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Na Arena Castelão, o Fortaleza soube aproveitar a sua chance e bateu o Internacional por 1 a 0. O resultado levou o Leão aos 15 pontos, na 8ª posição. O Colorado tem 20 pontos. Com isso, o time do técnico Eduardo Coudet perdeu a liderança do Campeonato Brasileiro para o Atlético-MG, que bateu o Atlético-GO na noite deste sábado.

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Na próxima rodada, o Fortaleza encara o Santos, na Vila Belmiro. Enquanto isso, o Internacional recebe o São Paulo, no Beira-Rio.

O jogo

Sem muita inspiração, os dois times apresentavam dificuldade na hora de armar o jogo. Em lance isolado, Felipe pegou com felicidade um chute da entrada da área e assustou Marcelo Lomba.

Com uma postura mais apática, o Internacional conseguiu criar no erro do Fortaleza. Jackson falhou, Leandro Fernández ficou com a bola, invadiu a área, mas tocou errado para Leo Ferreira, que não alcançou.

Na etapa final o ritmo era o mesmo. Insatisfeito com a falta de criatividade, D’Alessandro foi lançado em campo e deu passe açucarado para Leonardo Fernández. O atacante saiu na cara de Felipe Alves e chutou para fora.

Aos 20 minutos o Fortaleza abriu o placar. Na cobrança de lateral, Moledo afastou e Felipe pegou de primeira para vencer Lomba, 1 a 0.

No prejuízo, Coudet jogou as peças principais do time no campo e tentou a reação, mas sem sucesso. O Inter não reagia e escapou de levar outro gol. Carlinhos, impedido, tocou para Orobó, que completou para o gol, porém a jogada foi invalidada pelo VAR.

FORTALEZA 1 x 0 INTERNACIONAL
Local: Arena Castelão, Fortaleza (CE)
Data-Hora: 19/9/2020 – 19h
Árbitro: Marielson Alves Silva (BA)
Auxiliares: Alessandro Alvaro Rocha de Moraes (BA) e Jucimar dos Santos Dias (BA)
VAR: Paulo Roberto Alves Junior(PR)
Público/renda: pagantes/R$
Cartões amarelos: Juninho (FOR), D’Alessandro, Nonato, Boschilia (INT)
Cartões vermelhos: –
Gol: Felipe (20’/2ºT)

FORTALEZA: Felipe Alves; Marlon, Quintero (Jackson, aos 25/2ºT), Paulão e Carlinhos; Juninho, Felipe e David (Fragapane, aos 37/2ºT); Romarinho (Tiago Orobó, aos 37/2ºT), Osvaldo (Yuri César, aos 30/2ºT) e Wellington Paulista (Ronald, aos 30/2ºT). Técnico: Rogério Ceni.

INTERNACIONAL: Marcelo Lomba; Saravia, Rodrigo Moledo, Zé Gabriel e Moisés; Musto, Patrick (Nonato, aos 29/1ºT) (Rodrigo Lindoso, aos 39/2ºT), Edenílson, Johnny (D’Alessandro, ao 0/2ºT); Leandro Fernández (Boschilia, aos 27/2ºT) e Leo Ferreira (Abel Hernández, aos 27/2ºT). Técnico: Eduardo Coudet.

*Matéria atualizada às 23h14

Whatever Cameron Bancroft envisaged when he imagined the first press conference of his career as a Test cricketer, it surely wasn’t this.His excellent debut, in which he scored 82 not out to help Australia to a 10-wicket victory, was all but forgotten as he was besieged by questions about the incident involving Jonny Bairstow in Perth a month ago.It was, at times, surreal stuff. Asked to define “on a scale of one to 10” what sort of a headbutt he received from Jonny Bairstow, he found himself using the memorable phrase “I’ve actually got the heaviest head in the Western Australia squad; it’s been measured.”A series of England press conferences had brought only more confusion. The more they (Bairstow, Joe Root and an utterly bemused Trevor Bayliss) insisted “we’ve made it quite clear”, the more the truth was shrouded in a fog of vague platitudes that begged more questions than they answered. They might as well have got David Blaine to talk to the media. It was, for the most part, like trying to get a straight answer from a politican.

