After missing out on the 2019 World Cup squad, Billings is looking to the India series to help him lock down a middle-order slot for the T20 World Cup

Matt Roller09-Mar-2021Sam Billings uses one word more than any other over the course of a 30-minute Zoom call, looking forward to a period of his life that he knows could define his career: perspective.After missing out on the chance to break into England’s 50-over World Cup squad in 2019 through injury, Billings is targeting the T20 version of the competition this year as a chance to make amends. He is aware his performances in the upcoming white-ball series – five T20Is and three ODIs – in India, and in the IPL which follows, will either enhance or hinder his case for a spot in the squad.The first challenge is one that is all too familiar to him: how to get into the XI. For a man turning 30 in June, Billings’ appearances have been surprisingly sparse. Dom Sibley, Dan Lawrence and Sam Curran have all played more first-class games than him despite being several years younger, while he has only batted 18 times in ODIs, six years after his debut. Such is life on the fringes of the international set-up.Related

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Sam Billings targets T20 World Cup finisher's role for England

When Billings made his first international hundred last year, a fluent 118 against a full-strength Australia at Old Trafford, he finally looked like he was ready to lock down a spot in England’s middle order. Asked exactly that post-match, he was candid in his assessment: “Ben Stokes isn’t here and I don’t think, however many runs I get, that I’ll keep that spot,” he said.”I thought, ‘I don’t know how many [runs] I need to get, but I’m just seat-warming for the time being,'” he recalls. “Since my injury, in terms of perspective, I’ve gained that through a really bad experience, and can deal with disappointment and bad runs far more easily.”I’ve gained so much more confidence in my own game over the last two years, in terms of doing it more consistently. I’ve still got the highest score ever by a No. 6 in T20I cricket [second-highest; the record was broken by Belgium’s Shaheryar Butt in 2020], I’ve got one of the fastest fifties in T20 cricket for England, so I’ve done it sporadically. It’s been the consistency that has let me down, with in-and-out team selection.”It is tough. It’s a really tough part of the game. But I think as a youngster coming into that side, you then take being dropped a lot harder. Through that experience, I’ve been able to mentally be in a really good place and be ready for that opportunity, whereas in the past I’ve put way too much pressure on myself, not enjoyed it, and it really gets to you.”Since his injury, Billings has had an up-and-down time of it with England – or more accurately, down, then up. He was named vice-captain for the T20I series in New Zealand at the end of 2019, but fluffed his lines auditioning for the finishing role with 34 runs off as many balls across five innings and was left out for the white-ball leg of the South Africa tour in early 2020.That led him to withdraw from franchise cricket for the rest of the winter in a bid to refresh himself ahead of the home summer – though his break ended up being longer than planned with the UK in lockdown. Handed an unexpected opportunity due to Joe Denly’s back spasm ahead of the first ODI of the English season, Billings made 132 runs for once out in the series against Ireland – enough for him to keep his place for the Australia series, even with multi-format players available once again.His first international hundred was an obvious highlight, albeit in a losing cause, and having missed the chance to further his claims in South Africa after the ODI series was postponed at the last minute, he performed creditably in the Big Bash for Sydney Thunder, with 260 runs in ten innings and a strike rate of 142.85 from the middle order.”Last year was the best year for me in an England shirt by a mile, because of that consistency,” Billings says. “It started against Ireland and I managed to maintain that. That’s the challenge. I’m really excited for the next few months and the opportunities ahead with Delhi at the IPL afterwards as well. I’m in as good a place as I can be to challenge for a spot in the side, and I just want to make a spot my own.”In what’s been a horrendous time for everyone, how lucky am I to have that in front of me and to look forward to? That’s the mindset I’m going in with. If I play, brilliant, and I’m in a great place to do that. If I don’t, I’ve got a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow and be part of this. There are a lot of people stuck at home during lockdown who would like to be in my