, which will play Spain for the bronze medal on Friday at Lyon.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Sophia Smith

Let's be honest: Smith probably could have scored two or three against Germany. It's OK, though. She got the one that mattered.

With the U.S. needing a hero, Smith stepped up in the 95th minute. It was a lovely finish, too. Played in by Mal Swanson, Smith placed the ball exactly where it needed to go to send the USWNT exactly where they want to be.

“I saw like a little opening of net and I was just like, `I’ve got to put it there. Just put it there,’” Smith told reporters after the match. “It was a good feeling. I know I had a few other chances this game that I should have put away. But sometimes one is all it takes.”

Smith's extra-time goal wasn't her easiest chance of the night. She had a few one-on-ones after the fact, although those were pushed away. Knowing her mentality, those will bother her, but she'll be fine considering the importance of the one she did bury.

Rodman and Smith either scored or assisted in all of the U.S. group stage games, the first time U.S. teammates had done so in an Olympic group stage since Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach at London 2012. Rodman then added the USWNT’s lone goal against Japan in the quarterfinals, and Smith did the same against Germany in the semifinals.

One of the magic things about this team is how someone new steps up every time. Last game, it was Rodman and, this time, it was Smith – who will be the hero in the Gold Medal game?

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: The midfield

So many things went right for the USWNT on Tuesday. The midfield wasn't one of them.

For several stretches of the match, the U.S. struggled mightily in the center of the field. Sam Coffey, the lone No. 6 in the XI, was fighting for her life as Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle struggled to provide the cover she needed.

Horan has struggled a bit lately, although she is ofter unfairly criticized on social media. Her passing could be crisper and, at times, she struggled with the pace of the game defensively. Lavelle, too, had a few good moments, but those didn't cancel out the ones where Germany cut through the midfield with ease.

It was fitting, then, that, when given a chance from a free kick, Horan drilled her shot right into Lavelle. The two just weren't quite on the same page but, for players of that talent level, there's little reason for concern going forward.

GettyWINNER: Naomi Girma

She's just so good that you almost overlook it. It's so easy to take her for granted, but we won't today. Not after this performance.

Girma is the best defender in the world and, if you don't believe it, just watch these Olympics. Realistically, you could just watch her masterpiece against Germany. That's how good she was.

Defensively, there's no one better. She cleaned up mess after mess, despite playing next to two different centerback partners in the match. It's hard to see at times because she makes it look so easy, but what she does is hard as can be.

Girma's magic really comes when she's on the ball. She completed an absolutely absurd 125 of her 132 passes. No one else had more than 86. Those were passes with purpose, too, as she created two chances while playing her part in the sequence that led to the winner.

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GettyLOSER: Tierna Davidson

After missing out on the last game, Davidson was back in the XI. She was solid, too. Unfortunately, though, she isn't quite 100 percent.

Davidson lasted just 45 minutes before being replaced by Emily Sonnett, who replaced her in the starting XI against Japan. Sonnett was good throughout her time on the field, which stretched through 120 minutes, but all eyes will be on Davidson heading into the final.

She was seen walking around post-match, which is a good sign. There are also four days to recover for the Gold game as opposed to the three on the schedule if the U.S. had fallen to the Bronze. Will Davidson be ready? Will she be 90 minutes fit? TBD.

Big picture

If it wasn’t already clear that New Zealand are the closest challengers to India’s current dominance of Test cricket, then their comprehensive victory at Bay Oval last week came close to confirming it.While there are no Test Championship points at stake in this series, New Zealand do, at least, have the chance to close the gap on the runaway leaders of the ICC’s rankings with a win at Seddon Park, and assert themselves as the side best equipped to beat them in a one-off final in two years’ time.That status will only be confirmed with a competitive showing on their tour of Australia next month, but the Hamilton Test this week provides an opportunity for them to demonstrate a quality not always associated with a country so sparsely populated: depth.New Zealand coped perfectly well without Trent Boult on the final day of the first Test, but the news that he has been joined on the treatment table by prolific allrounder Colin de Grandhomme leaves them two key bowlers down.The likelihood is that Daryl Mitchell – the seam-bowling allrounder – will make his Test debut in a straight swap for de Grandhomme, but it seems that New Zealand are not willing to let Lockie Ferguson off the leash just yet. Instead, Matt Henry – whose bowling average in the high-40s does little service to his control and pace – is set to come in for Boult; some English fans will remember his devastating spell as Kent’s overseas player in 2018, which saw him take 75 Division Two wickets at 15.48 apiece.

