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Glasgow Rangers have announced their second signing of the summer as Oscar Cortes remains in Glasgow for the 2024/25 campaign on a season-long loan deal.

The youngster spent the second half of last term on loan at the Ibrox side, featuring seven times and registering three goal contributions before suffering an injury against Kilmarnock at the end of February which eventually curtailed his season.

Signing him up on a temporary deal with an obligation to buy is a smart piece of business by Philippe Clement as he seeks to bolster his side ahead of next season.

Might the Belgian be looking to secure another loan signing this summer, however? Someone that could add something different to his midfield options…

Rangers transfer news

Last week, five players departed Rangers following the expiration of their contracts, freeing up a good chunk of wages which will allow Clement some flexibility in the transfer market.

Player

Year joined

Appearances

John Lundstram

2021

153

Borna Barisic

2018

236

Kemar Roofe

2020

102

Jon McLaughlin

2020

46

Ryan Jack

2017

210

Losing Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe, Borna Barisic and Jon McLaughlin means the Gers will have a few gaps to fill this summer, but this is surely a challenge that Clement will relish.

With Jefte and now Cortes signed up for next season, the onus is on the Light Blues to continue this momentum by making a few more signings in the coming weeks.

Journalist Graeme Bailey provided an update on the future of Kalvin Phillips last week, saying: “Man City have informed Kalvin Phillips that he can leave on loan next season.

“City realise that nobody is going to take him permanently and will subside his wages. A host of clubs are keen, and Celtic & Rangers amongst those to show an interest.”

The midfielder currently earns £150k-per-week at City, which ordinarily, would rule him out of a move to Scotland. With the English champions paying his wages, however, this makes a move slightly more feasible.

His value has dropped significantly since joining Man City two years ago. Despite costing the club £42m, according to Football Transfers, the former Leeds man is now worth just €14.3m (£12m) and this will continue to decrease unless he goes on to impress next season, potentially in a Rangers jersey.

With Clement losing Jack and Lundstram, both central midfielders, he desperately needs to recruit a few more bodies in this area before the start of next season. Might Philipps, even on a temporary deal, be an ideal upgrade to Lundstram?

Kalvin Phillips' career since Euro 2020

In the summer of 2022, Phillips looked like he had the world at his feet. The previous summer, he had starred for England during their run to the final of the 2020 European Championship, losing to Italy on penalties.

After an excellent season for Leeds United in the Premier League where he played 20 times, Phillips signed for City for a fee in the region of £42m, becoming the latest talent to join Pep Guardiola’s side.

Games played

7/7

Pass success rate

86%

Assists

1

Tackles per game

1.3

Interceptions per game

1

Total duels won per game

3.9

Via Sofascore

What should have been a reward for Phillips' rise to the top soon turned into a nightmare as he played only 19 games during his maiden season at the Etihad due to suffering a shoulder injury.

Despite winning the treble, Phillips’ issues continued into the 2023/24 season, making just ten appearances for City before joining West Ham United on a six-month loan deal which was supposed to get him back up to 100% ahead of next season.

Ten appearances and no goals or assists later, the 28-year-old returned to Manchester with his tail between his legs having missed out on England’s Euro 2024 squad.

A fresh start in Scotland could certainly ease his troubles and allow him to secure plenty of game time without facing the same sort of pressure down south. The key question is, can he remain fit?

Why Kalvin Phillips could replace John Lundstram

Lundstram enjoyed a few purple patches during his spell in Glasgow, most notably in the club’s run to the Europa League final in 2022, scoring against Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, but overall, his spell at Ibrox failed to live up to expectations.

Last season, the midfielder may have made 52 appearances in all competitions for the Gers during 2023/24, but he scored just twice, while his performance levels dipped severely towards the end of the campaign as Celtic defeated the Light Blues in the top flight and Scottish Cup final.

Phillips may have endured a torrid spell at both City and West Ham since moving from Leeds in 2022, with Guardiola going as far as labelling the midfielder as “overweight” once he returned from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

However, he has previously been hailed as an “absolute beast” by former Netherlands international Nigel De Jong during England’s run to the Euro 2020 final three years ago, proving that he can dominate a midfield.