position. I think it’s a really good, healthy perspective to have.”Billings scooped, paddled and swept his way to a maiden international hundred against Australia last year, albeit in a losing cause•Getty ImagesBillings seems likely to start the T20I series on the bench, but his form over the last year or so has ensured that he will be the first man England turn to if they decide they need reinforcements at No. 5 or 6, the spots currently occupied by Stokes and Eoin Morgan.Three main features of Billings’ game stand out: clean striking while playing orthodox shots; innovative sweeps, reverses and paddles; and an ability to tick over in the middle overs, evidenced by the lowest dot-ball percentage against spin (26.7%) in all T20 cricket since the last World Cup in 2016. It is the third of those that makes him stand out from England’s pack in Indian conditions.”That’s one of my strengths, and one of those roles that I really enjoy,” Billings explains. “It’s a role that people just expect batsmen to do really well, but if you do it badly, everyone rages about it and says, ‘What’s going on in the middle overs against spin?’ The challenge for me now is to move it on even further.”You look at Eoin Morgan’s numbers over the last few years and they’ve been absolutely phenomenal. The way he has transformed his game and kept on moving [it] forward is something I really want to emulate and continue. I just want to be tricky to bowl at.”If I can put pressure on [India’s bowlers] and rotate spin like I do, again, that’s giving myself the best chance to perform. I know it’s going to be a test because they’re world-class performers – [India are] one of the best teams in their home conditions. It’s going to be tough, but it’s a really exciting challenge that I’m looking forward to.”After this series, Billings will stay in India for the IPL – he was signed by the Delhi Capitals in last month’s auction. Involvement in the competition has been a blessing and a curse for Billings: he has never attracted a life-changing bid. His Rs 2 crore (US$270,000 approximately) contract for 2021 is twice his previous-highest salary, and he has played only 22 times in his four seasons, but he says he has learned plenty from the format’s top coaches and team-mates.His participation has split opinion at Kent, too, with some members unhappy at the prospect of the man who became club captain in 2018 missing the first two months of the county season yet again.”I had a very honest conversation with Kent – with Paul Downton [director of cricket] and Walks [Matt Walker, head coach] – and they completely backed me, 100%. After missing out on a World Cup, I’ve got the bit between my teeth to make up for lost time and build upon the momentum that I built last year. That is my focus: I want to be in a winning World Cup team, no doubt about it.”You look at the squad that Delhi have, and especially the overseas options: you could go with any combination and it would be a successful one. The competition for places is phenomenal: they obviously got to the final last year, so game time might be limited, but it comes back to the point of preparing for a World Cup and giving myself the best chance in these conditions to prepare for that.”Delhi’s most-used overseas combination last season involved two fast bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje; an allrounder, Marcus Stoinis; and Shimron Hetmyer in the middle order. If they go with a similar balance, then Billings is likely to be competing for Hetmyer’s role, with Steven Smith also pushing for selection.He is particularly excited by the prospect of working with Ricky Ponting – “a hero growing up… he does not miss a trick” – and linking up with India’s three star performers in their recent Test series win against England: Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel and R Ashwin.”Facing those two spinners in the nets is one of the great things about the IPL, and other franchise competitions,” he explains. “[If] you face these guys day in, day out in testing conditions, you’re going to get better – it’s impossible not to. That’s a huge plus point… I’ll be writing a few notes about a few different cricketers that I see about.”Fingers crossed, it’ll be perfect preparation. It’s really exciting, the cricket coming up. I like to work on the next thing and really focus my energy on this series before we move onto the next one, but big picture for me, the strategy was always to give myself the best chance of being selected in the World Cup at the end of the year.”

As David Moyes looks to solve any remaining problems in his Everton side, the Toffees are set to target another out-of-favour player from a big Premier League club after the success of Jack Grealish.