Root rejects Warner punch comparison

Joe Root urged onlookers “to be careful” not to equate the Jonny Bairstow incident to the one involving David Warner four years ago.
Root, who was punched by Warner in a Birmingham bar during the 2013 Champions Trophy, insisted the Bairstow incident had been “blown out of proportion” and that there was “nothing there”.
“We need to be careful not to make a big deal out of something that’s not there,” Root said. “I can see why people would think that is similar to the Warner incident on the surface. But these are two very different instances and we have to be very careful that we don’t fall into that trap. These two instances are definitely not the same.
“It’s obviously disappointing that we have given them something to bring up. It’s come up on the first day Australia have had a good day on the field, four weeks later. If it was a big deal it would have come out a lot earlier, and we need to be careful not to make a big deal out of something that’s not there.”
Root also admitted that England were partially responsible in letting the game slip by failing to set a match-defining first-innings total. At 4 for 246, they had the foundation for a large score but instead managed only 302.
“When you get to 250 for four you want to make 400,” Root said. “That was probably the difference between their innings and ours.
“One guy went on and made a big hundred for them – and credit to him, he played exceptionally well – and then we had them seven down and would like to have bowled them out a bit quicker. There were little chances that cost us.”

But Bancroft is an uncomplicated, old-fashioned, straight-talking Aussie. And, without too much fuss, he let the light flood in. Australia won the first Test on and off the field.This, it transpires, is what happened: a few hours after England landed in Perth on October 29, several of the squad went out for drinks. There was no curfew and they were accompanied by security officers.At some stage during the evening, a few members of the England squad and a few members of the Western Australia squad bumped into each other (no pun intended). With mutual friends and shared experiences to discuss, they had a few drinks.Bairstow, like an over-excited puppy, greeted Bancroft with a well-meaning but clearly inappropriate butt which connected with the side of Bancroft’s forehead. While Bancroft was surprised – “It was really weird and random. I expected a handshake or hug, not a headbutt” – he was not offended or threatened. At no stage was the action interpreted as aggressive and the two carried on chatting and drinking.It is a version of events that has, more or less, been accepted by Bairstow.It came to light on Sunday after some dialogue was picked up by stump microphones. The Australia team brought it up in the belief they could disconcert Bairstow when he came out to bat. It worked like a charm, too. He was caught at third man attempting an uppercut.Not for a moment should anyone conclude that the Australian on-field talk represents their genuine belief that Bairstow assaulted anyone. It was, as Steve Smith, admitted a tactic. “We were just trying to get into his head,” Smith said. “And I think it worked.” They didn’t, they insist, intend for it to leak into the media. Though you get the impression they are not too concerned that it did. England’s discomfort will delight them.Wait there, you’re thinking. Bairstow said hello with a headbutt?Well, yes. Not an especially violent one and certainly not one meant to hurt, but yes, he did. In a clumsy, macho, possibly even jet-lagged way, he did. Like a “jock”, as they might say in the US. It is an almost inexplicably strange greeting, it is true. Unless, perhaps, you are a stag.Perhaps you have to know the characters involved to understand. Those who do – the media and players see a lot of each other these days – describe Bairstow as a well-meaning, likeable but perhaps slightly socially awkward fellow. Think of Alan Partridge trying to fit in with “the blokes” in the episode entitled “Watership Alan” (“I had breakfast; didn’t even wash my hands. Cos I’m a bloody bloke”) or James Fleet’s character, Tom, in attempting to emulate the gentle wit of Hugh Grant’s best man’s speech and inadvertently causing great offence (“When Bernard told me he was getting engaged to Lydia I congratulated him because all his other girlfriends were such complete dogs. Although may I say how delighted we are to have so many of them here today”).Nobody involved in this situation – not Bancroft, Bayliss or Bairstow – thinks there was any malice involved. It would be odd if any of the rest of us reached a different conclusion.Bairstow will probably be embarrassed by this episode for some time. “Just don’t say hello to me,” someone shouted at him in mock horror in the hotel lobby on Monday. He greets harder than Audley Harrison hits, after all. But really, apart from providing material for some gentle teasing for years to come (he’ll be the butt of jokes, you would imagine), this incident doesn’t amount to very much. Bairstow, who shook hands with every member of the Australia squad and backroom staff after the match, will not be disciplined and should surely be allowed to move on.Jonny Bairstow explains his side of the story•Getty Images