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For England, the past week could hardly have gone worse. It quickly became clear as BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner ground them into the dirt while scoring at just over two runs per over that their hotly-anticipated new blueprint for Test cricket was little more than an attempt to play more like New Zealand, by batting long and bowling dry, and as Stuart Broad admitted on the final morning, the first-innings effort of 353 all out was anywhere up to 150 runs short of a good score on a flat pitch.Indeed, much of the post-match analysis has focused on Joe Root’s captaincy, and perhaps with good reason. No Englishman has captained as many overseas Tests as Root’s 14 with a worse win/loss ratio, and his ability to get the most out of Jofra Archer’s talents in particular has been up for debate ever since the fast bowler’s debut at Lord’s. The rest of the squad and the management have both publicly stood by their man, though Ashley Giles illustrated the hollow nature of that in his press conference this week. “I’m not quite sure what anyone is expecting me to say,” Giles said. “‘We’ll see how we go’? That’s not a great vote of confidence in a captain.”Add into the mix the sad news that Chris Silverwood will return home after the second day of the Hamilton Test due to a family bereavement, and the racist abuse suffered by Archer on the final day at Bay Oval – not to mention an injury scare to Jos Buttler* – and it is clear that any attempt to start afresh has been wracked with difficulty.The best way to remove the spotlight from Root before next month’s tour of South Africa would be to win convincingly and end England’s miserable record overseas under his leadership. But given they are winless in their last 16 games in Australasia – their last victory in this part of the world was the Sydney Test in 2011 – that is easier said than done.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)New Zealand WWLWW
England LWLWD

In the spotlight

Joe Root needs runs, and desperately. His batting average as captain has dipped below 40. He has slipped out of the top 10 of the ICC’s batting rankings for the first time since 2014. Since the start of the English home summer in July, he has scored just 371 runs in 14 innings, averaging 26.50, with almost as many ducks (three) as half-centuries (four). Root insists that his batting has “just clicked” in training, and that a return to form is “round the corner”; England will be desperate for him to demonstrate that those are not empty words.It scarcely takes one wicketless spell for a section of New Zealand fans to start questioning the purpose of Tim Southee, whose tight control over line, angle and seam position makes him the precision engineer to Lockie Ferguson’s boy racer. But his three wickets on the second morning were not far short of decisive in keeping England to 353 in their first innings, and his record at home in the past five summers – 84 wickets at 24.59 – is a fair reflection of his supreme ability in familiar conditions.

Team news

Mitchell is set to make his debut as the swing-bowling allrounder, while Henry is likely to edge out Ferguson and replace the injured Boult. The rest of the side is unlikely to change, though Jeet Raval’s spot might come under pressure ahead of the Australia tour with another unconvincing display.New Zealand: 1 Tom Latham, 2 Jeet Raval, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Daryl Mitchell, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Neil Wagner.The likelihood of England going into the Test unchanged took a hit on Thursday*, with news of Buttler suffering a back spasm while in the gym. If he is ruled out, that would mean Ollie Pope taking the gloves for only the sixth time in a first-class match. Zak Crawley would probably come in as batting cover, although England were pondering the use of Chris Woakes as another allrounder; Woakes could come into contention anyway, with Jack Leach’s place far from certain after taking 2 for 153 in Mount Maunganui.England: 1 Rory Burns, 2 Dom Sibley, 3 Joe Denly, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Zak Crawley, 7 Ollie Pope (wk), 8 Sam Curran, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Chris Woakes/Jack Leach, 11 Stuart Broad.

Pitch and conditions

The pitch was very green on Tuesday – it looked as you’d expect a surface to look three days out, rather than two – but is likely to be cut. It has been hot in Hamilton, and the groundstaff have watered the pitch heavily. Seddon Park is one of the lower-scoring grounds in New Zealand, where the ball swings a bit more due to the humidity, and it is a typical ‘look up, not down’ surface.

Stats and trivia

• New Zealand have won five and drawn one of their last six Tests at Seddon Park.
• Ross Taylor has made five of his 18 Test hundreds at Hamilton, and is 92 runs away from scoring 1000 at the venue.
• In his 12 first-class games at the ground, Daryl Mitchell averages 39.33 with the bat, and 23.60 with the ball.
• Dom Sibley’s strength off his pads is offset by a weakness outside his off stump. On his debut last week, he scored five runs from the 87 balls that arrived outside off, and was dismissed twice.
• England have lost five of their six internationals in Hamilton across formats, with their only victory a two-run win in a T20I in February 2018.

Quotes

“It’s fantastic opportunity for Daryl if he’s selected. I think he has the capability to do what Colin has [done] in recent times. We’re lucky we have Daryl to come in.”
New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgensen hopes Daryl Mitchell can fill Colin de Grandhomme’s big shoes“When they were 600 declared, we knew our first innings wasn’t quite good enough.”
Ben Stokes took longer than most to realise England were in trouble*0900 GMT – This story was updated with news of Buttler’s injury