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Georgia Stanway has warned that the Lionesses risk being burned out this summer as they confront yet another busy period – even without the Olympics.

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Stanway hit out at England's busy summerWiegman echoed the same sentiment Players and manager unhappy with summer international windowsGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Despite failing to secure qualification for the Olympics on behalf of Team GB, the Lionesses are slated for international camps in June and July due to Euro 2025 qualifying commitments. This demanding schedule, coupled with potential Champions League qualifiers for some clubs in early September, means that many players will miss out on a much-needed break.

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Numerous members of the England squad have endured a gruelling sequence of tournaments, having participated in three consecutive competitions – the 2021 Olympics, Euro 2022, and last summer's World Cup. Additionally, some players were involved in youth tournaments prior to these major events.

WHAT STANWAY SAID

Stanway expressed her disappointment, stating, "When we didn't qualify for the Olympics we thought it was the perfect opportunity to have the summer off, maybe travel a bit further. We realise it's not quite as simple as that but the best thing we can do is work with countries and clubs to find the best solution.

"Hopefully the best solution is giving us a good enough time of rest but also the most important thing is we want to qualify for Euro 2025 – we will do anything to put ourselves in the best possible position to go to that tournament. It is a potential burnout but Football is our life. Everything we do is to be successful on the pitch."

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GettySARINA WIEGMAN AGREES WITH STANWAY

England manager Sarina Wiegman echoed Stanway's concerns, revealing that they have appealed to FIFA and UEFA to reconsider the international calendar. However, she conceded that significant changes may not be feasible until 2026.

"There's no tournament so that should be an opportunity to get some rest, but because of the window in June and the window in July how are you going to take some time off?' Wiegman said.

"Then after that, there is some time off, in England the WSL starts later, but then round one of the Champions League starts in early September, which takes away the summer from the players. That's what we need to take care of and we've asked FIFA and UEFA to look at that and change that in the future so players can have some rest. It's great that we have players that love football, but we have to take care of them too so we have to do something about the calendar.

"We can't change it so you're trying to do the best to take care of the players and at the same time perform to the highest level and take out the highest risks of getting injured, in collaboration with clubs. The clubs and we as the FA don't have any control over the calendar."

After a positive period of progression under manager Mikel Arteta, Arsenal could be close to falling into a trap of the past, with the latest reports speculating an unexpected exit for one of the Emirates’ biggest stars.

The Gunners have had a successful summer of business so far, welcoming four talents in various positions as Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar aim to bolster the squad available for the 2023/24 campaign.

While gaining the maximum six points from their opening two fixtures and recruiting well this window has added to the highs, the north Londoners could suffer a blow if recent reports are to be believed.

Who could Arsenal sell this summer?

After bidding farewell to Matt Turner, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Auston Trusty and Pablo Mari, Arteta has offloaded some of the less valued members of the squad, besides Granit Xhaka, who opted for a new challenge in the Bundesliga.

There remains speculation over the future of Folarin Balogun, who is yet to be named in the squad under the manager since pre-season, with the United States international expected to leave north London before the end of the window.

Worrying news emerged on social media this week, as journalist Ahmed Al-Ajlan reported via sources of Al Jazeera that representatives of Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad Club met with Gabriel Magalhaes in London.

The reporter claimed that talks between them and the Brazilian were ‘proceeding positively’, with questions over his future reinforced by him starting on the bench against Crystal Palace on Monday night.

Meanwhile, according to the Daily Mail, LaLiga giants Real Madrid are also keen to sign Gabriel, in a bid to solve their defensive injury crisis, so he's clearly a man in demand heading into the final two weeks of the transfer window.

How important is Gabriel Magalhaes to Arsenal?

Last campaign, the £100k-per-week centre-back featured in all 38 of the Gunners’ Premier League fixtures, contributing to 14 clean sheets and being a reliable figure in central defence alongside William Saliba.

Following the Frenchman’s injury, the 25-year-old remained consistent and commanding, proving to be one of the most integral players in Arteta’s squad.

Despite speculation being cooled by the Spaniard, the potential of losing Gabriel could be a repeat of former sales that have shocked the club in the past, not as much of a blow in recent times as Alexis Sanchez.