There is a more serious element, though. Bayliss, as laid back an England coach as there has ever been, was clearly seething at the fact such an incident had – albeit briefly – destabilised his team. Within a couple of minutes, he used the words “stupid”, “dumb” and “extra dumb” to describe the off-field behaviour of some of his players in recent times. He couldn’t give a damn what they get up to in their spare time, just so long as they don’t do anything that could, in any way, compromise their on-pitch performance.And, the way he sees it, this episode helped Australia dismiss Bairstow in England’s second innings – he played a poor, flustered shot – and increased the media pressure on his squad. It has fuelled allegations there is a “drinking culture” within the squad – an allegation with which few of those of us who travel with them agree – and increased the level of scrutiny and pressure which will stalk them with its long lens.The result? England may move a step closer to a siege mentality they have done well to avoid in the aftermath of the Stokes incident. They have, until now, continued to mingle and mix and enjoy the many delights of this wonderful country. It would be a shame – a self-defeating shame, probably – if they were to put up the shutters and stop embracing all that life offers here. Month upon month of hotel room living is not the definition of professionalism; it encourages insularity and brooding and staleness. As Bob Dylan put it: too much of nothing makes a man mean.This England side has been admirably open in recent times. They have posed for every selfie and accepted nearly every media request. The culture has been more relaxed, happier and lighter and, surely as a direct consequence, less plagued by the mental health problems that had a significant impact on the 2013-14 Ashes tour. It would be a shame if an odd incident like this – not much more than shaking hands with a girl who expects a kiss on the cheek or knocking over a glass of wine at a wedding – were to spoil it.

يحل بايرن ميونخ الألماني ضيفاً على نظيره ريال مدريد الإسباني ضمن منافسات نصف نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا، 2023\2024.

وستقام هذه المباراة في إطار منافسات إياب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا، اليوم الأربعاء، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”.

وانتهت مواجهة الذهاب بين الفريقين، بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدفين لكل فريق، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب “أليانز أرينا”.

ريال مدريد تأهل على حساب مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي بعد التعادل 4-4 بنتيجة المباراتين، والتخطي بركلات الترجيح.

بينما بايرن ميونخ، فقد اجتاز آرسنال الإنجليزي أيضًا، عندما فاز بثلاثية مقابل هدفين بمجموع المباراتين. موعد مباراة ريال مدريد وبايرن ميونخ اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة. القناة الناقلة لمباراة ريال مدريد وبايرن ميونخ اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناتي BeinSports HD1  & BeinSports HD2. معلق مباراة ريال مدريد وبايرن ميونخ اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

سيعلق حفيظ دراجي على أحداث المباراة عبر قناة BeinSports HD1.

وسيعلق حسن العيدروس على أحداث المباراة عبر قناة BeinSports HD2.

