Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven scored a truly astonishing goal during the team's Champions League win over Copenhagen on Tuesday night, immediately reminding fans of one that club legend Son Heung-min netted against Burnley six years ago. Son's effort went on to win the coveted FIFA Puskas Award, leading supporters to already wish the same fate for Van de Ven.

Van de Ven runs length of the pitch

Van de Ven near enough covered the entire length of the pitch with the ball at his feet. The Dutch centre-back picked it up on the edge of his own penalty area and, aided by his well-known searing pace, proceeded to surge up the field. He initially burst through a gap between two Copenhagen players, and then sidestepped two more by the time he reached the halfway line. After that, it was a straight foot race towards goal, but no one was catching him.

Crucially, after the lung-busting run, Van de Ven still had the composure to fire off a clinical finish past visiting goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski.

In 2019, Son had collected the ball in the same area of the pitch. It wasn't quite the explosive start that Van de Ven managed and the finish was more measured and slightly closer to goal, but the run was extraordinarily similar and covered pretty much the same path.

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Van de Ven helps Spurs to easy win

Van de Ven's strike put Spurs 3-0 ahead against their Danish opponent, eventually going on to win 4-0. After the final whistle, he was immediately asked for his take on what had happened by TNT Sports: "To be honest, I saw the gap in front of me and started dribbling, and I will see if they can catch up. I saw the space more and more. At that moment, I thought, 'I'm through now, I'll go for goal now'. Then I scored."

Interviewer Becky Ives joked that the Tottenham medical department would have been worried about the condition of Van de Ven's hamstrings watching him run in full flight like that – in seriousness, he missed 30 games for club and country last season because of hamstring and thigh injuries.

He saw the funny side of that, but then replied: "I'm feeling good and I felt amazing in the sprint as well. I felt I could keep going and going, and I did."

Speaking after the game, head coach Thomas Frank joked: "It felt like we had Lionel Messi turned into Micky van de Ven, running down from his own goal and all the way to the other end to score a fantastic goal. I think he’s our top scorer in all competitions. He can keep going. He can keep, by the way, walking past me if he’s angry after a game if he delivers like this."

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AFPVan de Ven: Puskas Award winner?

Son won the 2020 FIFA Puskas Award for an almost carbon copy of the goal, so Van de Ven has to be in contention for a prize of his own. But patience is going to be required.

Although the 2025 nominations have not yet been revealed ahead of FIFA's annual gala, likely to be in January 2026, the cutoff point tends to be August each yer and stretches back the previous 12 months. It means that goals scored so far in the 2025-26 season won't be considered until the time comes for the 2026 award to be handed out, which is expected to be at around 12 months or more away.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Son did not get to attend a glitzy celebration to collect his Puskas Award, instead giving an acceptance speech via video in a virtual ceremony.

Tottenham Hotspur are now leading the race to sign an “intelligent” midfielder from a Champions League club, having overtaken a number of their Premier League rivals in the race for his signature.

Spurs urged to reshuffle midfield amid lack of forward passes

Sky Sports analyst Nick Wright has recently called for Tottenham to reshuffle their midfield, off the back of the poor team performance in the 0-0 draw against AS Monaco in the Champions League, as well as the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa.

Against the French side, Spurs’ midfield duo of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha directed just seven of their 58 combined passes forward, picking out Richarlison on three occasions and failing to provide substitute Randal Kolo Muani with the ball once.

The creativity problems were also on display against Villa, with the duo directing 15 of 79 passes forward, which indicates Thomas Frank needs to either reshuffle his midfield options or bring in a new player in January or the summer.

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According to a report from Record (via Sport Witness), Tottenham are now leading the race for Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand, who has attracted widespread interest from the Premier League, with the likes of Man United and Manchester City also keen.

Sporting are expecting offers for Hjulmand in the January transfer window, but it may take a huge offer to get a deal over the line, given that the Portugal club plan to stick to the €80m (£70m) release clause included in his current contract.

