Crystal Palace eye bid to sign Mbappe-like striker to replace £40m Mateta

Crystal Palace are looking at signing a forward who has been compared to Kylian Mbappe to potentially replace Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer.

Crystal Palace salvage draw at Southampton as Glasner rumours circle

The Eagles’ run of five wins in a row in all competitions came to an end on Wednesday evening, with Oliver Glasner’s side needing a stoppage-time equaliser to take a point away from bottom of the Premier League Southampton.

Substitute Matheus Franca netted his first Palace goal to rescue a draw, with Glasner “very pleased” to come away from St Mary’s with something.

“I’m very pleased with the point today. I think we all know that we can play better, but today it was really about never losing the belief and to keep going until the final whistle, and this is what the players did. We were missing a few percentage in every phase of the game and we looked a little bit mentally tired, not at our top [level].”

Glasner then urged everyone at the club to ‘stay humble’: “The second thing today, I think, all Crystal Palace staff and fans can learn is to stay humble, that we can’t take it for granted, going everywhere in England and going home with three points. Every point is a good point and today, for me personally, it’s a very good point.”

Palace are on course for another midtable finish, and there have been rumours about Glasner departing Selhurst Park for RB Leipzig.

£17m release clause: Crystal Palace plotting move to sign "aggressive" star

He could replace Marc Guehi.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 3, 2025

Red Bull chief Jurgen Klopp has reportedly made contact with Glasner over a move to Leipzig, however, a fee will be required to take the Austrian away from Palace.

Alongside Glasner, there are also potential departures in the playing squad, including star striker Mateta. The forward has been linked with a move to Man Utd in recent weeks, and by the looks of things, Palace have their eyes on a replacement.

Crystal Palace eyeing move for Ekitike to replace £40m Mateta

Back in 2023, Crystal Palace were linked with a move for Hugo Ekitike when he was somewhat of an unknown figure. Now he is being called the “next Mbappe” after starring in Germany for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Valued at up to £70m, Ekitike is of interest to Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool, however, Palace also have their eyes on the Frenchman.

Eintracht Frankfurt's HugoEkitikecelebrates

As per TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace have joined the race for Ekitike and could make an ambitious move this summer. He appears to be seen as a replacement for Mateta and the report states that ‘Palace would listen to offers in the region of £40m for Mateta’.

Hugo Ekitike’s stats 2024/25

Games

39

Goals

19

Assists

8

Minutes played

2,857

The 22-year-old is open to the idea of playing in the Premier League, so a deal could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months.

Uncapped, not unnoticed: How Salonee Dangore went from track and field to the CPL

She doesn’t have an India cap, and she is yet to play in the WPL, but she’s signed for Trinbago Knight Riders. This is her improbable journey

Hemant Brar29-Jun-2025It is rare for an uncapped player to get picked in an overseas T20 league, especially when they have not played in their own country’s equivalent tournament. But Salonee Dangore did the improbable when she signed with Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) for the 2025 Women’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL).A legspin-bowling allrounder, the 27-year-old Dangore is one of four overseas players at TKR alongside Lizelle Lee, Shikha Pandey and Jess Jonassen. For the last two WPL seasons, Dangore was a net bowler at Delhi Capitals, the franchise Pandey and Jonassen play for. It would not be a surprise if these two put in a word after watching her at close quarters.Dangore’s cricketing journey is as improbable as her CPL selection. Growing up, she was a national-level athlete and had no interest in cricket. Until 2015, she did not even know of legspin’s existence.Related