Indeed, during that tournament, the midfielder played every single match for England as he finished the competition with an 86% pass success rate, averaged 0.4 key passes per game while winning 69% of his aerial duels per match, showcasing his importance in the heart of the three Lions’ midfield.

The season prior to that international tournament, Phillips was incredible for Leeds, finishing the league campaign with an 85% pass success rate while making 2.6 tackles and winning 5.3 total duels – a success rate of 53% – per game for the club, ensuring his place in the England squad for the competition.

Moving on Lundstram was the best thing Clement could do, freeing up plenty of wages for future targets and, at 30, he wasn’t going to get any better.

There is no doubt, therefore, that if Phillips can replicate the form he displayed for club and country between 2020-2022, then Rangers could have an ideal Lundstram replacement ready to make his mark in Scotland.

Much will depend on how far the midfielder is willing to go in order to secure regular first-team football, but if he can prove his fitness to Clement, then the Belgian may be able to plug a void in his midfield with a player who was lauded as the “best modern midfielder” just three years ago by Fabio Capello.

Rangers eye move for set-piece specialist to replace Barisic

Rangers look to be seeking another signing in the coming weeks…

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 3, 2024

Yorkshire reach 96-run first-innings lead before Durham edge ahead with more spirited second knock

Paul Edwards at Chester-le-Street02-Aug-2020
To walk around a near-deserted Riverside at the moment is to be reminded of a different summer. Signs and notices still advertise last year’s World Cup and one realises with a jolt that this match began on the first anniversary of the start of the Ashes series. We have gone from Steve Smith to squirts of sanitiser in twelve months. Professional cricketers, of course, have little time for such reflections. Some moved counties in the winter and were hoping to make an impact in April; many others are out of contract this year and have nine weeks in which to prove they deserve a new deal. They are playing for more than a one-off trophy in a truncated season.For the moment, though, harvesting a decent haul of points in the Bob Willis Trophy is all they can do, so Yorkshire’s coaches will have been slightly disappointed just after lunch when Ben Coad’s limp waft edged a catch to Ned Eckersley, thus ending his side’s first innings on 199, one run shy of a batting bonus point. But any irritation at Coad’s final shot will have been balanced by pleasure at the five boundaries he had clumped during a valuable last-wicket stand of 35 with Jack Shutt. Two of those fours were cheery thwacks down the ground off Ben Raine and they rather summed up Yorkshire’s approach to batting during the first half of a day in which they established a 96-run first-innings lead.However, after managing only 103 all out in their first attempt, Durham’s batsmen offered far tougher resistance on Sunday afternoon and were 106 for 2 at the close. The home’s obduracy would have done credit to Democratic Unionists. It was epitomised by the openers, Alex Lees, who was batting against his old county, and Sean Dickson, who was trying to impress his new one after his recent move from Kent. The pair had added 47 in 26 overs when Dickson was caught off the inside edge by Jonny Tattersall for 14, and though their approach was as staid as a maiden aunts’ sherry party, it was at least safe.More to the point, neither Steve Patterson nor any of his bowlers could build on their success, partly because this Riverside pitch has lost a little of its spice but mainly because Lees ground out an unbeaten 58 in 150 balls. Yet the opener’s pleasure may have been moderated by his part in the run out which saw Cameron Steel dismissed for 11. That mix-up occurred when the batsmen attempted a third run only to see Ben Coad’s throw from third man be collected by Tattersall, who threw the stumps down at the bowler’s end with a galloping Steel short of his ground. Nevertheless a game which once threatened not to last beyond its second day may now stretch into a fourth.Durham’s resilience may have pleased their absent supporters watching the live stream on their laptops, but their run rate is so pedestrian – 106 runs in 51 overs – that they may have to bat most of the third day in order to set any sort of target on a pitch which has eased a little since the first morning when a heavy atmosphere made batting even more of a trial. Yorkshire’s batsmen, by contrast, were never chary of playing their shots and that approach worked for them in the morning session. The visitors scored 80 runs in 28 overs, thus establishing a 61-run lead at a cost of four wickets, two of which fell when neither Jordan Thompson nor Tattersall played shots to straight balls. Harry Brook, too, rather gave it away when he pulled Matthew Potts straight to Jack Burnham at deep midwicket, the fielder having been carefully placed 20 yards in from the rope. By then, though, the 21-year-old Brook had made 41 and had hit seven boundaries, the majority of them intentional and precise.From the opening exchanges there was a busyness about Yorkshire’s batting which their opponents have so far lacked. Twenty of the 58.4 overs in Durham’s innings had been maidens; the home bowlers managed just six in their first 24, some of them delivered in the first day’s last knockings when Dawid Malan and Brook were playing for the close. The departure of Malan, superbly caught by Ned Eckersley off the inside edge for 30, gave Chris Rushworth the second of his three wickets but the Durham spearhead was otherwise roughly treated by Yorkshire’s batsmen and it is probably some time since he has gone for four an over in a first-class innings.But while home supporters were prohibited from watching experienced cricketers like the 34-year-old Rushworth, yesterday they were at least able to watch the county’s academy cricketers take on Chester-le-Street, whose Ropery Lane home lies about 500 yards from the Riverside. That game was attended, on a much smaller ground, by over 100 spectators and catering facilities were available. Yet no one apart from players, officials and media is being allowed into the Riverside, whose capacity is currently around 15,000.Such inconsistency is perhaps to be expected during an emergency almost without precedent in modern British history. But it would still need nothing more than a gentle relaxation to remove it and it is hard to see what the hazard might be in allowing a thousand or so folk watch cricket in the open air.

