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Ex-England striker Chris Sutton has slammed Nike for updating the colours of the St. George's Cross on the back of England's new shirt.

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Nike made a 'playful update' to England jerseyChris Sutton feels it is a 'load of b******s''Fans term the move as 'woke'WHAT HAPPENED?

Nike's unveiling of the Euro 2024 jersey for the England football team has stirred controversy, with criticism directed at the alteration of the iconic St. George's Cross. The new kit, launched ahead of the tournament in Germany, aimed to blend tradition with modernity, but it has instead ignited a storm of disapproval.

The home jersey features a classic white design with blue trim, reminiscent of England's historic kits. However, it's the redesign of the St. George's Cross on the collar has drawn widespread condemnation. Nike described it as a "playful update" intended to "unite and inspire," but critics argue that it deviates significantly from the original design.

@England Football

AdvertisementWHAT CHRIS SUTTON SAID

Chris Sutton, host of 'It's All Kicking Off,' lambasted Nike's approach, along with co-host Ian Ladyman, labelling it as "b******s" and questioned the rationale behind altering a national symbol.

Ladyman began: "One thing that has triggered people in relation to the New England kit this morning is the way the Cross of St George has been positioned and redesigned on the collar. Nike, the kit manufacturer, say on their own website described this as 'a playful update to the flag of St. George appears on the collar to unite and inspire'. Now, if you're confused about that, Chris is laughing, if you're confused by that…"

Sutton swooped in to say: "It's such a load of b*****s though isn't it? To unite and what? Inspire. To unite and inspire by changing a flag? So it's not the Cross of St George."

Ladyman retorted: "If I can explain it, if you imagine the traditional cross of St. George, a red cross, the design that appears on the rear collar of the England shirt is or has a red vertical strand, as you would expect. But the horizontal strand of the cross is not red, it's two shades of blue and purple. I know that sounds hard, but there's images all over the internet already about it. Chris, you have seen it. What are your thoughts?"

Sutton replied: "It's not the Cross of St. George, is it? I do understand that there will be people out there who will say it's not representative when it's on an England jersey and shouldn't represent an England jersey. I do understand that. I'm not gonna get angry about that, but for heaven's sake, could the FA have not just, you know… explained? Why would you even need to explain the importance of getting the right flag? It isn't representative of an England jersey. I mean, it's like, on The Apprentice with Lord Sugar, when they get sent out to do tasks, and it looks like a massive cock-up."

FANS LABEL IT AS WOKE NONSENSE

The controversy has also spilled into the political arena, with Reform UK MP Lee Anderson denouncing the move as "virtue signaling woke nonsense."

Speaking to the s, Mr Anderson said: "The left have a nerve to ask me why I want my country back. This virtue signalling, namby-pamby, pearl-clutching woke nonsense must stop. Any more of this and I'll be on the first flight to Rwanda."

Many fans shared Anderson's opinion as they also raised their voice against Nike.

Comedian Jason Manford wrote: "Oh dear…this is not gonna go down well! what a weird thing to do tho! A US company having a cheeky play with another countries flag, let's go back to Umbro I say, we won the World Cup in that kit."

Another X user added: "Disgraceful. The St George's Cross is the sacred icon of the English nation & people. Why have we allowed Nike, a US brand that produces these shirts with sweatshop labour, to defile our national flag? Why is England so ashamed of itself that it won't get into uproar about this?"

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NIKE & FA REMAIN FIRM ON THEIR STANCE

Despite the backlash, Nike has stood firm on its decision, with no plans to alter the jersey. The sportswear giant defended the redesign, emphasizing its modern interpretation of a classic emblem.

A Nike spokesperson said: "The England 2024 Home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic. The trim on the cuffs takes its cues from the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, with a gradient of blues and reds topped with purple. The same colours also feature an interpretation of the flag of St. George on the back of the collar."

The Football Association (FA) has thrown its support behind the kit, emphasizing its ties to England's footballing history, particularly the iconic 1966 World Cup victory. It has been reported that the kit entered into the production cycle two years ago and any alternation to the existing kit would take at least six to nine months to create and distribute.