It is unclear whether the north Londoners are willing to make an approach this winter, and Sporting remain in a strong negotiating position, considering the midfielder is contracted until 2028, but there are plenty of signs he could be worth pursuing…

"Intelligent" Hjulmand could be exactly what Frank needs

As previously mentioned, Tottenham are having a hard time progressing the ball up the pitch, but the Sporting star is an extremely impressive passer of the ball, who has a tendency to advance the ball into more advanced areas.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Passes attempted

62.70 (87th percentile)

Pass completion %

90% (95th percentile)

Progressive passes

6.51 (83rd percentile)

The pass-master has also started to prove himself at the top level this season, receiving a 7.6 SofaScore match rating in his side’s 2-1 defeat against Marseille in the Champions League earlier this month, the highest of any Sporting player.

Not only does the Denmark international excel in possession of the ball, but he is also solid from a defensive point of view, according to scout Ben Mattinson, who said: “Hjulmand is a defensively intelligent midfielder who reads the game to a high level. He has great anticipation which allows him to read the oppositions next attacking moves.”

As such, Hjulmand could be the ideal addition to Frank’s squad, with the Tottenham manager clearly in need of different options in the engine room.

كشف أحمد سليمان، عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك موقف تطورات أزمة إيقاف القيد الصادر من قبل الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”.

وكان فيفا أصدر قرارًا بإيقاف قيد نادي الزمالك، بسبب 4 قضايا لمدربين ولاعبين سابقين لديهم مستحقات متأخرة.

وقال سليمان خلال تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب” المذاع على قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “أزمة القيد ستحل بإذن الله قريبًا، أطمئن جماهير نادي الزمالك”.

طالع.. فيديو | الزمالك يهزم بيراميدز ويضرب موعدًا مع الأهلي في نهائي السوبر المصري

وأضاف: “منذ أول يوم تولينا مسؤولية إدارة نادي الزمالك، نتعرض لإيقاف قيد، نستطيع أن نحل هذا الأزمة، لا توجد فترة قيد مرت علينا دون أن نتعاقد مع للاعبين ولا توجد لدينا مشكلة، سنحل هذا المرة أيضًا”.

وتابع: “لدينا أولويات فقط في الوقت الحالي، ومنذ أن أتينا إلى النادي ونحل أزمات كل فترة قيد، ومررنا بالعديد من القضايا في السنوات الأخيرة”.

وعن تطورات المفاوضات مع حامد حمدان لاعب بتروجيت، أوضح: “الوقت مازال مبكرًا عن الحديث عن أي انتقالات، نحن في نوفمبر الحديث عن الانتقالات سيكون في يناير، وإن شاء الله خير”.

وأتم: “مسؤولو نادي بتروجيت هم الأحق بأي تصريحات عن اللاعب، لأنه لاعب لديهم الآن، وهم قالوا أن الأمور جيدة مع الزمالك”.

Aston Villa are keen to climb the Premier League table after a mixed start to the campaign and could now turn to a veteran midfielder once the January window opens.

Aston Villa turn focus to Premier League after Go Ahead Eagles loss

Ultimately, the Villans’ 2-1 loss to Go Ahead Eagles on Thursday night won’t be a result that Unai Emery is too keen to revisit, albeit he will hope it was a blip rather than a sign of things to come.

Providing an honest reflection after the match, club captain John McGinn shared his frustration that the Deventer-based club were given ‘life from nowhere’ to find their way back into the match, which ultimately led to their downfall.

He said: “When you give a team that is really passionate and up for it at home — they’ve not played in Europe for a while — and you give them some motivation and a bit of life, you get punished. Tonight, we gave them life from nowhere, and that’s why we have been beaten.”

Learning harsh lessons, Aston Villa found out the hard way that there are no easy matches in Europe. Still, they are among the favourites to win the competition and could be helped by bringing Real Madrid forward Endrick to the club in January if they can win the battle for his signature.

Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia may also come in to compete within Aston Villa’s forward line, potentially offering an alternative in attack to Ollie Watkins.