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“When I was in school, I used to run very fast,” she tells ESPNcricinfo. “So our sports teacher asked me to pursue athletics. I would do 100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump. During my Under-14 and Under-17 days, I represented Madhya Pradesh at the national level in all those events.”She was around 17 when Jose Chacko, a Sports and Youth Welfare officer, advised her mother to make her switch to cricket for better opportunities. Dangore enrolled at an academy run by the former Ranji Trophy player Sunil Lahore in Indore. Since she had only watched boys in her residential colony bowl with long run-ups, she wanted to be a fast bowler. Lahore watched her bowl a couple of deliveries and told her to take up legspin.After spending about two years at the academy, Dangore joined the Ramesh Bhatia Cricket Foundation (RBCF). As a track-and-field athlete, her fielding was top-notch, but she struggled to turn her legbreaks. That sounds incredible, because currently she can pitch it on middle and leg stump and consistently hit off.”I was inspired by Shane Warne and the way he turned the ball,” she says. “But my arm would rotate in the other direction and most of my deliveries would end up as googlies. So I would watch his videos in slow motion to figure out how he did it.Salonee Dangore spent a lot of time with Jess Jonassen at Delhi Capitals•Courtesy Salonee Dangore”Apart from that, my coaches – Sanjay Choubey sir and Himanshu Vairagi sir – at the RBCF helped in correcting my arm alignment. It took a lot of effort but eventually I was able to turn the ball.”Dangore made her debut for Madhya Pradesh in 2017-18. Two seasons later, she was their highest wicket-taker (14 in eight games, at an average of 11.50) and third-highest run-scorer (130 at 32.50) in the One-Day Trophy, before Covid-19 ended the tournament prematurely.The turning point of her career came in 2022, when the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) called up former India legspinner Narendra Hirwani for a camp. “He changed my mindset completely,” Dangore says. “He said, ‘You will do what you think you can. So you should think you are the best legspinner in the world.’ That advice is still fresh in my mind and gives me a lot of confidence when I am bowling.”Shortly after that camp, the RBCF also invited Hirwani to their academy. Since then, Dangore has had multiple sessions with him.

“I was inspired by Shane Warne and the way he turned the ball. So I would watch his videos in slow motion to figure out how he did it”

“Sir also advised me to bowl slightly faster,” she says. “So right now I am working on increasing my pace while maintaining the turn. Apart from that, I am working on my slider and googly.”When it comes to batting, Dangore’s focus is on power-hitting and strike rotation, so that she can “contribute in every situation”.The stints with Capitals have also helped her immensely. “In my first year with them, there were only two net bowlers, [VJ] Joshitha and me,” she says. “I used to bowl in the same set as Jess Jonassen and would ask her about my bowling, tactics, and what to bowl when. Whatever feedback I got, I worked on that.”Dangore also realised she needed to shoulder more responsibility for her domestic side to stand out. In search of better opportunities, she moved to Chhattisgarh before the 2024-25 season.She picked up only two wickets in six games in the T20 Trophy, but emerged as Chhattisgarh’s leading wicket-taker in the one-dayers with 15 scalps from six matches at an average of 12.00. With the bat, she was their second-highest run-getter with most of her 144 runs coming at No. 6.Salonee Dangore bowls under the watchful eye of Narendra Hirwani•RBCFThat, in December 2024, remains Dangore’s last competitive tournament. Since then, she has had another stint with Capitals and is eager to show off her learnings. But will she get enough game time?”I am not thinking about that because it’s not in my control,” she says. “Whenever I get a chance, I want to give my best. Moreover, the pitches there [in Guyana] should help spinners.”Dangore cites Shreyanka Patil’s example. Patil too was uncapped when Guyana Amazon Warriors picked her in 2023, though unlike Dangore she had had a full WPL season behind her. She finished the CPL as the highest wicket-taker with nine wickets from five games.”I want to create a similar impact,” Dangore says. “Whenever the team needs me – be it with the ball or the bat – I want to win matches. I hope this stint opens up more doors for me.”