Wrexham have seen a bid for Preston striker Will Keane rejected as Phil Parkinson aims to bolster his attack before Friday's deadline.

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Wrexham launch Keane offerWest Brom bid also rejectedMullin back from summer surgeryWHAT HAPPENED?

Wrexham have turned to Keane in their bid to add Championship-level experience to their squad. According to ,the Red Dragons submitted a £750,000 offer to Preston that has been rejected by the Lilywhites.

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Keane scored 13 goals in 38 Championship appearances for Preston last term, and he bagged the only goal in a 1-0 win against Luton at the weekend. Wrexham have completed seven permanent signings so far in the transfer window but none were attacking additions, and the pursuit of Keane appears to be an attempt to provide competition to Paul Mullin – who made his first appearance of the season against Reading last weekend – and Co.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wrexham aren't alone in their attempts to sign Keane. Championship side West Brom saw a £500,000 bid for the former Manchester United youngster rejected, while Cardiff are also considering a move before Friday's transfer deadline.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Parkinson has hinted that Wrexham's transfer business isn't finished, but his side appears more than ready for the task ahead of them in League One. The Red Dragons have collected seven points from their opening three games and defeated the previously-unbeaten Reading 3-0 on Saturday.

Crystal Palace are enjoying a spectacular end to the Premier League season under new coach Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian has seen his side beat Newcastle United, West Ham United and, most impressively, Liverpool in the last four games, and since he was appointed in February, the Eagles have lost just three league games, one of which was against Manchester City.

In all, things look to be on the up and up at Selhurst Park, and one of the players benefiting most from the club's change of fortune is French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is more than repaying his manager's faith in him and making the wages paid out to previous strikers at the club look absurd.

Jean-Philippe Mateta's Palace career in numbers

The Eagles first signed Mateta on an initial 18-month loan from Bundesliga outfit Mainz in January 2021 but made the deal permanent for around £9m in February the following year.

While the 6 foot 4 forward hasn't ever been particularly bad for the South Londoners, it would probably be fair to describe much of his time at Selhurst Park as underwhelming. Before this season, he had scored just ten goals and provided a single assist in 67 appearances.

However, this year, the 26-year-old has finally shown the kind of form that piqued Palace's interest in the first place, scoring 14 goals and providing five assists in 36 games, meaning that he's averaging a goal involvement every other game.