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Nevertheless, Emery appears to have the engine room on his mind once the mid-season transfer period comes around and may now have identified his preferred candidate to offer strength in the middle of the park.

Aston Villa eyeing move for Man City star Mateo Kovacic

According to CaughtOffside, Aston Villa are keen to sign Manchester City star Mateo Kovacic and may be able to land the Croatia international for a knockdown fee due to his contract situation.

The report states that ‘there are no talks ongoing over a new contract’ for the ex-Chelsea star at the Etihad Stadium, and Pep Guardiola may opt to cash in during the mid-season window with AC Milan, West Ham United, Villarreal and Real Betis all in the hunt for his signature.

Five similar players to Mateo Kovacic (FBRef)

Vitinha

Paris Saint-Germain

Pierre Hojbjerg

Marseille

Luka Modric

Real Madrid

Nicolo Rovella

Lazio

Patrick Berg

Bodo/Glimt

Earning £150,000 per week in Manchester, Kovacic will be out of contract at his current employers in the summer of 2027, and he is now said to be surplus to requirements after featuring in only four minutes of Premier League football this term.

While he is unlikely to be a long-term midfield solution, he could potentially be an intelligent pickup for Aston Villa as they aim to climb the table and make strides in the Europa League.

While success hasn’t always followed, West Ham United have had some genuine world-beaters represent the club over the years.

For example, the likes of Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst are more than just club legends; they are true icons of the English game.

Then, in the modern day, while he’s not quite matched their achievements, Jarrod Bowen is in with a real chance of being the club’s greatest ever Premier League player.

However, there is another man who might have an equal shout for that title: Dimitri Payet.

The Frenchman was utterly incredible during his time with the club, and in great news, Nuno Espírito Santo has someone in his current squad with shades of the midfielder in his game.

Payet's West Ham career

West Ham signed Payet from Marseille for a fee of around £10.7m, and while the move received little media attention at the time, it would soon be looked at as one of the best deals that summer.

It didn’t take long at all for the mercurial midfielder to make his mark, as on his debut, against Arsenal, he provided an assist for Cheikhou Kouyaté from a well-taken free-kick.

From that point onwards, the Saint-Pierre-born genius would continue to turn up for the Hammers, and by the end of the season, he had racked up a brilliant haul of 12 goals and 15 assists in 38 games, totalling 3223 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, such an incredible debut campaign for the club saw him named the Premier League Player of the Year at the 2016 London Football Awards, shortlisted for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and named West Ham United Player of the Year.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and after telling the club he didn’t want to play for them anymore, he left for £25m in January.

Appearances

60

Minutes

4981′

Goals

15

Assists

22

Points per Game

1.52

It’s hard to overstate how brilliant Payet was to watch at West Ham, and while there isn’t anyone just like him in the current squad, there is someone with shades of him in their game.

West Ham's star with shades of Payet

Now, there are a number of players in this current West Ham side who could go on to do great things at the club, as Bowen already has.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, when it comes to someone who has shades of Payet in their game, it’s hard to look past Crysencio Summerville and the potential he has.

It’s important to say the word potential, as it would be crazy to suggest that the former Leeds United star has reached the levels the Frenchman did at the club.

However, that is not the point, as this isn’t a comparison to say he will be as good as the 38-year-old; it’s to point out the elements of his game that feel Payet-esque.

One such element is his brilliant ability with the ball at his feet, specifically when it comes to dribbling and beating opponents.

This was on full display in his Man of the Match-winning display against Everton on Monday night, as the Dutchman was able to complete three of five dribbles, which was the most of anyone on the pitch, including Jack Grealish.

More than that, he utilises this ball-carrying ability to create numerous chances for his teammates, whether through winning fouls or outmanoeuvring opponents.

SCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.52

Top 1%

Fouls Drawn

2.58

Top 3%

Penalty Kicks Won

0.10

Top 4%

Pass Completion % (Medium)

88.1%

Top 5%

SCA (Take-On)

0.72

Top 7%

GCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.10

Top 8%

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions coming from fouls won, the top 4% for penalties won, the top 7% for shot-creating actions coming from take-ons and more, all per 90.