@England Football

Middlesex fought hard on the fourth day, with contributions from Stevie Eskinazi, Hilton Cartwright and James Harris, to resurrect their promotion hopes

David Hopps at Grace Road23-Jun-20182:01

Kent squash Warwickshire’s hopes of record chase

ScorecardMiddlesex’s season has changed abruptly in the space of 48 hours. Home truths were told at Grace Road on Thursday night after they conceded a 194-run lead on first innings to Leicestershire. “Not good enough,” said their coach Richard Scott. Words like “resolve” figured prominently. The badge, and the need for pride in it, probably got a mention. It normally does at a time of crisis.The result was immediate; the three seaxes duly sharpened. Perhaps when Dawid Malan, an England batsman of steely repute, looks you in the eye it is best to listen. Middlesex conquered a target of 381 by one wicket with 6.3 overs remaining. This was gut-wrenching stuff and a tie would have been a suitable conclusion. As it is, Middlesex’s promotion hopes are not quite spent and Leicestershire missed the chance to win three in a row for the first time since 1998.The last time Middlesex were in Division Two, Angus Fraser, the former England stalwart, was appointed as director of cricket and began by suggesting that a side given to losing in two-and-a-half days might care to look at itself and lose in three-and-a-half instead. The eventual result was promotion and a Championship win in 2016. Relegated to everyone’s surprise last September, there is no wish to return to the bad habits of old.James Harris, dropped twice as the requirement fell below 50, clipped the winning boundary forcefully off Mohammad Abbas. It was an emphatic end to an intense day’s cricket, during which Hilton Cartwright hit 80 after being “bowled” by Gavin Griffiths before he had scored – the ball clipped off-stump hard, but the bail obstinately stayed put – and Stevie Eskinazi made 97 and was then run out in a mix-up in which time seemed to expand.Middlesex were obdurate from the outset. They started the day on 82 for 3, with 299 still needed, and the nightwatchman Ravi Patel resisted diligently for the first hour until Abbas tempted him into an off-side wipe. By then, expectations of uneven bounce prevalent earlier in the match had lessened. But all day they met anything on the stumps with utmost seriousness.Paul Stirling soon fell, pushing at a wide ball from Gavin Griffiths, but when Cartwright, fresh to the crease, had his off stump clipped on nought, only to survive, there was an inkling that this might just be Middlesex’s day. By tea, Cartwright, an Australian allrounder, had his first half-century since signing for Middlesex, and Grace Road, the quietest crowd in the country, briefly resounded to cries of “Keep your heads up, lads.” They did, but it’s always a bad sign.Eskinazi was responsibility personified until, on 97, he observed Cartwright drive the left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson to Ben Raine at short extra cover. Raine could not retrieve a low chance and, as the ball bounced away, confusion took hold.There is an App to help people with indecision apparently and there was time to download it as both batsmen embarked upon a single that neither really fancied. “No. Never on a misfield.” “Still, it’s quite a misfield. Maybe we could… in theory.” “You seem to want this more than I do? Can we reach out to each other? Is it too late to reconsider?” “Hmm, seems like we’re going. Is this wise?” “We’ve really messed up, haven’t we. I don’t believe it.” As indicated, Raine recovered to throw down the stumps before Eskinazi could get home.John Simpson went soon after tea, leg before to late inswing from Griffiths, but another substantial partnership was lodged. Harris’ two escapes against Raine, an allrounder with a heart of oak, were costly, firstly on 21 when the keeper Lewis Hill couldn’t gather a low catch, again on 23 when the ball escaped Ateeq Javid at second slip, low, wide, tough but takeable.Raine’s persistence was admirable. His unflagging effort was finally rewarded with treacherous bounce that had Cartwright lbw for 80 with 38 still needed. Middlesex were still seven short when Steve Finn was strangled down the leg-side – although to be fair it was a deliberate set-up, with leg slip and long leg on patrol. Last man Tim Murtagh joined Harris to steer the visitors over the line.Finally, consider Leicestershire, their hopes of their first three-in-a-row since their Championship-winning season of 1998 lost. Ask many an opposition batsman and the soundtrack of that Championship-winning season was Paul Nixon yapping away behind the stumps.Now Nixon has reappeared as coach, the wins are coming again and the desire to learn was summed up by one young professional stopping Malan for a technical chat as he headed to his car. Meanwhile, Division One counties are swarming around Nixon’s most high-profile players. The least he deserves if he has to rebuild again is that English cricket recognises – without riders, and beginning with the top, and Andrew Strauss – his county’s contribution to English cricket.

Aston Villa could have a problem on their hands as one of their star men's agents has spoken to another club over his potential departure, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Aston Villa?

In a rather strange development, Aston Villa players have reportedly complained about their wet-look shirts and claim that they are weighing them down on the pitch, according to Telegraph Sport. The Villans' shirts for 2023/24 are designed by sportswear manufacturers Castore, who they are now believed to be working to solve the issue.