Mateta's record for Palace this season

Competition

Premier League

FA Cup

League Cup

Appearances

34

2

2

Goals

11

0

3

Assists

4

0

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.44

0.00

1.5

All Stats via Transfermarkt

This reliable output has seen him become Glasner's first choice in attack, and he's started every game following the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss' arrival, more than justifying his £50k-per-week wages in the process, which isn't something that can be said about a former Palace striker and flop.

How much Connor Wickham cost Crystal Palace

The former striker in question is 31-year-old Connor Wickham, who joined Alan Pardew's Palace for around £9m in August 2015 following a mixed – if not underwhelming – season for Sunderland in which he scored six goals and provided one assist in 40 appearances.

Despite his mediocre return for the Black Cats, the Englishman was handed a relatively hefty wage packet worth around £60k-per-week, making him the joint third-highest earner at the club for the 2015/16 season, behind only Emmanuel Adebayor and Yohan Cabaye.

The Hereford-born forward's first season in red and blue was a mixed one. His return of six goals and three assists in 24 appearances wasn't too bad, but he would miss 17 games through injury, and unfortunately for all involved, he would continue to be plagued by injury for the rest of his time south of the river.

In all, the former Ipswich Town gem would miss a whopping 143 games across the six years he spent as a Palace player – including the season he spent on loan with Sheffield Wednesday – while scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in 50 appearances.

Therefore, when adding his £9m transfer fee to the £16.8m he earned in wages during the five seasons he spent at Selhurst Park, he cost Crystal Palace £25.8m, or £516k-per-appearance, £2.3m-per-goal, or £5.1m-per-assist.

The finances of Connor Wickham's Crystal Palace Deal

Transfer Fee

£9m

Wages (Total)

£60k (£16.8m)

Total Cost

£25.8m

Appearances

50

Cost per Appearance

£516k

Goals

11

Cost per Goal

£2.3m

Assists

5

Cost per Assist

£5.1m

Goal Involvements

16

Cost per Goal Involvement

£1.6m

All Stats via Transfermarkt & All Wages via Capology

Ultimately, while Wickham was undeniably unlucky when it came to injuries, it would be impossible to describe his time at Palace as anything other than a failure, and by extension, his transfer was a flop.

Related Why Nottingham Forest will regret missing out on Oliver Glasner

The club made a huge mistake not hiring him…

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 1, 2024

After Manchester United’s disastrous 3-3 draw against Coventry City at the weekend, the Red Devils welcome bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United to Old Trafford.

Going into the tie, Erik ten Hag’s side simply have to prove themselves and put on a show for their loyal fans, who deserve to witness a dominant, exciting performance.

However, as highlighted by their position in seventh and the FA Cup clash on Sunday, even the simplest of tasks can be made extremely difficult by the team.

That said, there’s one player who’s impressed every time they’ve been on the field this season, and he surely must be given a chance over Marcus Rashford.

Why Marcus Rashford drops out of the side

After scoring an incredible 30 goals across all competitions last campaign, the expectation this season was for Rashford to continue his progression under Ten Hag.

The number ten now hasn’t scored in five matches for United, which means his goal tally for the season remains at eight across all competitions, just highlighting how he’s underperformed.

Other than completing three of his four attempted dribbles and having the confidence to shoot five times, Rashford wasn’t his usual self against Coventry, failing to have an impact on the game, as shown by his one big chance missed and the fact that he lost possession 17 times.

Given the fact that tonight’s opponents are rock bottom of the table, have won just one game since December, and Rashford is currently a doubt due to injury, the best option will be to not take any risks.

The best replacement for Marcus Rashford

Amad Diallo is a player that the United faithful are desperate to watch from the off, after impressing with 14 goals last season on loan at Sunderland and during pre-season.

Unfortunately, the Ivorian’s development has hit a brick wall this campaign due to an injury that kept him out until December, but since then, his cameos off the bench have been rather impressive with that goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals notably sticking out.

If the wide positions haven’t been occupied by Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, then Antony has been the first-choice replacement, but he’s only registered one assist in 25 Premier League games.

Amad himself has only featured six times this season with an average of 34 minutes per match, but he’s certainly done enough to prove he should start, especially after his performance against Coventry off the bench, making an eye-catching three key passes and succeeding with 100% of his dribbles.