Finally, while his output hasn’t been ideal since his move to East London, there is undoubtedly a star waiting to come out in the “unstoppable” game-changer, as dubbed by Statman Dave.

This was on show in his final campaign with Leeds, when he racked up 21 goals and ten assists in 49 games and won the Championship Player of the Year.

Ultimately, Summerville isn’t as talented as Payet, but with his ability on the ball and dynamism, there are certainly shades of the Frenchman in his game.

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Manchester United moved up to ninth in the Premier League table and within two points of the Champions League places with a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The Red Devils claimed all three points at Anfield for the first time since January 2016 after a late header from Harry Maguire sealed the victory for the away side.

Bruno Fernandes volleyed a brilliant ball to the back stick for the England international to nod the ball back the other way into the far corner, just six minutes after Cody Gakpo’s equaliser.

Whilst it was Maguire who scored the winning goal, United had Senne Lammens to thank for the three points because of his performance in goal.

Why Senne Lammens won Man Utd the game against Liverpool

United have had their fair share of troubles with goalkeepers in recent seasons. Altay Bayindir conceded 0.84 more than expected and made one error that led to a goal in the first six matches of the Premier League season, per Sofascore.

Lammens, however, has come in from Royal Antwerp and looks to be a safe pair of hands. After a clean sheet against Sunderland, the Belgian giant made four saves and prevented 1.25 goals, per Sofascore, against Liverpool.

The pick of the saves came in the first half when he prevented British-record signing Alexander Isak from scoring by smartly sticking a foot out to keep the shot out of his net.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Without his shot-stopping and calmness behind the defence, Man United may have only come away from Anfield with a point, or none, given how poorly Altay performed at the start of the season.

Whilst Lammens was a shining light in goal and should be considered undroppable, Mason Mount should be ditched from the starting XI by Ruben Amorim.

Why Man Utd should drop Mason Mount

The England international, who scored against Sunderland before the break, started as part of a fluid front three alongside Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, with Benjamin Sesko dropped to the bench.

It was a tactic that worked, to a point, as the movement across the front confused the Liverpool defence and created some promising moments, including Mbeumo’s goal.

Mount’s individual performance, though, suggests that the £66.4m signing from RB Leipzig should be brought back in to lead the line against Brighton next weekend.

Minutes

61

29

Shots

2

1

Big chances missed

1

0

Touches

19

19

Pass accuracy

58%

62%

Key passes

0

1

Big chances created

0

0

Successful dribbles

0

1

Duels won

1/3

4/6

As you can see in the table above, Sesko created more chances, completed more dribbles, and won four times as many duels, in roughly half as much time on the pitch.

The Slovenia international, who has scored two Premier League goals this season, offers a physical presence at the top end of the pitch that allows Mbeumo and Cunha to play off him, which they did not have when Mount and Cunha were rotating in the number nine role.

Mount played the role that was asked of him by Amorim and provided energy in the win over Liverpool, but his end product in and out possession was simply not good enough, as he had even fewer touches of the ball (19) than Lammens in goal (55), per Sofascore.

This is why the head coach should ruthlessly drop him from the starting XI in order to bring Sesko back in to lead the line against Brighton next time out, as the former Leipzig man is a natural number nine who can offer a greater threat in front of goal.

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MatériaMais Notícias

A palavra “família” esteve muito em evidência após a estreia de Lúcio Flávio na empreitada de comandar oBotafogo na reta final do Campeonato Brasileiro. No decorrer da vitória por 2 a 0 sobre o Fluminense, domingo (8), no Maracanã, a busca por trazer de volta a identificação do Alvinegro depois do período conturbado que culminou na demissão de Bruno Lage ficou nítida em campo.

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A ansiedade por trazer de volta o Glorioso que a torcida se acostumou a conhecer passou pela escalação. Di Plácido voltou a ser titular, enquanto Tchê Tchê se juntou a Marlon Freitas e Eduardo. Na frente, Júnior Santos ganhou a disputa para formar a linha de frente com Victor Sá e Tiquinho Soares.