Ed Barnard starred with four wickets on an excitable but brief day of action at Trent Bridge

David Hopps at Trent Bridge05-Sep-20171:37

County Championship Round-up: Barnard gives Worcs the edge

Nottinghamshire 188 for 9 (Barnard 4-66) v Worcestershire
ScorecardTwo limited-overs trophies safely gathered in, it was time for Nottinghamshire to return to the gentler rhythms of the County Championship. Ah yes, the dutiful seeing-off of the new ball, the careful perusal of each bowler until every variation had been logged, the chance for spectators to chew upon the clue for seven across and contemplate the latest news from North Korea.Except Championship cricket at Trent Bridge is rarely like that. At one point Notts were for 127 for 6 in the 28th over, the ball as excitable as a week-old puppy, the top six batsmen all suffering the batting equivalent of wee up the trouser leg. Last week, Notts traded runs for wickets with Northants, who were third until they were well beaten. This week it is the turn of Worcestershire, who lie second. There has barely been time to read the news at all. No bad thing.No English ground looks more beautiful in the rain, with the floodlights blazing, than Trent Bridge, but by the time the weather worsened for the final time at 5pm, with Notts 188 for 9, it was time to accept the inevitable with honours about even. To steal 47.5 overs from a day like this was a fair effort.Such is county life on a bedraggled day like this that Ed Barnard, an archetypal English seamer, making strides at 21, had four wickets – removing Jake Libby, Cheteshwar Pujara, Samit Patel and Riki Wessels in the space of 25 balls – while Ravi Ashwin, the Indian spinner brought over to England with considerable fanfare, did not even get a bowl.Ashwin took 8 for 162 to guide Worcestershire to victory against Gloucestershire on his debut last week, but his most valuable experience here, ahead of India’s tour next summer, might well be to bat twice on a seaming deck.Barnard maintained an attacking length and was rewarded for it. His first four overs disappeared for 24, Notts well placed at 79 for 1 in the 19th over, but then the wickets came thick and fast. Jake Libby fell to a combo catch – wicketkeeper Ben Cox knocking the ball on to second slip – Cox held on to dismiss Pujara then took a beauty, low to his right, to silence Samit Patel. Riki Wessels made nought, sitting back to one that kept a little low. Barnard also threw out Brett Hutton late in the day, Hutton had got off the mark the previous ball – his 26th – as he was almost solely responsible for slowing the rate to four an over.The first session was so high-risk, so full of threat and counter-threat that the story should properly have been told in front of a TV camera by Ri Chun-hee, the patriotic North Korean newsreader. She began her career, incidentally, back in 1971 when Mike Smedley and Brian Bolus were mastering the art of the scurried leg-bye at Trent Bridge and North Korea was actually talking about unification with the South. More sober, safer times.Nottinghamshire are marking the retirement of their own supreme leader here, an altogether more popular figure. This is their last home Championship match of the season, the last time that Chris Read will be seen at Trent Bridge. For 20 years, he has graced the game as one of the most quicksilver glovemen around, including 15 Tests – a figure that would have been far higher if the batting qualities that ultimately brought him more than 16,000 first-class runs at 37.18 had been apparent a little earlier.Read’s elan has brought joy to so many Trent Bridge days. He has been nimble behind the stumps and a counter-attacker with the bat around No 7 in the great wicketkeeping tradition. As was observed by Michael Henderson, from , who was on hand to pen a leisurely valediction, while Read has played for Nottinghamshire, the entire ground, bar the chimney-potted old pavilion, has changed around him. The pavilion is also due for a revamp, although Read will not be around to see it. The game has changed too.Read surpassed Thomas Oates for most victims by a Notts wicketkeeper last month. After the last of his Tests, against Australia in Sydney 10 years ago, England preferred to treat him like Captain Lawrence Oates, presuming that he may be gone some time. In England terms, so he has been, but quite properly he walked out to a standing ovation. England should have made better use of him, but in the pubs of Worksop and Newark people will talk fondly of his skills well into their dotage.

اعترف ماتيو كوفاسيتش، لاعب خط وسط مانشستر سيتي، أن المنافسة على لقب الدوري الإنجليزي هذا الموسم ستُحسم عن طريق الفريق صاحب الأعصاب الأقوى.