Business as usual? Contrasting histories prompt different semi-final views for SA, Australia

Bavuma says “there’s been an acknowledgement of the emotions” involved, while “keeping it pretty chilled is the way to go” for Cummins and Co

Andrew Fidel Fernando15-Nov-202313:33

Steyn: If South Africa win the semi-final, they can go on and dominate the final

“There’s a couple of different ways you can go about it – you can either build it up as the most important game of your life.”Or you can treat it as business as usual.”If anyone else but an Australia captain had said those lines ahead of a major semi-final, you wouldn’t believe them. Surely, the sense of occasion gets to you, right? No matter how much sportstalk you do about it being “just another game” and “needing to start from scratch”, and the “past being the past”, players, being human, must know that they are competing for something truly momentous.Australia may be the exception, though, because to say they are a side that have form in knockouts, have pedigree in global tournaments, just straight up know what they are about when it comes to big matches, is underselling. They have not only won five of this particular kind of trophy before, they are the reigning World Test Champions, and won the T20 World Cup as recently as 2021.Related

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Temba Bavuma on semi-final availability: 'I'm quite confident but it's not a unilateral decision'

In fact, five of the likely Australia XI for Thursday’s semi-final played in the 2015 World Cup final, which Australia of course won (those five: David Warner, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood). Captain Pat Cummins was merely in the squad for that match, but did play in the T20 World Cup win, alongside many others who will play against South Africa.”We feel lucky a lot of our players have been in these situations quite a bit,” Cummins said. “You know what it takes, but you’re not really weighed down by history. You’re more excited about the challenge.You just get stuck into what needs to be done.”I think we’ve experienced that keeping it pretty chilled and ‘business as usual’ is the way to go for our group. You draw back on those past wins, but you also draw back on the past few weeks and know that us at our best is good enough. You don’t need to try and push it too hard. There’s a quiet confidence. I think our team plays our best when it’s got that.”The comparison couldn’t be more stark. South Africa come to this contest with a history of having being perceived to have slipped up when knockout matches have been tight. The most famous of those screw-ups of course came against Australia in 1999 – a match that is now and quite a distance removed from any of the players in this game.History beckons for Temba Bavuma and Co•ICC/Getty ImagesBut then there was also South Africa having lost from a favourable position in the semi-final against New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup, their fielding performance beset by crucial errors towards the end of that game.They are, as a result, choosing to tackle their fears. Captain Temba Bavuma revealed on the eve of the match that the team had addressed anxieties collectively.”There’s been an acknowledgement of the emotions,” he said. “I don’t think you can deny or run away from that, but there’s also been I guess solutions or mechanisms that have been given as to how to deal with that anxiety if you feel that it overwhelms yourself. And I think that advice also flows to the senior players. I think there’s only two guys in this group that have gone into a semi-final, Quinton de Kock and David Miller, so there’s not a lot of experience from all the other guys.”This is Bavuma’s third ICC tournament at the helm, but his first knockout match as captain. As with other South Africa leaders, he’s trying to strike the right balance between noting the enormity of the game, while trying to keep himself on an even keel.”The game will be massive. I’ve tried not to really allow myself to get into that space. You want to treat it as just another game. I guess you’re forcing me to acknowledge the occasion. It’s something that I’m looking forward to. It’s something that I’ll savour in the moment. I know it will mean a lot for the family and people back home.”

Stay strong, Rod

Great keeper, good mate, straight talker – that’s just a few things the former Australia player has been

Ian Chappell27-Feb-2022″Is Rod Marsh an epileptic?” The phone call came at about 11.30 am in Sydney.It was former Queensland and Australian ODI player and now Bulls Masters boss Jimmy Maher. The answer was an emphatic no.The next call was concerning. “Rodney has actually had an attack in the car,” said Maher. “His heart stopped beating for several minutes before the hospital got it started again.”Related

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Match of my Life: Marsh on The Oval 1972 (2011)