+ Transforme sua paixão pelo futebol em profissão. Descubra o caminho com o curso Gestor de Futebol!

Antes de a bola rolar, os botafoguenses presentes no Maracanã ratificaram o apoio, aos gritos de “ah, é Lúcio Flávio!”. E, assim que a bola rolou, não demorou muito para as características do treinador começarem a entrar em cena.

Munido de um papel, o ex-jogador anotava suas impressões sobre a postura botafoguense. Olhava para o campo e gesticulava para os atletas.

+ Leão da Ilha! Aposte R$100 e ganhe mais de R$240 com o Sport na Série B!

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-No futebol, a gente precisa fazer com que os jogadores entendam que todos são importantes. Quando a gente fala em relação à família é porque muitas vezes passa mais tempo com as pessoas que trabalha e precisa fazer com que o ambiente seja mais leve. A gente precisa fazer com que eles entendam que um depende do outro – afirmou em entrevista coletiva.

Lúcio Flávio e Carli: ‘entrosamento’ perfeito (Foto: Vitor Silva / Botafogo)

Outra pecularidade também foi tomando conta. Alçado ao posto de auxiliar após um pedido do elenco, Joel Carli saía do banco de reservas e conversava com o treinador interino. Trocavam ideias e o ex-zagueiro voltava para o banco de reservas.

Meticuloso, o técnico ia acompanhando as investidas de um Alvinegro que ia se impondo na etapa inicial. A equipe dominava as ações, pressionando a saída de bola adversária e, ao partir para o ataque, abusava da velocidade. Desta vez, Eduardo ficava mais próximo do ataque, conseguindo ser mais participativo.

Até que o lançamento de Tchê Tchê encontrou Júnior Santos livre para marcar na saída de Fábio. Lúcio Flávio celebrou num tom de alento, mas sem deixar de se preocupar com o que via em campo.

Minutos depois, Júnior Santos abriu caminho e Tiquinho Soares rompeu livre até ampliar o marcador. Lúcio Flávio ergueu as mãos para o céu e, logo depois, encontrou o abraço do goleiro Lucas Perri.

Em meio à espera sobre a checagem de um possível impedimento no gol, aconteceu uma situação curiosa: rapidamente, o treinador pegou uma prancheta e orientou jogadores que estavam próximos ao banco de reservas. Enquanto isso, Joel Carli, na área técnica, passava orientações.

-Carli esteve até alguns meses aqui do lado deles, conhece muito bem o vestiário. Sabe muito bem fazer a abordagem ali com os jogadores, levantar o astral de cada um para, quando forem designados, consigam jogar o melhor deles – garantiu o treinador.

Com o gol confirmado, enfim Lúcio Flávio recebeu uma sucessão de abraços.

Após um primeiro tempo exemplar, os alvinegros optaram por uma cautela. E, nesse momento, entrou em cena outro fator que estava em falta nas partidas mais recentes: a força defensiva.

À exceção de uma conclusão de John Kennedy que parou na trave e uma batida de Léo Fernández que exigiu Lucas Perri, o Botafogo não chegou a ser ameaçado com tanto rigor.

Adryelson e Victor Cuesta mantiveram sua sintonia fina. Nas laterais, Di Plácido mostrava-se bastante participativo ao subir ao ataque, e tanto o argentino quanto Marçal continham os avanços de Keno e Arias.

Perante o calor do jogo, Lúcio Flávio foi indicando quais eram suas variações para manter o jogo sob controle alvinegro. Um dos jogadores sacados foi Júnior Santos, destaque da equipe na partida.

-Quando ele saiu, agradeceu por transmitir a confiança e dar a ele essa oportunidade. Falei que ele tinha muito a ajudar o Botafogo. É um jogador que tem muito potencial, uma característica peculiar de muito arranque e muito querido pelo grupo – declarou o treinador.