ويتنافس 3 فرق على لقب النسخة الحالية من الدوري الإنجليزي، 2023/24، وهم مانشسر سيتي، ليفربول وآرسنال.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مانشستر سيتي يسخر من ليفربول بعد السقوط أمام كريستال بالاس

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي حاليًا الصدارة برصيد 73 نقطة، بفارق نقطتين عن آرسنال الذي خسر من أستون فيلا بهدفين دون رد.

ويتفوق آرسنال على ليفربول، بفارق الأهداف، حيث تحتل كتيبة يورجن كلوب المركز الثالث، وكليهما لديه 71 نقطة.

وقال كوفاسيتش في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ديلي ميل” الإنجليزية: “إنه أمر مذهل وممتع، 3 فرق مذهلة تقوم بعمل رائع”.

وأضاف: “سيكون الأمر صعبًا حتى النهاية ودعونا نرى من سيكون لديه أقوى أعصاب حتى النهاية”.

وواصل: “كان من المهم مواصلة الضغط عليهم ولكننا نركز على أنفسنا، من أجل الفوز بمبارياتنا وفي النهاية سنرى ما سيحدث”.

واستمر: “نحن نتعامل مع كل مباراة بتركيز، لنكون جاهزين بنسبة 100% ونبذل قصارى جهدنا، أعتقد أن هذه المباراة كانت مهمة مثل يوم الأربعاء، نحن بحاجة للحفاظ على نفس التركيز ومحاولة الفوز”.

Southampton are now less than two weeks away from kicking off their Championship campaign, yet their squad could look substantially different come kick-off on the opening day against Sheffield Wednesday.

What is the latest Southampton transfer news?

The big talking points regarding Southampton's transfer activity are not so much who they have bought and sold, but more so who could potentially be moved on.

Romeo Lavia, Tino Livramento and James Ward-Prowse each continue to be linked with a return to the Premier League, with the Saints demanding big fees for each of the trio.

That is not to mention the likes of Che Adams and Carlos Alcaraz, who have also been touted as targets for teams in the top flight.

New manager Russell Martin has so far signed Shea Charles from Manchester City and Ryan Manning from former side Swansea City, plus young pair Josh McNamara and Derrick Abu.

According to The Guardian, Martin may well be reunited with another of his ex-Swansea stalwarts, as West Ham have offered Flynn Downes to Southampton as part of a deal that would see Ward-Prowse head the opposite way.

What position does Flynn Downes play?

Downes joined West Ham from Swansea in a £12m deal last July but struggled to make much of an impact in his debut campaign in east London, starting just seven Premier League games. A year on, CIES Football Observatory values Downes at just £4m.

The 24-year-old was used more regularly as a substitute and featured 21 times in all competitions, predominantly as a pure central midfielder but also in a more advanced position and on the right.

It is in the middle of the pitch that Downes does the most damage – not that his work is always appreciated. As Martin himself said during their time together at Swansea: "He does the dirty work really well which sometimes goes unsung.

"He enables people to do their roles brilliantly. He plays with no ego at all and knows exactly what his role in the team is."

The 71.9 passes per 90 minutes Downes completed for Swansea in the 2021/22 season was the 10th-most of any player in the Championship, as per FBref, while his pass-completion rate of 92.6% was the best in the entire division.

Despite his lack of appearances – or perhaps because of it – the former England U20 international also led the way for pass completion among West Ham players in the Premier League last season (87.3%).

Downes would be a good replacement for Ward-Prowse, and especially Lavia, but there is another former Southampton player the Englishman is more alike in terms of playing style – Oriol Romeu, who this week joined Barcelona.

As per FBref, Downes won 1.13 tackles per 90 minutes in his final season with Swansea, compared to 1.21 for Romeu in the same season – his last at St Mary's – albeit at a higher level.