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Seventy-four-year-old Marsh is the best Australian keeper I’ve seen and he has been a good mate since we played together in the 1970-71 Test side.He covered more territory standing back than any keeper, and while this was a great asset, it could also be a source of frustration. When Tony Greig edged Gary Gilmour’s awayswinger in the World Cup semi-final at Headingley in 1975, it was headed to my right.It never reached me.”Listen you fat bastard, catches on my right are mine,” I told him during the celebration. That’s one reason our friendship endured: we both made our points clearly.I was once asked who was the better keeper, Marsh or Ian Healy. It was an easy answer: “Have a look at their hands.”Marsh’s hands, despite years of collecting the ferociously fast Jeff Thomson and the extremely quick Dennis Lillee, are untarnished. If you look at that Headingley catch and then the diving leg-side one where he caught Clive Lloyd, you’ll understand about the territory he covered standing back.I awarded Marsh the dubious nickname of Iron Gloves during his Test debut at the Gabba. I’d just read about the poor-fielding Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Dick Stuart, who was nicknamed Iron Glove. It seemed like an appropriate name to anoint Marsh with – he dropped a couple in his first game. Years later, when Marsh claimed the world record for most dismissals by a keeper the laconic Doug Walters informed him: “Marshy, if you’d taken ’em all in your first Test, you would’ve claimed that record four games ago.”It was after Marsh’s first Test that former Australian opener and renowned journalist Jack Fingleton approached me at Sydney airport. “What’s this cove Marsh like?” he asked.I replied, “He’s a good bloke. He can bat, and don’t worry about the first Test, he can keep,” I answered. “Why do you ask?””Well,” replied the fastidious Fingleton, “he just threw his suit carrier in the luggage rack on top of my deer-stalker. I told him, ‘Marsh, my hat’s under there,’ Fingleton continued, “and he replied, ‘It can only improve the hat.'”Marsh famously poaches a Chappell catch at Headingley in the 1975 World Cup semi-final•Patrick Eagar/Getty ImagesI thought to myself that the debutant had a sense of humour, but I only said: “Jack, he’s all right. You’ll enjoy a game of golf with him.”We won that game of golf a few years later, thanks to Marsh’s skill with the clubs.Like all excellent teams, we had not only a very good wicketkeeper but a smart one.Marsh thought that if you were the incumbent, you should improve by doing the job all the time. He improved a hell of a lot, especially against spin. He was naturally very good standing back. As captain, he let me know how the quicks were hitting his gloves, and he was never short of an idea. He also told me the truth and that helped me learn a lot about captaincy.”You’re an idiot,” he told me, with an unprintable word before “idiot”, between overs at Old Trafford in 1972. He reckoned it was a seamers’ paradise and I had two spinners bowling. That warned me I was captaining like it was Adelaide Oval and I had to adjust my thinking to the ground we were actually playing on.Following his playing days, we’ve stayed in touch. He enjoyed a very successful career as head coach at both the Australian and England academies and has been a selector for both countries, as well as chairman of the Australian panel. He was director of coaching at the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy in Dubai, and has been an administrator as well.Whatever the job, he has given it his all, and he told the truth. You always know where you stand with Rod.He has a stalwart family in wife Ros, boys Paul, Daniel and Jamie and their wives and families. He’s a widely admired character and I received numerous encouraging messages when Rod fell ill. Their gist was the same: “He’s a tough bugger, he’ll pull through.”I’m hoping so, because he was a first-class teammate and remains an excellent friend.

Kyle Schwarber Says He Made One Mistake During Four Home Run Game

Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber made history on Thursday night against the Braves, becoming just the 21st player to ever hit four home runs in a single game.

Schwarber started the party early with a lead-off homer in the bottom of the first, then added dingers in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.

With the Phillies holding an 18–4 lead heading into the eighth, it was pretty clear that the home team would not be batting in the bottom of the ninth, and thus, Schwarber would need some help to get one last at-bat where he could go for a record-setting fifth dinger.

The Phils got him to the plate, but Schwarber couldn’t connect on a slow pitch from Vidal Brujan, who started the game at shortstop for Atlanta.

After the game, the Phillies broadcast team rightfully celebrated Schwarber’s awesome night, but the slugger himself was stuck thinking about one moment he wished he could have taken back.