Where Everton need to strengthen in January

It was an impressive first summer for The Friedkin Group, who matched their move into the Hill Dickinson with a number of fresh faces. Grealish, Thierno Barry, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tyler Dibling, Adam Aznou, Mark Travers, Merlin Rohl and Carlos Alcaraz all arrived as Moyes was eventually backed in full.

Since then, there have been several signs that the Toffees are no longer a side expecting to be fighting among the bottom three in the Premier League. Instead, they’ve so far set their sights on the top half and beyond – sitting as high as eighth after seven games.

Grealish has been particularly impressive since arriving on loan from Manchester City, with his first goal for the club coming in last-gasp fashion against Crystal Palace last time out. The former Aston Villa star has looked a man reborn in Merseyside after being frozen out at Man City at times and it’s Moyes who’s reaping the rewards.

That said, there are still some problems that the Everton boss must address when the January transfer window swings open. Leading his attack, for example, is an out-of-form Beto or summer signing Barry, who have both struggled to get going on the goals front so far this season.

Beto has been particularly poor whilst Barry continues to settle and finding a replacement for the towering forward should be seen as one of Everton’s top priorities this winter.

Everton expected to target Joshua Zirkzee

According to Pete O’Rourke, Everton are expected to target Joshua Zirkzee in the January transfer window as he continues to struggle for game time at Man United.

The forward has lost his place to big-money signing Benjamin Sesko and is unlikely to get it back anytime soon, sparking rumours that he could leave Old Trafford just 18 months after arriving.

Dubbed “intelligent” by analyst Ben Mattinson before his move to Man United, Zirkzee should jump at the chance to join Everton if they come calling in January.

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Moyes has already transformed Grealish into a player who could very well find himself back in contention for a World Cup place next summer and Zirkzee could be next to benefit. The forward wouldn’t be the first player to find his best form after leaving Old Trafford, either.

Eddie Howe will manage only his second ever Tyne-Wear Derby on Sunday, as one of football’s most passionate rivalries has its latest instalment this weekend.

His only taste of this fierce clash to date was Newcastle United’s 3-0 triumph over Sunderland in the FA Cup in early 2024, with the Black Cats’ struggles in the Championship clear for all to see, as the Magpies ran out as routine winners.

Now, however, Regis Le Bris’ men sit above their arch rivals in the early Premier League table, as Howe prays his inconsistent side can get the better of the Black Cats on their own patch.

Newcastle’s clumsy performance on the road in the Champions League on Wednesday night won’t fill Howe with loads of confidence, either, with some changes in the offing presumably, off the back of the 2-2 draw away at Bayer Leverkusen.

Changes Howe could make ahead of Sunderland

Goalscoring hero Anthony Gordon would sum up the Toon’s frustrations aptly at the full-time whistle, as a late Alejandro Grimaldo equaliser rid Howe’s men of all three points in Europe’s standout competition.

Gordon won’t be fearful of his starting spot against Sunderland, having made it three games on the trot with a goal now against Leverkusen, but Joelinton will surely be axed for the crunch clash on Wearside, with the Brazilian limping off injured after winning just two duels all match.

Sandro Tonali will also be fearful that he could be surprisingly dropped, with the Italian looking uncharacteristically ropey on the ball at points against Kasper Hjulmand’s men.

It really was a night for Howe’s concrete first team personnel to slip up, as Malick Thiaw somehow avoided a red card for a rash first-half challenge, while Bruno Guimaraes inexplicably placed an effort past Aaron Ramsdale to hand the Bundesliga hosts a one-goal advantage.

Still, both of the underperformers mentioned certainly have enough credit in the bank this season to push these off performances to one side, with Guimaraes scoring this audacious effort last time out in the Premier League versus Burnley.

With a lively 5.4 duels won on average this season in the Premier League, too, as per Sofascore, Newcastle’s captain does feel as if he’s the perfect fit for such a full-blooded showdown, having further been branded the club’s “talisman” by pundit Michael Carrick in recent weeks.