They were involved in 0.12 and 0.09 goals per 90 minutes respectively, meanwhile, and were involved in a similar number of goal-creating actions per 90 (0.12 v 0.19), which takes actions such as passes and take-ons directly leading to a goal into consideration.

That is not to say Downes is on his own path to Barcelona, but the midfielder has a proven pedigree in the Championship and would certainly help soften the blow of losing key man Ward-Prowse.

Tottenham Hotspur are trying to pressure Barcelona into agreeing to sell Clement Lenglet for free this summer, according to reports from Spain.

Are Tottenham signing Clement Lenglet?

Tottenham's pursuit of Lenglet has been ongoing for quite some time now, with a report from SPORT claiming he will be available for just €10m (£9m) plus bonuses this summer, as a result of Barcelona's desire to get him off their wage bill.

The same report details that an agreement in principle has been reached between Spurs and the Frenchman, who is keen to join on a three-year deal, however there has not been much progress in the past week.

That may be because the Lilywhites are now trying to pressure Barca into selling the 28-year-old on a free transfer, as reported by Spanish outlet AS (via Sport Witness).

Tottenham are well aware of the La Liga club's eagerness to part ways with the Frenchman, as a result of his big wages, with Capology reporting that he currently earns £145k-per-week.

As such, Spurs are being patient in their pursuit of the centre-back, knowing that Barca may have to agree to sell him on a free transfer later in the window.

The Blaugrana have already had to terminate one player's contract this summer, with Samuel Umtiti being released from his deal three years early, and Daniel Levy is now waiting for the same thing to happen to Lenglet.

Will Lenglet leave Barcelona?

Barca releasing Umtiti shows they are willing to take bold steps to reduce their wage bill, and it is clear that Lenglet is no longer in the plans at the Camp Nou, so it would not be a surprise if they take similar action.

While the France international did not set the world alight during his first season in north London, recording an average Sofascore rating of 6.65, there is plenty of evidence he could be a solid back-up option.

Lauded as "brilliant" by members of the media, the former Sevilla man did put in some impressive performances in a Tottenham shirt, particularly against AC Milan in the Champions League, making two tackles, two interceptions and winning six duels.

Now that he has his first season in the Premier League under his belt, Lenglet could kick on and establish himself as a key first-team player next season, and if Spurs are able to sign him on a free, he would be a very low-risk signing.

Arsenal, with their work in the market as flawless as ever, seem to have a readymade alternative should one of their top deals fall through.

What's the latest on Ousmane Diomande to Arsenal?

Although the talks to tempt Jurrien Timber from Ajax are seemingly progressing smoothly, Edu is living up to his reputation as a fine sporting director by ensuring that he is ready should the unthinkable happen and the deal falls through.

As per CaughtOffside, the man they have chosen as his like-for-like replacement is Ousmane Diomande, who has shone as a ball-playing rock at the heart of the Sporting CP defence.

It is said that the defender is far from a priority target, but he is being monitored by other Premier League clubs as well as the Gunners. His £68m price tag will likely put most off though.

Who is Ousmane Diomande?

Whilst currently a little-known name across European football, it is expected that this 19-year-old sensation will soon be recognised by many, as the interest in him seeks to only grow.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has attempted to bring his talents to light on numerous occasions, writing only in May: "Ousmane Diomande. You rarely see a player with such high ball-playing and pure defender skills. There are some tactical improvements but I'm quite sure this kid will play for the best teams in the world. The signs of elite talent."

With just 17 senior appearances to his name for the Portuguese outfit, the Ivory Coast colossus has already announced himself as an integral figure in the future of this club. After all, with a 6.88 average rating in Liga Portugal last term, supplemented through 1.7 clearances and tackles per game, this 6 foot 3 teenager has taken to top-flight football with ease, via Sofascore.

What makes him so desirable is not his experience at such a level already, but his confidence on the ball for someone so young and so physically impressive. For context, only two players in the Arsenal squad last term managed more tackles per match; Thomas Partey and Jorginho.