“It’s crazy. I wish I didn’t ask the question in the cage—how many guys have hit five homers,” he said laughing.

Schwarber had a shot at becoming the first to ever hit five home runs in a game, but apparently, got a bit in his head about it before his final at-bat of the night.

While he came up short on that mark, in his defense, literally every major league baseball player in the history of the sport has also come up short of hitting five home runs in a game before him.

John Campbell returns to West Indies ODI squad; Layne, Springer called up

Brandon King dropped; Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Jediah Blades sidelined by injuries

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2025Six years after he last played an ODI, West Indies opener John Campbell has earned a recall for the three-match series against New Zealand starting on Sunday. Fast bowler Johann Layne and seam-bowling allrounder Shamar Springer received their maiden call-ups to the ODI side, while quick Matthew Forde, who returned from a shoulder dislocation for the T20Is against New Zealand, also returned.The trio replaced spinners Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie, and left-arm quick Ramon Simmonds, who was injured, from the squad that played Bangladesh last month. Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Jediah Blades also were sidelined by injuries.Campbell replaced fellow opener Brandon King from the Bangladesh series. King returned scores of 44, 0 and 18 in the series West Indies lost 2-1. His T20I form has also tapered off, with four single-digit scores in his last five outings across the Bangladesh and New Zealand series.Campbell was recalled following his strong performances in red-ball cricket, including an impressive century in the second Test against India in Delhi last month. He was Jamaica’s leading run-scorer in the Super50 Cup last season, with 278 runs in seven outings at a strike rate of 102.20. Notably, none of the top ten run-getters in that competition scored at a faster pace.Layne’s call-up follows his Test debut on the tour of India last month. While he has impressed in red-ball cricket, he has only 12 List-A appearances and 13 wickets to show in the format. Against New Zealand, Layne will complete the seam attack that features Jayden Seales and Romario Shepherd apart from Springer, Forde and Justin Greaves.Ackeem Auguste, who made his ODI debut in Bangladesh, kept his spot alongside Keacy Carty and Alick Athanaze in the 15-member squad led by Shai Hope.New Zealand and West Indies play the opening ODI in Christchurch on Sunday followed by the second and third matches in Napier and Hamilton, respectively.West Indies squad for ODIs against New ZealandShai Hope (capt), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Johann Layne, Khary Pierre, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer

فرص برشلونة في التأهل إلى دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد الهزيمة أمام تشيلسي

يعيش نادي برشلونة أوقاتًا صعبة خلال الساعات الأخيرة ، وذلك عقب الهزيمة التي تعرض لها البلوجرانا أمام تشيلسي ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

برشلونة تعرض لخسارة قاسية أمام تشيلسي بثلاثة أهداف دون مقابل يوم أمس الثلاثاء، ضمن الجولة الخامسة من مرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويعتبر وضع برشلونة ليس بالمريح في دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث فشل البلوجرانا في تحقيق الانتصار في المسابقة للقاء الثاني على التوالي.

برشلونة كان قد تعادل قبل حوالي أسبوعين من الآن مع نظيره كلوب بروج البلجيكي بثلاثة أهداف لكل فريق، في حين يحتل الفريق الكتالوني المركز الـ15 في دوري أبطال أوروبا بمرحلة الدوري وبرصيد 7 نقاط.

اقرأ أيضًا.. المباريات المتبقية لبرشلونة في دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد الخسارة أمام تشيلسي فرص برشلونة في التأهل لدور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا 

تحدثت صحيفة “ماركا” عن فرص برشلونة في بلوغ دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا، بعد الخسارة المخيبة للآمال أمام تشيلسي.

وأشارت الصحيفة، إلى أن برشلونة إذا أراد التأهل إلى دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا، وبناءً على حسابات الفرق الأخرى، فإن البلوجرانا يحتاج إلى الوصول إلى 16 نقطة للتأهل بشكل مباشر إلى الدور المقبل.