The Chilean registered 125 goals and assists in 166 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 80 and assisting 45, prevailing as one of the best players of the Emirates era.

Despite holding such importance in the squad at the time, the winger was sold to Manchester United in 2018, leaving Arsenal without an explosive figure that was destined for greatness at the club.

Selling a player as crucial as Gabriel, who has been dubbed a “monster” by journalist Jason Soutar, could replicate the despondency caused by the sale of Sanchez, who had a similar status in north London.

The 25-year-old’s influence on the defence and his ability to mould into the defender that Arteta desired in his set-up is evident through his numbers, with him being a competent ball player and anchor in the back line.

As per FBref, last season the Brazilian maintained an average pass completion rate of 89.4%, while making an average of 4.04 progressive passes per 90 and winning 63% of his total duels per game, to showcase the complete nature of his role.

Edu could, therefore, sanction a nightmare should the former Lille titan depart north London for the lucrative lights of the Saudi Pro League or the prestige of the Santiago Bernabeu.

It would be a piece of business that could take those associated with the club back to the lows of the Sanchez departure.

Suresh Raina scored his third successive 50-plus score after Baroda opener Urvil Patel smashed 96 runs off 54 balls

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2018Umang Sharma’s 47-ball 95 and captain Suresh Raina’s 56 off 47, his third successive 50-plus score, powered Uttar Pradesh to a seven-wicket win over Baroda in Kolkata. Set a target of 193, UP romped home with eight balls to spare and completed their fifth win from six games.Electing to bowl, UP’s bowlers were put to the sword by Baroda openers Kedar Devdhar and Urvil Patel. They put on 74 runs in 9.3 overs before Devdhar was dismissed for 37 off 32 balls off left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan. Devdhar, who is listed for a reserve price of INR 20 lakh in the IPL auctions, had a good run in the inter-state leg of the tournament where he made scores of 100 and 62* earlier this month. He also scored 77 off 53 against Delhi on Monday.Urvil, 19-years old, went on to put on 92 runs for the second wicket with captain Deepak Hooda, who smashed a 25-ball 45. Hooda has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past and has set his reserve price at INR 40 lakh. He is expected to have takers at the auction for his middle-order biffing. Urvil eventually finished with a smashing 54-ball 96, including 12 fours and four sixes. Almost every UP bowler went for plenty of runs, with Praveen Kumar conceding 45 runs in three overs. While Mohsin picked up two wickets, Amit Mishra was the most economical with figures of 0 for 28 from four overs.Baroda had a good start with the ball, too, as left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya, expected to be a major draw at the auctions, bowled Shivam Chaudhary with the first ball of the innings. UP, however, rallied spectacularly with Raina and Umang putting on 160 runs for the second wicket in 15 overs. Both batsmen were dismissed in the space of six balls, but Rinku Singh’s 11-ball 26* ensured UP were home without much difficulty. They are now on top of the Group B standings in the Super League.

Weston McKennie has been billed as a “wizard”, with the USMNT star showcasing his stunning ball control during a warm-up session at Juventus.

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American star shining again in ItalyConfidence restored to his gameHas clambered back aboard the showboatWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States international has always been a technically-gifted performer, with those qualities allowing him to leave his homeland and the academy ranks at FC Dallas when making a move to Europe in 2016. McKennie has gone on to spend time in Germany with Schalke and Italy at Juve.

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He has also taken in a Premier League loan spell at Leeds – suffering relegation during his time at Elland Road – and showed off his double-footed control party trick while in English football. There was not much else for Leeds fans to get excited about during that time.

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McKennie returned to Juventus in the summer of 2023 and has worked his way back into favour this season. Confidence has been restored to his game, allowing the 25-year-old to showboat again when readying himself for Serie A action.

Chelsea may have already brought in Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson so far this summer, but Mauricio Pochettino's side appear to be homing in on another attacking player.

Who have Chelsea signed this summer?

Nkunku and Jackson arrived for a combined £81.5m earlier in the window, while a host of others have since been linked as part of a huge overhaul at Stamford Bridge.

Montpellier's Elye Wahi recently emerged as a possible option for Chelsea, and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims the Blues have now pressed on with their initial interest.