Howe could even have a new Guimaraes in the making in his talented camp right now, with this rising star arguably worthy of a start against the Black Cats, alongside the much-loved South American.

Newcastle's "little diamond" can be Howe's next Guimaraes

The 48-year-old does have a lot of depth on his side now at St James’ Park, with Yoane Wissa’s return from injury gifting him another option up top, away from over-relying on summer recruit Nick Woltemade.

If he is unsure about starting Joelinton for the Tyne-Wear Derby, he could look to the depth at his disposal in the middle of the park by handing Lewis Miley just his fifth league start of the campaign, having been branded “special” when popping up with a goal from off the bench on Wednesday night by journalist Liam Kennedy.

The talented teenager became the club’s youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history, a feat he was made aware of after the game. “I didn’t really know that, to be honest, but it’s a great feeling being the youngest scorer. It’s a dream come true really, scoring my first goal in the Champions League. It couldn’t be better, really,” Miley told reporters after the game.

“I always used to score goals in the academy quite a lot, so I’ve tried to take that into my game in the first team. I just keep trying to get in the box as much as possible and I’ve got two goals in the last couple of weeks.”

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In the right place at the right time to direct Gordon’s cross home, it could be argued that Miley has the same difference-maker ability in his veins that Guimaraes also possesses, with the 19-year-old up to four goal contributions for the season, despite his limited starts.

His Brazilian counterpart is six ahead in the goal contribution leaderboard, albeit from far more regular involvement.

Miley’s numbers by season for Newcastle

Season

Games

Goals + Assists

25/26

17

2 + 2

24/25

19

2 + 0

23/24

23

1 + 4

22/23

1

0 + 0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Moreover, Miley will believe he has what it takes to be a future captain of his boyhood club when Guimaraes hangs up his boots, with the number 67 never looking fazed by the demands of the senior game, ever since being gifted his senior debut at St James’ Park when just 17 years of age.

This ice-cold ability to perform – no matter the occasion – surely means he’ll be preparing to give it his all against Sunderland if given the first team call, with NBC Sports’ Robbie Earle once labelling him as a “little diamond” for his classy displays in competitions such as the Champions League.

Miley does feel as if he is in and around the first team picture for some time now, but he will want to take his game to another level shortly, to be considered worthy of the label of being the next Guimaraes.

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Liverpool are in an unfamiliar state of flux in the Premier League and Fabrizio Romano has now delivered a definitive update over Arne Slot’s future at Anfield.

The Reds have failed to build on their title win last campaign and suffered a heavy 3-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest at the weekend, with several of their big hitters underperforming in a disastrous display against Sean Dyche’s men.

Of course, certain factors have made it difficult for Slot to enjoy the same success that he managed to achieve on Merseyside last season, albeit their summer transfer spend of over £400 million has meant plenty of criticism is being thrown their way after new additions failing to adapt to life at the club.

PSV Eindhoven await in what is set to be a crucial Champions League encounter, not only to keep the Reds on course for a top eight league phase finish, but also to alleviate growing noise surrounding his tenure with results flattering to deceive.

Ultimately, there has been a collective fall below usual standards at Liverpool that has been uncharacteristic to say the least. Not only do they sit in the bottom half of the Premier League, they are also 11 points behind in a title race that was anticipated to be tight from the outset by most in English football.

Form is temporary and class is permanent is a saying that many Reds fans hope will ring true over the coming weeks. Either way, their side now face the challenge of proving that is the case, especially given they have a heavy festive schedule to come that will require full use of a squad that look out of sorts.

Slot is in the firing line and some are seriously starting to question his credentials. Providing an update on his future, renowned journalist Romano has given an insight regarding what could happen next.

Fabrizio Romano delivers Arne Slot Liverpool update

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano has stated that despite Liverpool’s poor performances under Slot, he will be given time to turn their situation around and retains the full backing of the Anfield hierarchy.

