Latest news with #WorldCup-winning
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
United Eye Premier League Proven Keeper as Onana Replacement
Manchester United Eye Premier League-Proven Talent in Summer Rebuild Shift in Strategy Under INEOS Manchester United appear to be pivoting in their recruitment strategy this summer, targeting players with proven Premier League pedigree, suggest reports from TeamTalk. The shortcomings of recent signings such as Jadon Sancho, Antony, Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee, who dazzled abroad but have struggled domestically, have not gone unnoticed by the new regime led by INEOS. That change is evident in their serious pursuit of Aston Villa's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. Advertisement Martínez on United's Radar TyC Sports journalist Gastón Edul, who is regarded as a trusted voice on Argentine football, has confirmed Manchester United are intensifying their efforts to land Martínez. The club appear ready to upgrade their goalkeeping ranks, with the Aston Villa man expected to replace André Onana should a deal be struck. 'Manchester United are making concrete moves for Emiliano 'Dibu' Martinez,' revealed Edul. 'They are seriously interested and he's a priority for Amorim. Aston Villa and Man Utd are already in talks. Negotiations still need to continue but as of now [Man Utd] are the club that has made the most progress for him and shown the greatest interest.' Reports suggest Villa may be open to letting Martínez go after a turbulent campaign, though his price tag of £40 million could prove a sticking point. With the keeper now 32, United are expected to negotiate a lower fee, but his experience and winning mentality may prove invaluable in a high-pressure environment. Premier League Familiarity Valued The shift towards players familiar with the English game appears strategic. INEOS want dependable performers who have already proven they can handle the physicality and intensity of Premier League football. The anticipated third bid for Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo and interest in Matheus Cunha further underlines that intent. Advertisement Summer Market Heats Up While talks progress for Martínez, Manchester United are also circling talents at Brighton and Villa beyond the Argentine. The club are showing ambition and pragmatism, and while past errors cannot be undone, the future may be shaped with smarter, experience-based recruitment. Our View – EPL Index Analysis As an excited Manchester United supporter, this shift in recruitment strategy feels long overdue. For years, the club's scattergun approach in the market has prioritised hype over consistency. Finally, we are seeing clear direction: players who have already done it in the Premier League are being targeted. Advertisement The pursuit of Emiliano Martínez speaks volumes. He is a proven winner, a vocal presence, and has the edge that Old Trafford's dressing room has lacked since the David de Gea era ended. While Onana showed improvement late last season, Martínez would bring a mentality and confidence that could galvanise the backline. At 32, some might worry about longevity, but United need leadership right now. The fee might be high, but what price do you put on stability in goal? If INEOS and Amorim can bring in someone like Martínez while also securing deals for players like Mbeumo and Cunha, there's real hope this rebuild could finally be built on solid ground rather than expensive illusions. Let's hope this is not just paper talk, but a summer that marks a new, smarter Manchester United.
India.com
7 hours ago
- Sport
- India.com
From Virat Kohli To Kapil Dev: 8 Legendary Cricketers Who Skipped Education To Chase Their Cricket Dreams
photoDetails english 2932601 Updated:Jul 16, 2025, 01:13 PM IST Kapil Dev 1 / 8 India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, dropped out of college midway to concentrate on cricket. His bold decision helped rewrite Indian cricket history when he led the team to its first-ever World Cup triumph. Rahul Dravid 2 / 8 Rahul Dravid had the opportunity to pursue an MBA but chose cricket instead. His commitment to the sport earned him the nickname 'The Wall' and a legendary status in Indian cricket. Sachin Tendulkar 3 / 8 Regarded as the "God of Cricket," Sachin Tendulkar left formal education at the age of 16 to focus entirely on cricket. His decision shaped the future of Indian cricket, with a record-breaking career that remains unmatched. MS Dhoni 4 / 8 Before becoming one of India's most successful captains, MS Dhoni enrolled for a degree in Ranchi. However, he could not complete his studies as his cricketing journey quickly escalated, taking priority over academics. Shikhar Dhawan 5 / 8 Shikhar Dhawan completed his school education but never pursued a college degree. His early selection for India's national team and consistent performances at the domestic level kept him rooted in the sport from a young age. Virat Kohli 6 / 8 India's modern-day batting giant, Virat Kohli, completed his schooling up to Class 12. Post that, he did not pursue college education, instead channeling his energy into cricket, a decision that eventually led him to captain the Indian team across formats. Hardik Pandya 7 / 8 Hardik Pandya had to leave school after Class 9 due to financial difficulties. Despite the challenges, his unwavering passion and talent for cricket helped him rise through the ranks to become one of India's most dynamic all-rounders. Shubman Gill 8 / 8 Shubman Gill focused on his cricketing dreams early in life. He studied only until Class 10 before leaving academics behind to commit fully to cricket. His dedication paid off when he was selected for India's U-19 team at just 17.