"Understand Chelsea are now advancing in talks to sign Elye Wahi – agreement getting closer, new negotiations round scheduled with Montpellier," the Italian journalist tweeted. "Chelsea plan includes loan move for Wahi this season. Chelsea want to accelerate [this] week as there's competition."

With a number of other clubs also circling, including Chelsea's Premier League rivals Arsenal, Foot Mercato previously reported that Wahi is valued by Montpellier at around €35m (£30m).

Is Elye Wahi a good option for Chelsea?

Having hit double figures for Montpellier in 2021/22, Wahi's career truly took off last season – his third as a senior member of the French club – when scoring 19 goals in 33 Ligue 1 appearances and setting up a further five.

Those 24 direct goal involvements put Wahi on a par with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar.

Indeed, the France U21 international ranked in the top 11% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues in terms of goals scored last season, according to The Analyst.

There are strong parallels to be drawn with another young player who made a name for himself in France before making the switch to Chelsea, a certain Eden Hazard.

Hazard was just a year older than Wahi when joining the Blues from Lille, with whom he won the league title in 2011 – something he would repeat twice with both Chelsea and Real Madrid.

The Belgium international scored 20 goals in his final season with Lille, having netted 12 combined in the two seasons prior. Wahi scored 19 goals for Montpellier last season, having scored 13 in the two seasons prior.

While Hazard assisted 10 goals more in his final season with Lille than Wahi managed last season, he played 694 minutes more – the equivalent of nearly eight additional matches – in what was a stronger side.

The pair also showed similarities across those respective seasons in terms of shots on target per 90 minutes (1.71 for Hazard, 1.29 for Wahi) and fouls per 90 minutes (1.24 v 1.15), as per FBref, with the latter metric showing the pair are – or were in the case of Hazard – willing to get stuck in.

Comparing Wahi to Hazard is not entirely fair, given the latter would go on to become a major hit in west London, but there is no reason why the French jewel – who talent scout Jacek Kulig described as having an "incredible" season with Montpellier last time out – cannot have a similar impact.

In a summer of change at Stamford Bridge, the most exciting signing may have not yet arrived.

PSV Eindhoven boss Peter Bosz said USMNT star Malik Tillman put in a near "scarily good" display in their 1-1 Champions League draw against Arsenal.

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PSV Eindhoven draw 1-1 with ArsenalBoth teams into UCL knockout stagesUSMNT ace Tillman praised for displayGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

A much-changed Arsenal side were held to a 1-1 draw with PSV on Tuesday night as Yorbe Vertessen cancelled out Eddie Nketiah's opener. The Dutch side held their own against Mikel Arteta's men and Bayern Munich loanee Tillman was one such player who particularly impressed on the night. After the match, manager Bosz heaped praise on the attacking midfielder.

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"I almost found Tillman scary, so good," said Bosz during his post-match press conference. "I really enjoyed that sitting on the bench. I really enjoyed playing that. That's just beautiful to watch."

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Tillman, 21, is seen as one of the next big hopes for the United States. He impressed last season on loan to Rangers and now he is shining in the Dutch top-flight – after proving to be too good for the club's reserve side. He is yet to make his breakthrough for parent club Bayern but performances like this are likely to help towards that ultimate goal.

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WHAT NEXT FOR BOTH TEAMS?

Eredivisie's runaway leaders PSV travel to AZ Alkmaar on Sunday whereas Arsenal host Brighton in the Premier League on the same day.

Luke Ronchi returned to Edgbaston in style to help preserve Leicestershire’s unbroken record

ECB Reporters Network16-Jul-2017
ScorecardLuke Ronchi’s return to Edgbaston was painful for Birmingham•ICC