He said: “Obviously, losing six of the last seven Premier League games is something not at Liverpool level. The results are unacceptable, Liverpool and everyone at the club knows that. At the same time, my information to answer many questions on our podcast Men In Blazers is that Liverpool at the moment are not activating any contact to replace Arne Slot.

“At this stage, the situation is still under control. It’s complicated, it’s difficult, it’s an emergency situation. Liverpool are internally discussing about this topic, the manager, the management, the staff, all have all together, been given some responsibility, of course, also to the players.

“It’s not just Arne Slot, it’s also the players. If you look at some of the games, it looks crazy how Liverpool players really can’t perform in some of these games at their usual level.

“But at this stage, I’m told that of course, Arne Slot knows that this situation must change as soon as possible, especially in the Premier League more than in the Champions League. In the Premier League is important for Liverpool to change this situation. As of now, Liverpool as a club, owners, management, still back the manager, support the manager and want to see different results as soon as possible.”

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Rumours may be swirling around his future, though it seems as if Liverpool are in no rush to make any rash decisions, with Slot likely still retaining plenty of credit in the bank from last season.

In a fluid situation, that may change if results are to continue on the same trajectory, but the former Feyenoord boss looks to be safe for now ahead of their double header against PSV and West Ham United.

The only thing better than watching a young player collect his first career hit? Watching his family watch the play unfold from the stands.

That's exactly what happened in the second inning of the Minnesota Twins' series opener against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night at Truist Park. Designated hitter Luke Keaschall, ranked as the No. 57 prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline, was called up by the Twins on Thursday and made the most of his MLB debut one day later.

In his first career at-bat, Keaschall poked a line drive down the right-field line for his first career hit and RBI. He also stole second for his first career stolen base. When the Apple TV cameras panned to his family in the bleachers, they were standing up, hooting and hollering from their seats.

What a moment.

Keaschall was busy in his second plate appearance, too, ripping a double down the left field line and coming around to score on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Keaschall, the No. 49 pick by Minnesota in the 2023 draft, batted .297/.415/.470 over 147 games in the minor leagues before getting his call up to the Show. He's not wasting any time making a big difference at the plate to help turn around the Twins' sluggish start to the 2025 campaign.

Zinedine Zidane’s long-awaited comeback to management is finally taking shape with France preparing to appoint the former Real Madrid boss as their next head coach after Didier Deschamps steps down following the 2026 World Cup. The move is poised to end months of speculation and ignite fresh excitement around Les Bleus, who have recently faced criticism for lacking innovation.

Zidane’s return takes shape as France prepare for a new era

Zidane’s anticipated return to the sidelines may finally become reality. As reported by AS, France intend to appoint him as their next national team manager once Deschamps completes his final tournament at the 2026 World Cup. For months Zidane has hinted that he is ready to coach again, and France have been waiting for the right moment to bring him home.

The timing aligns with France’s need for renewal. Critics have increasingly lamented Deschamps’ recent handling of the squad, arguing that his approach has turned predictable, conservative and overly dependent on earlier experiments. Many felt the team had stopped evolving in key areas such as tactical flexibility, attacking variety and squad rotation.

Zidane’s arrival is therefore viewed as a chance to inject new flavour into a team rich with talent but in need of a fresh tactical lens. 

AdvertisementAFPDeschamps’ era

Deschamps’ contract is nearing its end, closing a monumental chapter in French football. Appointed in 2012 after Laurent Blanc, Deschamps took France to heights that cemented his legacy. He guided the nation to the Euro 2016 final, delivered World Cup glory in 2018, reached another World Cup final in 2022, and maintained consistent competitiveness throughout more than a decade in charge.

But his reign was not without low points. The round-of-16 exit at Euro 2020, tactical rigidity at times, selection decisions that raised eyebrows, and an increasingly repetitive approach left the impression that France were not fully maximising their extraordinary talent pool. 