وأضافت الصحيفة، أن المؤشرات تشير إلى أن برشلونة سيتمكن من الوصول إلى هذا العدد من النقاط، خصوصًا مع سهولة المباريات المتبقية نسبيًا للنادي الإسباني في مرحلة الدوري.

برشلونة لديه الآن 7 نقاط في مرحلة الدوري، بالتالي حال فاز البلوجرانا في الثلاث مباريات المتبقية له فسوف يصل إلى 16 نقطة بالفعل.

وتبقى لبرشلونة ثلاث مباريات في مرحلة الدوري بدوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث سيواجه في البداية أينتراخت فرانكفورت خلال شهر ديسمبر المقبل على ملعب كامب نو، ثم في العام الجديد سيلعب مع سلافيا براج خارج أرضه، وأخيرًا سيواجهه مرة أخرى على ملعب كامب نو إف سي كوبنهاجن.

وتتأهل الفرق التي تحتل المركز الأول إلى الثامن، بشكل مباشر إلى دور الـ16 من البطولة، على أن يخوض الذين يحتلون المراكز من التاسع إلى الرابع والعشرين، مرحلة الملحق، والتي تتمثل في مباراتي ذهاب وإياب، حسب قرعة.

Arrest made as Turkey claim over €300k in jewellery stolen from dressing room during Spain draw in World Cup qualifying

Turkey’s national team reported over €300,000 worth of jewellery missing from their dressing room after the 2-2 draw against Spain in Seville, triggering a police investigation. A luxury watch and two rings vanished from La Cartuja before being recovered. At least one arrest has been made as authorities work to uncover how the theft took place.

Theft shock in Seville: Turkey report €300k jewellery missing

Turkey’s World Cup qualifying draw against Spain ended in dramatic fashion both on and off the pitch, after the Turkish federation reported the disappearance of high-value jewellery from their dressing room at La Cartuja Stadium. According to the initial complaint, a watch valued at approximately €200,000 and two rings estimated at more than €60,000 each were discovered missing shortly after full-time.

The Turkish delegation noticed the items were gone while preparing to leave the dressing room following the 2-2 draw. Stadium personnel later said they received a routine notice that “the Turkish team had left something behind in the locker room,” which at first appeared to be a common oversight. However, when staff checked, it became clear the missing belongings were not simply forgotten but potentially stolen, prompting an immediate formal report.

According to , police had launched a criminal investigation within hours, treating the incident as a suspected case of theft inside an area with restricted access. The timing of the disappearance, and the high value of the items, intensified scrutiny around the stadium’s security protocols during international fixtures.

Authorities later verified that the items were found and returned to Turkish officials, but by then the case had already escalated into a criminal probe involving multiple police units.

AdvertisementItems recovered as police confirm arrest

The report confirmed that both the watch and the two rings have been located and recovered, easing initial fears that they had been moved off-site or trafficked. However, the discovery did little to close the case, with officers emphasising that the objective now was to establish the full chain of events.

Spanish authorities stated that “the investigation is ongoing. Efforts are being made to determine exactly how the theft occurred and who is behind it.” Their remarks underscored that the recovered items do not automatically rule out internal involvement, especially given that La Cartuja’s dressing rooms are typically accessed only by players, staff, security personnel and approved stadium employees.

At least one arrest has been made, with police confirming they are analysing whether the individual had legitimate stadium access at the time. Investigators are working to determine if the detainee is a stadium employee or someone who “entered the area without permission,” a distinction that could reshape the legal penalties attached to the case.

Security review & legal process ahead

The recovery of the stolen items has eased immediate tensions, but both national federations are now awaiting the formal outcome of the ongoing police investigation. Stadium officials at La Cartuja are expected to carry out an internal security audit, especially regarding locker-room access and surveillance coverage during high-profile international fixtures.

With at least one arrest confirmed and the possibility of more to follow, Spanish authorities will continue examining whether the incident was opportunistic or part of a coordinated attempt to target high-value belongings. Further updates are expected once forensic analysis and security footage reviews are completed.