The South African
a day ago
- Sport
- The South African
Springboks welcome back Kolisi, trio picked for Test debut
The Springboks named an exciting squad for their final Incoming Test against Georgia in Nelspruit, with double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi returning from injury to lead the side, while three uncapped forward players earn Springbok call-ups. Boan Venter starts at prop, while Marnus van der Merwe (hooker) and Neethling Fouche (prop) round out a revamped front row. All three featured in the team's recent 54–7 win against the Barbarians, with Venter joining the squad in June as injury cover. Their inclusion brings the season's newly capped players to seven, alongside Vincent Tshituka, Cobus Wiese, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, and Ethan Hooker – who debuted against Italy. Rassie Erasmus voiced confidence in the new players: 'Boan, Marnus, and Neethling have been training hard and deserve their chance.' He added that Van der Merwe and Fouche have taste of international rugby, while Venter has impressed at club level. 'Building squad depth has been one of our pillars since 2018, and they are all undoubtedly ready to make the step‑up.' Kolisi returns to captain the side and joins a loose trio featuring Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cobus Wiese. The Bok captain missed the last three matches while recovering from niggles. Erasmus praised Kolisi's fitness, stating, 'we wanted to make sure that Siya is 100% fit before selecting him.' His return also adds experience – 15 World Cup winners feature in the match-day squad. Only five starters return from last week's 45–0 win over Italy. The back three features Edwill van der Merwe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Aphelele Fassi, with former scoring wing van der Merwe promoted from the bench. Canan Moodie and Damian de Allende form the midfield partnership, while Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu pair up at halfback. Eben Etzebeth partners Ruan Nortje in the second row. Erasmus selected a forward-heavy replacements bench (five forwards to three backs). The forwards include Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, RG Snyman, and Kwagga Smith. In the backline, Faf de Klerk begins the bench alongside Handré Pollard and Damian Willemse—offering strong tactical cover late in the game. SPRINGBOKS – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Cobus Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter. Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Damian Willemse. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS SPRINGBOKS LINEUP? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Who is Liam Dawson? Spinner replacing Bashir for ENG vs IND 4th Test
England have handed a Test recall to experienced all-rounder Liam Dawson for the upcoming fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Manchester. The 35-year-old left-arm spinner has been drafted into the squad as a replacement for Shoaib Bashir, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the series due to a fractured finger. Dawson's inclusion marks a potential return to red-ball international cricket after nearly eight years. He last played a Test match for England in July 2017, and has three Test caps to his name since making his debut in 2016. Who is Liam Dawson? England's national selector Luke Wright praised Dawson's performances, stating: 'Liam Dawson deserves his call-up. He has been in outstanding form in the County Championship and consistently puts in strong performances for Hampshire.' International Pedigree Dawson made his Test debut against India in Chennai back in 2016, where he impressed with a resilient 66* on debut. Across his three Tests, he has taken 7 wickets and scored 84 runs. Though often viewed as a white-ball specialist in recent years, Dawson was also part of England's 2019 World Cup-winning squad. With Shoaib Bashir sidelined, and Jack Leach once again overlooked, Dawson could now play a key role in Manchester, if selected, offering a left-arm spin option with plenty of experience and recent domestic success.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
'Didn't Sourav Ganguly wave his shirt today?': Jofra Archer to Ben Stokes after England crush India's heart at Lord's
On Monday morning, Ben Stokes had a feeling that "Jofra Archer was going to do something this morning to break the game open." On the sixth anniversary of England's 2019 World Cup win, at the very same venue - Lord's Cricket Ground - Stokes knew there was only one man who should start the final day of the third Test match with England eyeing the remaining six wickets and with India needing 135 runs to chase. Jofra Archer's history gaffe stunned Ben Stokes before Lord's showdown At the end of a six-over morning spell, Archer, who had bowled that famous Super Over against New Zealand to help England clinch their maiden World Cup title, dismissed Rishabh Pant, before getting rid of Washington Sundar. Between the two dismissals, Stokes, who had famously dragged England to that Super Over in 2019, got the better of a well-set KL Rahul as the World Cup-winning duo exposed India's tail within the first seven overs of the day. He later returned to dismiss Jasprit Bumrah and end what was a frustrating partnership between India No. 10 and Ravindra Jadeja. Eventually, a stroke of sheer luck saw the hosts take the final wicket after the delivery from Shoaib Bashir trickled agonisingly onto Mohammed Siraj's leg stump. Six years apart, England's World Cup duo helped the side secure a thrilling 22-run win at the Lord's and thus take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. But unlike Stokes, Archer had no idea it was the anniversary of England's World Cup win on Monday. "You know what day today is, don't you?" Stokes had asked Archer before the start of Day 5 in London, hoping to stir the 30-year-old. But the fast bowler thought it was the day India had defeated England in the 2002 NatWest series final, which was followed by then-visiting-captain Sourav Ganguly windmilling his shirt over his head in the Lord's balcony. "You know that highlight package of India knocking off 300-odd back in the day with Ganguly?" Stokes later told reporters in the post-match conference on Monday. "He thought that was a World Cup final. He thought that was six years ago today. Absolute beauty, that boy." When Stokes cleared the confusion, Archer responded, "Oh, that one".