Minutes

30

Shots

1

Key passes

3

Dribble success rate

100%

Touches

23

Passes completed

19/20

In just 30 minutes of action, the 21-year-old was more of a threat than most of the United attackers on the day, not only showcasing that he’s more than talented enough but also having the mentality to fight for the team, which has been visibly lacking.

A potential “superstar,” as dubbed by football creator Liam Canning, Amad is an extremely creative player, who seems to always make the right decision when in possession.

The fact that Amad made three key passes while also completing 19 of his 20 passes serves as evidence of that, and this level of creativity and ball retention will be needed against the inevitably stubborn Blades.

With Sheffield United’s gameplan being to sit in their own box, the former Atalanta winger's technical class and ability to play quick combinations in tight spaces will help unlock the defence.

The predicted defensive setup by the Blades will also mean that the majority of their attacks will occur via transitions, and Amad’s three tackles and six duels won against Liverpool in the FA Cup also highlight that he can make United much more secure defensively.

Amad’s inclusion in the starting lineup at right wing would mean a slight position change for Garnacho, with the Argentine potentially set to switch flanks to his preferred left-wing position.

Overall, Amad’s performances must be rewarded with a start – his first league one of the campaign – and if not, you have to question why he’s not being given an opportunity by Ten Hag.

Ratcliffe must ensure 4/10 Man Utd flop follows Ten Hag out the door

This trio of Manchester United players must leave this summer.

ByTom Lever Apr 23, 2024

There has been a suggestion this week that Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou doesn't want one player in his Spurs set up, with concerns surrounding his "attitude and application".

Spurs players who could leave this year

While much has already been made in regard to who could join, as Spurs are linked with a new winger, central midfielder, fourth centre-back and back-up full-back in the last fortnight, there are a few members of Postecoglou's squad who appear destined to go the other way.

Club agree deal to sign Tottenham starlet with move secured ahead of summer

Spurs are set to lose a prodigy.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 2, 2024

Fabrizio Romano shared this week that midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who apparently garnered plenty of Serie A interest in the build up to January, has now changed agents – which could be an indication that he is preparing for the next move of his career.

The Dane has started just six top flight games this season with the vast majority of his 25 league appearances coming from the bench. A far cry from his mainstay status last term under Antonio Conte, you could be forgiven for thinking Hojbjerg is open to potentially seeking a new challenge.

Meanwhile, Spurs starlet Bryan Gil has been tipped to leave this summer after deciding to stay in the winter. Postecoglou hasn't exactly rewarded the Spaniard with opportunities since then, so perhaps a move away is best for all parties.

Tottenham's next league fixtures	Date
Aston Villa	March 10th
Fulham	March 16th
Luton Town	March 30th
West Ham	April 2nd

There is also the small matter of Tottenham's loaned out players, of which there are many. Club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele will be a very interesting case in particular, amid claims he is failing to impress on his temporary spell at Galatasaray.

No way back for Ndombele under Ange at Tottenham

Speaking to GiveMeSport, reporter Dean Jones has suggested that Postecoglou doesn't want Ndombele in his Tottenham set up and the "writing has been on the wall" for the Frenchman.

"I don't see a way back for Ndombele in this Tottenham setup," said Jones. "He is going to go down as a transfer flop. I think that he had an opportunity when Postecoglou first came into the club, and he didn't impress. The writing has been on the wall for him for a long time now. This could have gone very differently because when they signed them, they were signing a really good player. But whatever it is, and it does feel like a lot of it is attitude and application, is not good enough."

This has been a pretty whimpering end to the Spurs career of someone who came with such promise, with Arsenal star Declan Rice actually rating him pretty highly in terms of ability.

"The perception of him, it shouldn’t be what it is because I tell you now, he is one of the toughest I have played against," said Rice in 2022.

“He is top. Just a street footballer on the pitch. He takes the ball anywhere, little flicks and tricks. Like he doesn’t care. He does everything so confidently. With players like that, you just have to let them play. Give them the freedom to go out and do whatever they want. When we played against Lyon in the Europa League, he was incredible. He’s a top player.”