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Getty Images SportTurkey settles, while Spain bracing for biggest arena

The alleged theft cast a shadow over what had been a gripping night of football. Spain secured their place at the 2026 World Cup after a tense 2-2 draw with a spirited Turkey side, finishing atop Group E despite being pushed to the brink.

Dani Olmo opened the scoring in the fourth minute after superb wing play from Marc Cucurella, but Turkey’s Deniz Gul equalised in the 42nd minute with a finish that punctured Spain’s previously perfect defensive record in qualifying. Turkey then stunned the home crowd when Salih Özcan made it 2-1 in the 55th minute with a precise low strike following an intricate build-up.

The result extended Spain’s unbeaten run in qualifiers to 31 matches, maintaining a streak of World Cup qualifications dating back to 1978. Turkey, meanwhile, settled for a playoff position, having needed a near-impossible seven-goal margin to top the group.

Sharmin Akhter and Nahida Akter seal thrilling warm-up game for Bangladesh

Sri Lanka were unable to chase down a target of 242

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-2025Bangladesh edged out Sri Lanka by the narrowest of margins – one run – in the Women’s World Cup warm-up match in Colombo on Saturday.Sri Lanka stumbled early in a chase of 243, slipping from 56 for 1 to 86 for 4, but Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva steadied the innings, both scoring half-centuries. Dilhari’s 63 came to an unfortunate end when her bat slipped off her hand and hit the stumps after a shot over midwicket. Nilakshika continued the fight, making 75 off 78 before falling in the penultimate over.At 218 for 5 with 46 overs gone, Sri Lanka seemed in control, needing 25 from 24 balls. However, a collapse followed, left-arm spinner Nahida Akter triggering the slide, dismissing Piumi Wathsala and Anushka Sanjeewani in the 47th over before removing Nilakshika in the 49th. In the final over, Marufa Akter defended nine runs as Sri Lanka lost three wickets, including a run out, and fell short.Earlier, Sri Lanka made an early breakthrough with Udeshika Prabodhani dismissing Fargana Haque in the second over. Rubya Haider and Sharmin Akhter rebuilt with a 90-run stand, but Dilhari struck twice to remove both. Dewmi Vihanga, Malki Madara, and Dilhari all took two wickets as Sri Lanka restricted Bangladesh to 242 for 8, with Sharmin’s 71 being the highlight.

لاعب منتخب مصر: شعرت بالغضب من الاستبعاد

تحدث مدافع منتخب مصر الثاني المشارك في كأس العرب، على فوز الفراعنة على الجزائر وديًا، في إطار استعدادات المنتخب لبطولة كأس العرب. 

وكان منتخب مصر الثاني بقيادة حلمي طولان قد حقق الفوز وديًا على منتخب الجزائر بثلاثية مقابل هدفين، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين اليوم على ملعب القاهرة الدولي. 

طالع.. حسام حسن يعلن تفاصيل إصابة الشناوي وحمدي فتحي.. ورسالة للجماهير المصرية

وقال رجب نبيل لاعب منتخب مصر عبر “أون سبورت”: “ألله أكرمني بهذا الهدف في مرمى منتخب الجزائر، هم منتخب كبير وحامل النسخة الأولى من كأس العرب”. 

وأضاف: “لاعبو المنتخب كانوا رجالًا وحريصين على الفوز بهذه المباراة، وهذه اللقاء كان استعدادًا قويًا لبطولة كأس العرب، وقادرون على تحقيق نتائج جيدة في بطولة كأس العرب”. 

وتابع: “كنت غير متواجد في الفترة الماضية مع المنتخب، وشعرت بالضيق ولكنني أتحلى بالصبر، وعندما أتت لي الفرصة تمسكت بها وأثبت نفسي ووفقت في ذلك”.

واختتم: “توليفة اللاعبين بالكامل على مستوى عالي، والكل يريد تحقيق شيء في البطولة وليست مشاركة مشرفة”.

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