Leicestershire Foxes continued their 100 per cent start to the NatWestT20Blast campaign with a nine-run win over Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston.Put in, the Foxes raced to 50 in the fifth over thanks to Luke Ronchi’s 23-ball 46, but went on to total only 147 for 9. At 72 for one in the eighth over, they seemed set for a tall score but the last 12 overs brought 75 for 8.It was a modest total but one they defended with great skill, restricting the Bears to 138 for 8. Clint McKay, fresh from a Foxes T20-best 5 for 11 against Worcestershire Rapids on Friday, denied the Bears a flying start with two overs for 11 runs and then the pressure was maintained by Colin Ackermann (4-0-21-3) , Cameron Delport (3-0-14-1) and Mathew Pillans (4-0-23-1).Against a Bears bowling attack missing Rikki Clarke due to a bruised thumb, the Foxes were given a blistering start by Ronchi. The Black Caps star, who played for the Bears in last year’s Blast, smashed six fours and three sixes before another intended big hit, off Boyd Rankin, lobbed up to mid-wicket.Mark Cosgrove soon edged Grant Elliott’s fifth ball to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose and the innings went into decline. Only Delport stayed long against an attack led by paceman Rankin, leg-spinner Josh Poysden and medium-pacer Elliott.Elliott’s second wicket arrived when Delport skied a catch and only Tom Wells and Pillans offered anything from the lower order.Colin Ackermann had missed out with the bat but soon struck twice with his off-spin when the Bears replied, having Ian Bell caught at short fine leg and Sam Hain taken at deep mid-wicket.When Tim Ambrose was stumped off Delport, Birmingham were 64 for 3 at the halfway stage, needing to find 84 from the second half of the innings.That was far from easy against Delport’s skilful slow-medium and the accurate Ackermann and, as the required rate rose, the pressure told. William Porterfield and Elliott charged and missed and were bowled by Callum Parkinson and Ackermann respectively.The Bears needed 44 from the last four overs and, after Colin de Grandhomme edged Pillans behind in the penultimate over, it came down to 16 off the last, delivered by McKay. The Foxes captain closed the game out with predictable efficiency.

Arsenal have held talks with the representatives of RB Leipzig defender Benjamin Henrichs as manager Mikel Arteta eyes a new backup target.

Who are Arsenal signing this summer?

The Gunners have been moving swiftly in one of their most hectic transfer windows of the last decade, having already signed Kai Havertz from Chelsea in a deal worth £65 million.

Havertz will inject some much-needed versatility and quality into Arsenal’s attacking areas, with Arteta expressing his delight at the Germany international’s signing.

“Kai is a player of top quality,” explained the Arsenal boss.

“We welcome Kai and his family to Arsenal Football Club and we are all excited to start working with him when we start pre-season training soon.”

The north Londoners, meanwhile, are thought to be nearing the captures of both Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and West Ham United star Declan Rice, having agreed a total £105m fee for the latter player after weeks of negotiations.

Full-back is an area Arsenal will look to bolster as well, with reports out of Germany suggesting that Man City star Joao Cancelo and Galatasary’s Sacha Boey among the candidates.

Henrichs is also linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, as now backed by Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, who says Arsenal talks have been held with his entourage.

Arteta is personally a big fan of the Germany international, with Plettenberg describing Henrichs as an “important” player for Leipzig.

Who is Benjamin Henrichs?

The 26-year-old has been given rave reviews in past seasons, with the Bundesliga’s official website even once likening him to Bayern Munich superstar Joshua Kimmich.

They wrote:

“With his ability to play at both full-back and in defensive midfield, the similarities with Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich make for an obvious comparison. Yet the players share more than just positional versatility: both are quick, aggressive in the tackle, able to spray diagonal passes into the feet of a teammate on the other side of the pitch, or curl pinpoint crosses into the box on regular forays forward.”

Meanwhile, Henrichs has also been called exceptional by former Bayer Leverkusen head coach Roger Schmidt, who said it’s “unbelievably difficult” to get past him.

Schmidt branded the defender “absolutely top class” in a glowing endorsement which will surely entice Arsenal supporters.

“He’s got exceptional defensive qualities,” said Schmidt.

“It’s unbelievably difficult to get past him. He’s absolutely top-class. We all know how hard it is to defend against players like Heung-Min Son and Ousmane Dembele…but it’s just very hard to get the better of Benny.”