في إطار استعداداته القوية لمواجهة سموحة في الجولة الثانية من الدوري المصري الممتاز، حقق الزمالك فوزًا وديًا على نظيره الشمس بهدفين مقابل هدف، في مباراة أقيمت على ملعب النادي.

وشهد الشوط الأول من المباراة سيطرة واضحة من جانب لاعبي الزمالك، حيث فرضوا أسلوب لعبهم على مجريات اللقاء وهددوا مرمى الشمس في أكثر من مناسبة. تشكيل الزمالك اليوم أمام الشمس

في حراسة المرمى: محمد صبحي.

الدفاع: أحمد فتوح، أحمد رفاعي، جيفرسون كوستا، أحمد محمود.

الوسط: نبيل عماد دونجا، زياد كمال، أحمد عبد الرحيم “إيشو”.

الهجوم: مصطفى شلبي، سيف الجزيري، محمود عبد الرازق “شيكابالا”.

ورغم الفرص المتاحة، إلا أن الشوط انتهى بالتعادل السلبي نتيجة لتألق حارس مرمى الشمس وتسرع بعض لاعبي الزمالك في إنهاء الهجمات.

طالع أيضًا | مران الزمالك | حمدي يخضع لـ جلسة علاجية.. وحضور أحمد سليمان

وشهد الشوط الثاني أحداثًا مثيرة، حيث أجرى المدير الفني للزمالك تغييرات واسعة على التشكيل، مما أدى إلى تغيير أسلوب اللعب. وبدأ الزمالك الشوط الثاني بتشكيل مكون من:

حراسة المرمى: محمود الشناوي.

خط الدفاع: محمد عاطف، أحمد رفاعي، وجيفرسون كوستا، أحمد محمود.

خط الوسط: زياد كمال، سيف جعفر، مهاب ياسر، حازم أسامة.

الهجوم: سامسون أكينيولا، حسام أشرف.

وتمكن جيفرسون كوستا من تسجيل هدف التقدم للزمالك مستغلاً عرضية من ركلة ركنية، ولكن سرعان ما أدرك الشمس التعادل.

ولم يطل الانتظار حتى سجل حسام أشرف الهدف الثاني للزمالك بتسديدة قوية من خارج منطقة الجزاء، ليؤكد تفوق فريقه.

وأظهر لاعبو الزمالك أداءً مقنعًا خلال المباراة، حيث بدا واضحًا الانسجام بين اللاعبين وتنفيذهم للتعليمات الفنية، وتألق عدد من اللاعبين مثل جيفرسون كوستا وحسام أشرف اللذين سجلا هدفي المباراة، بالإضافة إلى تألق حارس المرمى محمد صبحي في الشوط الأول.

يذكر، أن الزمالك يستعد لمواجهة نظيره سموحة يوم الجمعة المُقبل 8 نوفمبر، في الجولة الثانية من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

Didier Deschamps has been brutally told to stop "hanging on" to the France job after his team's painful Euro 2024 semi-final loss to Spain.

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• France crashed out of Euro 2024
• Succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Spain
• Deschamps' role under scrutiny

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The France national team manager is under pressure to relinquish his role following Les Bleus' semi-final defeat to Spain in Euro 2024 by a 2-1 scoreline on Tuesday night. Although Randal Kolo Muani gave the 2018 World Cup winners an early lead, La Roja mounted a spirited comeback to get their nose in front with two quick goals from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Deschamps, who is contracted to stay with the team until 2026, appeared both frustrated and defiant when questioned about his future after the loss, and insisted that he had fulfilled the objectives set by French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo.

  "You are formidable… Ask my president," he told reporters. "There I have just lost a semi-final… I respect you, also respect the people who have responsibilities. You know the situation very well and what my president thinks."

• WHAT DANIEL RIOLO SAID

  The defeat to Spain has intensified calls for a new direction for Les Bleus. Daniel Riolo, a French journalist, did not mince words on RMC Sport's After Foot show, urging Deschamps to move on after 12 years at the helm.