Zidane’s resume signals a new direction for Les Blues

Recent years have seen a growing consensus among critics: France under Deschamps had become predictable. Analysts repeatedly pointed to the same issues — conservative game plans, slow in-game adjustments, and a reliance on ideas that once worked but no longer fit a squad bursting with dynamic, attack-minded talent. In several matches, France looked like a team playing within themselves, constrained rather than liberated.

Commentators argued that even with Kylian Mbappe, and emerging talents like Eduardo Camavinga and Warren Zaire-Emery, France often played with unnecessary caution, absorbing pressure instead of dictating games.

That is where Zidane’s profile stands in sharp contrast, as he won three Champions League titles in three seasons and a La Liga crown in Madrid.

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AFPWhy France will still miss Didier Deschamps

Even with the excitement surrounding Zidane’s expected arrival, France will deeply miss Deschamps. France will miss the unique personal bond Deschamps built inside the dressing room, a connection rooted in trust, continuity, and genuine care for his players. He wasn’t just a tactician; he was a stabilising force who understood how to manage personalities across generations. His reliance on experienced leaders like Hugo Lloris created a mentoring culture that helped young players settle quickly under the pressure of international football. 

Real Madrid’s preparations for their Champions League showdown with Liverpool have been dealt a blow after teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono has been ruled out indefinitely with pubalgia. The 18-year-old Argentine has been a key rotational player under Xabi Alonso, but his absence comes at a crucial point in Madrid’s campaign, forcing tactical adjustments ahead of their high-stakes European clash this Tuesday.

• Real Madrid confirm Mastantuono’s injury

  Madrid have officially confirmed that Mastantuono has been diagnosed with pubalgia, commonly known as a sports hernia. In a brief statement, the club said: “Following tests carried out today on our player Franco Mastantuono by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with pubalgia. His recovery will be monitored.”

  No recovery timeline was provided, meaning the 18-year-old is sidelined indefinitely. Mastantuono did not train with the squad ahead of the trip to Anfield, working instead inside Valdebebas Sports City under the supervision of the medical team.

  The injury is untimely for both the player and Madrid manager Alonso, who has relied on the Argentine teenager as part of his attacking rotations this season. Mastantuono has featured in 12 matches across all competitions, scoring once and assisting once, but has recently found himself in and out of the lineup due to the return of key players like Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga.

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  Atheltic Bilbao, Barcelona and now Real Madrid – all hit with pubalgia scare

  Pubalgia, also known as sports hernia, is a complex and often stubborn injury affecting the groin and lower abdominal area. It typically develops in athletes involved in high-intensity sports that demand rapid changes in direction, explosive sprints, and repetitive twisting.

  Unlike a standard muscle strain, pubalgia involves inflammation and imbalance where the abdominal and adductor muscles meet near the pelvis, making recovery unpredictable. It can take weeks or even months for players to regain full fitness, and recurrence is common if rehabilitation isn’t handled carefully.

  Across Europe, several young stars are battling the same issue. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer are all facing similar injuries this season. In Williams’ case, the condition limited him to just 530 minutes of football this season and has also ruled him out of Bilbao's upcoming Champions League clash against Newcastle United. Each player’s treatment involves rest, physiotherapy, and strength conditioning, while surgery remains a last resort.

  For Mastantuono, Madrid’s medical staff are taking a cautious approach, prioritising long-term fitness over short-term availability.

• What adjustments will Alonso make in Mastantuono's absence?

  With Mastantuono ruled out, head coach Alonso must reconfigure his options ahead of the Champions League clash against Liverpool. The teenager’s ability to drift between midfield and the right flank provided tactical flexibility that will now need to be compensated for.

  Rodrygo is the most natural replacement on the right, offering experience, pace, and a proven record in Europe’s biggest games. Alternatively, Alonso could deploy Arda Guler, another young attacker capable of cutting inside to create central overloads.