As trocas fizeram o Alvinegro mostrar seu brio, garantindo a vitória. Ao fim da partida, o “novo” treinador foi acolhido pelo grupo e reverenciado pela torcida que tanto o acolheu como jogador: “ah, é Lúcio Flávio!”.

Com a visão de quem se acostumou a vivenciar o elenco do Botafogo, Lúcio Flávio soube fazer com que o elenco se sentisse de novo como uma família.

-O Lúcio (Flávio) tem uma ideia do nosso time muito parecida com a do Luís Castro, com a do (Cláudio) Caçapa quando estava aqui com a gente. Acho que ele tentou resgatar isso. Acho que o Lúcio tentou resgatar isso – afirmou Lucas Perri na zona mista do Maracanã.

O meio-campista Tchê Tchê também demonsrou felicidade com o novo treinador.

-Ele estava aqui com a gente. Um personagem importante tanto com a camisa, quanto na comissão técnica. Ficamos felizes por ele. Abraçamos ele desde que foi passado para nós que seria nosso comandante. A gente é uma família muito unida, muito humilde. Tem os protagonistas, mas cada um vai se equivalendo da força para o outro. Isso é que é o mais importante – afirmou.

O Botafogo volta a campo na quarta-feira, dia 18, contra o América-MG, no Independência. A Data Fifa dará mais tempo para os laços de família se estreitarem.

The NWSL finished the season with a five-percent overall dip in attendance from its record-setting 2024 season, when it averaged 11,235 fans per game. This year, the league had an average attendance of 10,669 across 182 games, nearly even with 2023. Eight of the NWSL's 14 teams had year-over-year drops. Meanwhile, four clubs set attendance records.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  A developing trend?

  The NWSL's decline mirrors MLS's five-percent drop this season as well, with the men's top-flight league also having a record attendance year in 2024. Among the more concerning declines were the San Diego Wave, which had a 26-percent decrease from 2024 and 35-percent drop from 2023.

  The arrival of San Diego FC, an MLS expansion club in the city, and Alex Morgan's retirement could have played a factor in those numbers, according to Sports Business Journal. The other major drops included the Chicago Stars FC (22 percent), Angel City FC (16 percent), Utah Royals FC (16 percent) and Racing Louisville FC (15 percent).

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• Imagn
  

  On the bright side

  To the positive, five clubs had increases, and four set franchise records for attendance. 

  North Carolina Courage crowds increased by 21 percent to an average of 7,684, the biggest improvement in the league – despite the club missing the playoffs. The Orlando Pride increased by 15 percent while the Washington Spirit continue to grow under owner Michele Kang, with a nine-percent increase.

  Bay FC had an increase of eight percent, but that includes a match at Oracle Park, which set an NWSL attendance record of 40,091. Gotham FC, the Courage, Spirit and Pride all set club records for attendance.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The top five

  San Diego led the league with 18,233 fans on average last season, but their decline in 2025 put the Portland Thorns on top at 18,173 per game. 

  NWSL 2025 Top Attendance Leaders

  Rank	Club	Average Attendance
  1	Portland Thorns FC	18,173
  2	Angel City FC	16,257
  3	Washington Spirit	15,259
  4	Bay FC	14,823
  5	San Diego Wave FC	13,427

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• 'Business is incredibly strong'

  Sarah Jones Simmer, NWSL COO, downplayed the dip in overall attendance. 

  "Our underlying business is incredibly strong,” Simmer said in a statement. “Across the league, we’re seeing consistent attendance growth, franchise-best seasons, and record-breaking moments in markets big and small. The fact that so many clubs set all-time attendance highs in 2025 speaks to the durability of demand and the momentum powering the NWSL’s future.”

  Overall, seven of the 12 teams that have been in the league for more than two seasons drew larger crowds in 2025 than they did in 2023.