It is these qualities that make him such a similar player to Timber, who has shone for Ajax in numerous roles. However, when compared to other centre-backs across the eight best leagues outside of Europe's major five, the Netherlands international sits in the top 1% for passes attempted, pass completion, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

Diomande has managed to attain similar figures despite boasting far less experience. When compared against the same group, this exciting ace also ranks in the top 1% for passes attempted, the top 3% for pass completion, the top 2% for progressive passes and the top 4% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

It is, therefore, no surprise to see Timber listed atop his 'similar players' list too, as if to emphasise their similarities further.

Although the 22-year-old's time at the top of the game far outweighs his counterpart's, with 121 senior appearances for the Amsterdam outfit, Diomande offers a fine alternative should Arsenal fail to secure their ideal man for this role.

India’s new-look T20 side and a formidable England squad prepare for another high-scoring, limited-overs series when they clash in Kanpur on Republic Day

The Preview by Nikhil Kalro25-Jan-2017Match factsThursday, January 26, 2017
Start time 1630 local (1100 GMT)Amit Mishra will lead India’s spinners in R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s absence•BCCI

Big pictureEngland finally found reasons to grin when Chris Woakes owned the last four balls of his final over in Kolkata, sealing their first win since November. The tension, pressure, dejection and relief were all palpable in the closing overs. On India’s Republic Day, the teams now move to a format where those emotions last for the game’s entirety, and four well-executed yorkers mean nothing until you can “finish an over”.New limited-overs captain Virat Kohli hasn’t led India in a T20 but he is familiar with the nuances of the role, having captained Royal Challengers Bangalore since 2011. Besides, as was visible in the ODI series, he has MS Dhoni to guide him along. What either of them won’t have is the assurance of Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin, who were rested for the T20s. With a healthy mix of veterans – Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Amit Mishra – and uninhibited youth (Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya) in India’s squad, will experience or exuberance dominate?England’s T20 set-up is largely the same as their ODI team, a compliment to how seamlessly they can make the transition from one format to another. Despite not being “near their best”, they could have whitewashed India 3-0 in the ODIs had they won clutch moments. England’s batting explosiveness, from nos. 1 to 11, will keep them in the contest, and if the bowlers can find their end-overs rhythm, the visitors will be hard to get past.Form guideIndia LWWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
England LWLWWIn the spotlightAmit Mishra will take over as India’s leading spinner for the T20s, with Jadeja and Ashwin rested. Historically, England have had their share of woes against spin. A wristspinner, like Mishra, will extract more than a fingerspinner with the increased number of revolutions imparted on the ball. Despite his unwillingness to use the googly in the Test series against England, Mishra will be a handful even if England’s batsmen can read his variations.England posted scores of 350, 366 and 321 despite the absence of Jos Buttler’s pyrotechnics through the middle overs. He scored just 52 runs in three innings. Armed with a variety of reverse-sweeps and scoops, Buttler is plausibly England’s most destructive ball-striker.Team newsIndia have plenty of batsmen – both fresh and experienced – to choose from. Virat Kohli said he was open to the idea of opening if that added balance to the squad. It might be the best way to accommodate Suresh Raina at No. 3, followed by Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni. It is unlikely they will field two legpsinners, increasing Parvez Rasool’s chances and, if the quick bowlers are to be picked on form, Bhuvneshwar Kumar will have an edge over Jasprit Bumrah.India (probable) 1 KL Rahul/Mandeep Singh, 2 Virat Kohli (capt), 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Manish Pandey, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Parvez Rasool, 9 Amit Mishra, 10 Ashish Nehra, 11 Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Jasprit BumrahEoin Morgan confirmed Joe Root was fit after recovering from his niggle, whereas David Willey, who joined the squad on Tuesday morning from Kolkata after scans, was not available for selection. With Woakes not in the T20 squad, England may bring in Sussex team-mates Chris Jordan and speedster Tymal Mills for early wickets. They might want to stick with four quicks and leave Adil Rashid out as they did in the last two ODIs.England (probable) 1 Sam Billings, 2 Jason Roy, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Liam Plunkett, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Tymal Mills, 11 Jake BallPitch and conditionsBack to small grounds and flat pitches then, after a grassy Eden Gardens. With dew playing a bigger role in north India, the first T20 will start at 4.30pm to make it a more even contest. Temperatures are expected to be in the early 20s when the match starts and dip a little later.Stats and trivia The last time India lost while chasing in a T20I despite Virat Kohli making a fifty was against England at Edgbaston in 2014, also the previous encounter between these two teams. Since then, Kohli has struck four fifty-plus scores in successful T20I chases Yuvraj Singh has won two Man-of-the-Match awards against England in T20Is Of the 206 T20s Kohli has played, he has captained in 72 of them. He has not led India thoughQuotes”At the moment the guys are feeling a lot more confident than they were maybe after game two. They did a lot of hard work but didn’t get a win under their belt, Looking forward to a three-match series potentially could be very exciting.”
“I have only opened once or maybe twice for India, but I have experience opening in the IPL. If need be then I could or I might not depending on the balance of the side. There are all kinds of possibilities.”