  Eduardo Camavinga’s versatility also provides tactical depth; the Frenchman could operate in an advanced midfield role if Alonso seeks to maintain pressing intensity and defensive stability. Meanwhile, the absence of defenders Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba who are all recovering from injuries means Los Blancos' overall shape may have to adapt to ensure balance between defense and attack.

  Madrid trained at Valdebebas before flying to England, with Alonso opting against a session at Anfield. The manager will address the media upon arrival in Liverpool.

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  Madrid face setback in defining season

  For Mastantuono, this injury halts what was shaping into a breakthrough campaign. Since joining from River Plate this summer, he has impressed with his technical skill, vision, and maturity beyond his years as he quickly earned the trust of both fans and coaching staff.

  However, pubalgia is notoriously difficult to manage for developing players, especially those adjusting to the physical demands of elite European football. His long-term recovery will depend on how well his body responds to conservative treatment and strengthening programs. Teams have tried to numb down it's effect with players opting for a few games out and then joining full-session, but the issue tends to be chronic in nature and thus limited time off isn't the best solution as have been in the case of Yamal, who faced constant issue yet kept playing and is still managing it, Palmer was given six-weeks off after not able to overcome it in a short-period.

  For Los Blancos, the focus now turns to depth and adaptability. Alonso’s squad still boasts elite talent in midfield and attack, but the Argentine’s absence adds another layer of complexity to an already injury-hit roster.

US Soccer generated $263.7 million in revenue during 2025, a 37-percent increase over 2024 and the highest in eight years, according to the federation's annual financial report. The 2017 totals were tied to the hosting of the 2016 Copa America. The 2025 figures point to the buzz for next year's World Cup, with a majority of matches in the U.S.

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  Commercial momentum

  Another indicator of excitement toward the 2026 World Cup is the sponsorship element, as the USSF saw a 19-percent increase to $121.1 million. 

  The federation secured deals with The Home Depot, Bank of America, Henkel, Jim Beam and Haleon during its fiscal year. 

  However, it is worth noting USSF actually saw a decrease in its net profit, going down from $9.1 million in 2024 to $8.3 million this year.

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• Revenue by years

  U.S. Soccer financials, 2016–2025

  Fiscal year	Revenue ($)	Expenses ($)	Investment return ($)	Change in net assets ($)
  2016	125,301,588	109,809,361	-570,589	14,921,638
  2017	290,198,512	221,826,583	6,855,882	75,227,811
  2018	102,164,601	109,192,197	5,289,330	-1,738,266
  2019	108,660,552	131,804,573	6,035,122	-17,108,899
  2020	135,444,082	165,056,154	1,442,126	-28,169,946
  2021	61,223,417	73,704,217	12,479,092	-1,708
  2022	119,477,884	145,366,248	4,109,727	-21,778,637
  2023	147,147,798	187,937,461	1,321,306	-39,468,357
  2024	192,191,562	190,910,704	7,826,728	9,107,586
  2025	263,740,683	261,932,380	6,462,360	8,270,663

• Other sources of income

  Outside of sponsorship, USSF also drew a significant amount of revenue from philanthropic contributions, raising $50.3 million. The federation's $250M National Training Center project outside Atlanta has also spurred a sharp increase in fundraising activity.

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  Looking ahead

  November promises to be a busy month for US Soccer's two senior teams. Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT host friendlies against Paraguay on Nov. 15 and Uruguay on Nov. 18. Emma Hayes' USWNT will play Italy on Nov. 28, followed by a rematch against Le Azzurre on Dec. 1. 