La Federación de Críquet de las Américas (FECA) aims to coordinate the growth of cricket across North, Central, and South America

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2025Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced plans to establish and spearhead (FECA), a regional body that will “act as a collaborative platform to coordinate the exponential growth of cricket” across North, Central, and South America.The move comes following CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow’s visit to Lima, Peru, highlighting the board’s commitment to expand the sport beyond the Caribbean. CWI is set to assume a parental role in FECA as the only ICC Full Member in the region.”This marks a pivotal step in advancing cricket across the Americas,” Shallow said in a statement. “Cricket West Indies embraces its responsibility not only to the Caribbean but to the wider region. We recognise the importance of structure, collaboration, and a unified vision to unlock the immense potential that exists throughout the Americas.”CWI’s chief executive officer, Chris Dehring, highlighted the importance of growing the game in countries such as Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, among others. According to the CWI release, there are currently 72,000 registered players in Brazil alone.”Our efforts to expand cricket must redound positively to each country under our remit,” he said. “This growth will not only uplift national programmes, but will also strengthen West Indies cricket by broadening our base, increasing opportunities, and deepening our regional relevance.”With the emergence and development of cricketing hubs in areas such as Brazil, with 72,000 registered players – most of them women under professional contracts – along with Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina, this region is ripe for meaningful engagement.”Currently, two youth teams from the USA are part of CWI’s Rising Stars Under-19 Tournament in St. Kitts, while USA national players such as Aaron Jones, Ali Khan and Shayan Jahangir have been part of the CPL.In addition, four senior teams from the Caribbean will travel to Lima to participate in the Bolivarian Games, which could prove to be an entry point into the South American sporting structure. Cricket is set to feature in the 2027 Pan American Games, where the Caribbean nations with Olympic accreditation will compete.

Vice-captain Pope said that the issue was the result of “the amount he’s pushed his body” during this series but insisted he’d be fit to bowl on Saturday

Matt Roller25-Jul-20254:14

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England played down concerns over Ben Stokes’ workload after he was forced to retire hurt for the first time in his international career in Manchester due to cramp in his left leg. Ollie Pope, Stokes’ vice-captain, said that the issue was the result of “the amount he’s pushed his body” during this series but insisted that he would be fit to bowl on Saturday.Stokes had scored 66, his highest score of the series, when he retired hurt on Friday evening, as England built a substantial first-innings lead over India. He returned after the fall of three further wickets, reaching 77 not out overnight, but appeared to be in some discomfort while running between the wickets.While Stokes was fit enough to resume his innings, the fact that he retired hurt will sound alarm bells, particularly after a heavy bowling workload. Stokes dedicated five months to his rehabilitation from surgery on his left hamstring this year and has bowled 129 overs against India, the most that he has bowled in a Test series.Related

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“I think he’s okay,” Pope said. “He’s just cramping down his leg, and it managed to spread to his whole leg. It’s probably just a build-up of the amount he’s pushed his body over the last four or five weeks. He’s obviously pushed himself to some serious limits so far, and that was probably just a build-up of it. I think he will be good to go tomorrow, I’m sure, with bat and ball.”Ben Stokes retired hurt on 66 before coming back at the fall of the seventh wicket•Getty Images

Pope has previously said that he considers helping Stokes to manage his workload to be one of his responsibilities as vice-captain but conceded: “That doesn’t always go my way.” He said: “Everyone knows what a competitor he is, and the lengths he’s prepared to push his body to get the job in hand done… There’s times where you can’t take the ball off him.”Stokes clutched the back of his left leg while playing a reverse-sweep off Washington Sundar during the evening session, and suffered cramp while taking a single off Mohammed Siraj. He briefly consulted England’s physio before batting on, but retired hurt at the end of the following over, grimacing as he walked off the field.Stokes became the second player to retire hurt during the fourth Test, after Rishabh Pant was forced off with a foot injury on the first day. Pant later returned to the crease on the second day to score a further 17 runs but was unable to keep wicket and is unlikely to feature in the fifth Test at The Oval next week.Pope stood in for England’s media duties on Friday night because Joe Root – like Stokes – was suffering from cramp, but said that Root would be fit to field on Saturday. “He just didn’t fancy the media tonight,” Pope said, laughing. “He’ll be here in the morning.”