The PCB had charged the former Pakistan opener with two violations of their Anti-Corruption Code, for obstructing and not cooperating with their investigation, in relation to allegations of corruption in PSL 2017

Umar Farooq14-Apr-20170:52

Completely ready to cooperate with the PCB – Jamshed

Nasir Jamshed is willing to cooperate with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) inquiry into the PSL corruption investigation. But he wants the board to wait until an ongoing investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) emanating from the same case comes to an end. Earlier this week the PCB charged Jamshed with two violations of their Anti-Corruption Code, for obstructing and not cooperating with their investigation. Jamshed has been given 14 days to respond.Jamshed and another man were arrested by the NCA in February and were later released on bail. Those arrests were made in connection with offences as part of an investigation into spot-fixing. That arrest came on the same day that he was first provisionally suspended by the PCB.The PCB believes Jamshed to be a central figure in its investigations into attempts to corrupt the second edition of the PSL, in which several other Pakistani players have been charged. But charges were laid against him after the board claimed it had been unable to speak to Jamshed – a PCB official was in the UK recently but was unable to meet him.Jamshed, who is based in Birmingham, had informed the PCB through his lawyer about his inability to travel to Pakistan because his passport has been confiscated by the NCA. In a video message circulated in Pakistan, Jamshed said that once the NCA investigation ends, he will present himself as and when required by the PCB.”I have no control over what is being said in the media,” said Jamshed in Urdu from his England residence. “I have neither changed residences, nor am I hiding from anyone. I am completely ready to cooperate with the PCB. My only request is to let the NCA inquiry being conducted to reach its conclusion first.”This is something the PCB had stated itself, when they stopped an FIA inquiry. I believe that too. First the NCA inquiry should be completed. The PCB has stated itself that they are in regular contact with the NCA, and are fully aware of the inquiry. Once it ends, I will present myself as and when the PCB requires me to.”Parallel to the PCB’s investigation, Pakistan’s Federal Investigative Agency has also launched an inquiry against the players charged by the Pakistan board. The country’s interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, has placed the four players provisionally suspended by the PCB – Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan and Shahzaib Hasan – on an exit control list, preventing them from leaving the country.The FIA began their own inquiry after the Pakistan board asked for the agency’s assistance in obtaining forensic evidence from mobile phones in connection to the investigation. And though the PCB initially distanced itself from the FIA investigation, Najam Sethi, chairman of the PSL, has sought to clarify that he was not against the FIA’s probe and had never asked agency to stop its investigation.”I want FIA, which has taken suo motu [notice] of the case, to continue with its probe in this matter and should go after bookies like British Crime Agency does,” Sethi said. “Since there has been no law to deal with the spot-fixing here in Pakistan, this matter comes under the domain of PCB’s discipline and conduct and the Board can award exemplary punishment to the guilty players. The FIA deals with the criminal side of this case and if any such findings come up during the PCB tribunal probe, the FIA will be asked to take action. However, the FIA should better go after bookies and let the PCB deal with the players’ wrongdoings.”

Lionel Messi did not figure for Inter Miami against the Chicago Fire because he “is not healthy enough to play”, says head coach Tata Martino.

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• Argentine icon misses fourth game in a row
• Struggles being endured in his absence
• Play-offs may now be out of reach

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Argentine superstar sat out a fourth consecutive game on Wednesday evening, with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner having picked up an unfortunate injury during the last round of international fixtures in September. With Messi stuck on the sidelines, Inter Miami’s MLS play-off hopes are beginning to fade.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  They suffered a 4-1 defeat at Soldier Field in Chicago in front of a sell-out crowd, with Martino telling reporters afterwards of why the biggest show in town did not make an appearance: “I understand the expectations of the fans, but we can’t bring him if he is not healthy enough to play. These are the things only we must live with. I find it very strange that a coach has to explain to the rival fans why the best player in the world can’t play. It’s only because it’s him and we’re in the United States. Everywhere else, rival fans would be relieved that the best player in the world was not there.”

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Inter Miami are crying out for inspiration at a crucial stage of the season, with Messi’s enforced absence coming at the worst possible time for them. Martino added: “I am disappointed because our team has declined in the past 15 days, and now we must win three games and rely on what the rivals do.” Another former Barcelona star, Jordi Alba, also was missing for the third game in a row.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Messi did inspire Inter Miami to Leagues Cup glory within weeks of his arrival in the United States, but he missed the U.S. Open Cup final and may now fall short in a bid to make the MLS play-offs. Miami remain five points adrift of a place in the post-season with just three fixtures left to take in.