India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant has confirmed Shubman Gill will take the No. 4 position vacated by former captain and India’s fourth-highest run-getter in Test cricket, Virat Kohli. Pant said India are still deliberating over who will move to No. 3, the slot last occupied by Gill, who is the new captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement.The options for No. 3 seem to be the returning Karun Nair and the uncapped B Sai Sudharsan, who is rated highly by experts. There might be room for both of them in the XI as India need to slot in another specialist batter after Pant at No. 5.At the moment, two days before the Test and with one training session to go, Nair looks like the favourite to take on the responsibility of batting against the new ball at No. 3. He batted at No. 3 for India against India A in the practice match they played behind closed doors. He was also at first slip in India’s slip catching practice, with KL Rahul, Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal making up the rest of the cordon in that order.Related

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Jaiswal and Rahul are set to reunite at the top after starting and ending the series in Australia as opening partners with Rohit taking back his place in the middle of the series. If Nair is indeed the No. 3, and given Ravindra Jadeja’s near certainty as the allrounder, that one remaining batting position could go to either Sudharsan or Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored a century in Australia.The more important deliberations will be around the bowlers. Playing Reddy or Washington Sundar as the fifth bowler. The reluctance to pick a fifth bowler in Australia came under criticism as it was a departure from the successful Indian teams of the last six years, who prioritised taking 20 wickets over batting depth.The presence of Shardul Thakur, who can bat at No. 8 and give India some batting depth, could give India a fourth somewhat genuine seam-bowling option, but it wasn’t yet clear Thakur would be preferred to Reddy. The duo bowled long spells in India’s first training session at Headingley.Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were all but certain to lead the pace attack. India called up Harshit Rana for this Test as cover for possible niggles to Siraj and Akash Deep, but both of them turned up fine and were fit to go. Akash, though, wasn’t a certainty as Prasidh Krishna’s high release and disconcerting bounce could be a point of difference India might be looking for. Unless they feel the unusually warm Headingley weather will turn over the weekend. In that case, Kuldeep Yadav could become a factor unless they choose the option of batting depth and go with Washington.

علق محمد أبو تريكة نجم الأهلي ومنتخب مصر السابق، على تصريحات لامين يامال نجم برشلونة، قبل لقاء الكلاسيكو الذي سيلعب على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو، في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وقال أبو تريكة عن تصريحات لامين خلال تواجده في استوديو “بي إن سبورت”: “أرى أنه يجب أن يبتعد لامين يامال عن بيكيه ونيمار، يجب أن يقتدي بميسي خارج وداخل الملعب”.

وأضاف عن نجم برشلونة: “لامين يامال يملك الموهبة، ولكن ما يثار حوله يتعلق بتصرفاته خارج الملعب، لازال صغير السن ويحتاج إلى من يوجه له تعليمات وتوجيهات، ليس هناك لاعب قادر على الوصول للكمال من سن الـ18 عامًا”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. لينكر ينهال بالمديح على لاعب برشلونة: المُفضل لي أكثر من ميسي.. ولا مثيل له

وأكد أبو تريكة: “الملعب هو من يعلمك ويوجهك إذا غاب من يقوم بذلك معك، اليوم هو قام بنقل الضغط عليه وعلى زملائه، رغم أن أفضل لغة للاعب كرة القدم هي الأقدام وليس الشفاه”.

وتذكر أبو تريكة مدرب منتخب مصر السابق، حسن شحاتة وهتاف جمهور الزمالك له: “كان الجمهور يهتف له حسن شحاتة يا معلم خلي الشبكة تتكلم، ليس اللسان ولكن الأقدام، وأرى أن لامين ليس في الفورمة لكي يتحدث بهذه الطريقة”.

ووجه أبو تريكة نصيحة إلى لامين يامال: “يجب أن يتعلم متى يتحدث وكيف يتحدث لأن ما قاله عن ريال مدريد بأنه فريق يسرق، غير لائق، يجب أن تتبع الرقي في التعامل واحترام المنافس”.

وختم: “كبار العالم ينتظرون المباراة والجميع يتحدث عن تصريحات لامين، نرغب في الحديث فقط عن كرة القدم لأن الفريقين يمتلكان إمكانيات كبيرة”.