Nottingham Forest are reportedly ready to turn to the transfer window to make reinforcements this summer, as Steve Cooper prepares for another season in the top-flight.

The Red's left it late to confirm their safety, securing three vital points in the penultimate game week to secure their Premier League status.

With the transfer window officially open, a familiar face to the league has appeared as a potential target at the City Ground.

What’s the latest on Romain Saiss to Nottingham Forest?

As reported by Foot Mercato last week, Nottingham Forest remain interested in Besiktas centre-back Romain Saiss.

Forest held interest in the defender in January, and according to the report are still ‘strongly interested’ in the 33-year-old, facing competition from Everton.

A separate report speculated that a price tag of €5m (£4m) is expected from the Turkish giants for their player.

What could Romain Saiss offer Nottingham Forest?

Having made 110 Premier League appearances, the Moroccan is a centre-back with the program to succeed in the English top-tier already installed.

After six seasons at Wolves, the 6 foot 3 defender opted for change and joined Besiktas and now looks set to be on the move again this summer, with Forest hoping to finally secure his signature.

Once lauded as “impeccable” by former international teammate Medhi Benatia, the 33-year-old has enjoyed an emphatic season illuminated by him captaining his country to a fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Away from his success with Morocco, the £48k-per-week ace has been a monster in defence for Besiktas, winning an average of 59% of his total duels in the Super Lig, making him a promising addition for Forest.

Despite being 33, Saiss could provide worthy competition for the Reds' current central defensive colossus Moussa Niakhate, should he be able to replicate his form playing in the Premier League last season.

When comparing the statistics of the Moroccan last season to the Senegal international this campaign in the league, the numbers suggest that the veteran could come out on top if presented with a chance to shine at the City Ground.

As per FBref, Saiss averaged 1.93 interceptions and 5.26 clearances per 90 at Molineux, with Niakhate falling slightly short in both areas with an average of 1.47 interceptions and 4.64 clearances per 90 this term.

The Moroccan also came out on top in terms of his ability in the air, winning 2.40 aerials to the Senegalese talent’s 1.47 per 90 via FBref, showing the level of authority he could bring to Cooper’s backline.

Praised for his efficiency in the final third, attributable to his six goals scored that season, Saiss could be a shining light in Forest’s system when it comes to transitioning play, as told by his numbers.

As per FBref, the Moroccan averaged a huge 4.56 progressive passes per 90 in the 2021/22 campaign, incomparable to the 1.16 Niakhate averaged per 90 this term, which suggests that he would be a valuable asset in progressive play from the back.

After failed efforts to sign the star in January, only time will tell if Cooper can try his luck once more and secure the signature of the experienced defender.