  "He’s hanging on, he’s staying. Maybe right now, asking him if he’s leaving could upset him, but the question will come up tomorrow, or whenever he wants," he said. "But the guy has been there for 12 years and he really doesn’t want to hear the question… stop. That’s enough. Go away. Go play padel in peace in Monaco, in the sun. Move on."

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• CALLS FOR ZIDANE TO TAKE OVER GROW LOUDER

  Riolo also suggested that the persistent calls for Zidane to take over as the national team coach make Deschamps uncomfortable.

  “He really doesn’t want Zidane to take the French team because he knows that everyone wants that," he said.

  "He is against that idea. It hurts him so much that Zidane is expected to be a saviour, while he who won a World Cup and who has just played a semi-final at the Euro, we want him to leave. Psychologically, this man is affected. Affected by the fact that since the beginning of his career, he hasn't been the beautiful guy in the story. He is the ugly guy in the story. And he takes it very badly. It's been a scar since he was 20 when Michel Platini said of him that he was a water carrier when he started in the French team.

  "He is having a hard time with the fact that he does not have the recognition that matches his record. It is a scar. He wants to be loved and he sees that people do not love him completely. He will always be in the shadow of Zidane and Platini, and he is having a hard time with that."

عقد اليوم الخميس، الاجتماع الفني لمباراة منتخب مصر وموريتانيا، في الجولة الثالثة من التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس أمم إفريقيا.

حضر الاجتماع الفني ممثلا عن منتخب مصر مينا سامح إداري المنتخب وعبدالله سيد مدير المهمات.

طالع..خاص | ترتيب قادة منتخب مصر في معسكر أكتوبر استعدادًا لمواجهة موريتانيا

وأسفر الاجتماع عن ارتداء منتخب مصر القميص الأحمر والشورت الأبيض والجورب الأسود، بينما يرتدي منتخب موريتانيا القميص الأخضر والشورت الأخضر.

ويستضيف منتخب مصر تحت القيادة الفنية للمدرب الوطني حسام حسن، نظيره الموريتاني، غدًا الجمعة، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي، في تمام السابعة مساءً.

ويتواجد منتخبا مصر وموريتانيا في المجموعة الثالثة بالتصفيات المؤهلة لنهائيات كأس أمم إفريقيا، والتي تضم إلى جوارهما الرأس الأخضر (كاب فيردي) وبوتسوانا.

وكان منتخب مصر قد نجح في تحقيق الفوز في مباراتي الجولتين الأولى والثانية أمام الرأس الأخضر وبوتسوانا، بأداء قوي أهله لتسجيل 7 أهداف في المباراتين، دون أن تهتز شباكه.

وعلى الجانب الآخر، يحتل منتخب موريتانيا المركز الثالث في ترتيب المجموعة بـ تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا برصيد 3 نقاط بعد أن فاز على بوتسوانا وخسر أمام الرأس الأخضر.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up on his future, admitting that he does not have many more years left in football.

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• Ronaldo still going strong at 39
• Scoring for both Al-Nassr and Portugal
• Admits he doesn't have long left

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  At 39, the Portuguese star's days as a player are numbered. However, he is still starring for Al-Nassr, having scored a stunning 44 times in 45 matches in the 2023-24 season. He turned back the clock again this week when he struck twice in Portugal's friendly win against Ireland.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Even though he apparently still has the magic touch and he insists his passion for the game is still intense, Ronaldo is aware that he cannot compete at the top level for much longer and has suggested he could retire soon.

• WHAT RONALDO SAID

  "I know that I don't have many years left in football," he said to . "And as they say in Spain, every year is a gift that passes and I can continue playing. Playing after the age of 35 or 36 is already a gift, now I'm 39 and every year I try to enjoy it.

  "The important thing is to be physically and mentally well to be able to help the team. And as you already know, I am united by a lifelong love for the national team. I have been here for 20 years and I just want to continue."

  He added: "I am in love with football. Every match is special, imagine in the Euro with Portugal, you feel proud… It is a dream, like when I was 20 years old."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  Portugal will compete at Euro 2024 this summer and it could be Ronaldo's last major tournament for the Selecao. He will hope to fire his team to European success for the second time, starting with their opening game against Czech Republic on June 18.