Aston Villa are two years into a long-term deal with Castore; however, it is unclear if the shirt debacle will impact their agreement with the firm. One source close to one Aston Villa player claimed: "The players are having to play in soaking wet T-shirts and it is a problem that needs to be solved. It cannot go on all season. The players look like they’ve jumped in a swimming pool after about ten minutes.”

Journalist Dean Jones meanwhile has indicated to GIVEMESPORT that he has been impressed by the way that summer signing Nicolo Zaniolo has settled into life at Villa Park and believes that he has shown more for the club than Philippe Coutinho during his time at Aston Villa.

Jones stated: "Zaniolo is a lovely player and he's definitely showing more than Coutinho usually did in a Villa shirt from what we've seen so far. The good thing with Zaniolo, though, is he's got that inner drive, which I'm just not sure Coutinho ever had once Steven Gerrard wasn't at the club anymore."

Zaniolo has yet to get off the mark for Aston Villa, though has made six appearances in all competitions for his new club and has impressed with his trickery and invention, as per Transfermarkt.

Who could leave Aston Villa?

According to FootballTransfers, Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar has held direct talks with Ollie Watkins' agent Paolo Vernazza over a potential January move to the Emirates Stadium.

The report states that Chelsea are also keen to strike a deal for the England international; however, Mikel Arteta and Watkins have a 'mutual admiration' for each other, alongside the fact that the former Brentford striker is actually a boyhood Arsenal supporter. Bizarrely, this all comes just days after reports revealed confidence within Villa that Watkins would sign a new long-term contract.

Watkins has been a fantastic servant for Aston Villa over the course of his time in the West Midlands, registering 47 goals and 15 assists in 125 appearances for his current employers at the time of writing, as per Transfermarkt.

This campaign, the 27-year-old, who has previously been labelled "outstanding" by former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith, has averaged around 2.7 shots and 1.7 key passes per match in the Premier League, according to WhoScored.

FBRef show that the Torquay-born striker has also been a key creator for Aston Villa this term, successfully carrying out 19 shot-creating actions in the English top-flight, with five of them directly leading to goals.

Looking ahead, Aston Villa will be desperate to tie Watkins down to a new contract to avoid losing his potency in front of goal and his excellent running power.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a challenging year so far, with the club undergoing a tough 2022/23 campaign and an even more difficult summer break.

The Old Gold were bottom of the table on Christmas Day of 2022, however turned things around under Julen Lopetegui to secure survival.

The extent of the club’s financial issues came to light just prior to the opening of the transfer window, leaving the former manager restricted to who he could bring in.

As a result of the mishaps with funds, Lopetegui left his post as manager just five days before Wolves’ Premier League opener of the 2023/24 campaign, replaced swiftly by Gary O’Neil.

Luckily, the club had a host of talent that they could offload this summer to generate the much-needed funds in the attempt to balance the books, with their biggest sales coming from Nathan Collins, Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes.

While Neves spent six years at Molineux, both Collins and Nunes were purchased only the summer prior to their exit, with the Old Gold managing to gain profit on both players at the time of their sales.

Purchased for £20.5m and sold to Brentford for £23m, the defender had fallen out of favour with Lopetegui during his short time in the Midlands, however, Nunes’ departure was far more of a shock.

How much did Wolves sign Matheus Nunes for?

Signed for a club-record fee of £42.2m in August 2022, the midfielder’s arrival at the club was highly anticipated, with him showcasing his talents in his home country at Sporting CP.

The Old Gold have a strong track record of hiring from Portugal thanks to the work of Nuno Espirito Santo and Jorge Mendes, however, not all new signings are instant hits. Nunes is perhaps a glowing example of that.

What was the reaction when Matheus Nunes signed for Wolves?

In signing Nunes, Wolves were getting a 23-year-old with the world at his feet, a player dubbed “one of the best players in the world” the season prior by Pep Guardiola.

City had defeated Sporting 5-0 in the Champions League, with the playmaker still earning a right to applause as he shone for his dejected side.

For his boyhood club, the youngster was equipped in central midfield, utilised both offensively and defensively, with attributes that charmed those around him and caused problems for the opposition.

U23 scout Antonio Mango hailed the midfielder as a “top quality” player before his move to Wolves, supported by his numbers in the 2021/22 campaign in which he shone in Liga Portugal.

As per FBref, the lively gem shone in the middle of the park for Sporting through his ball-carrying strengths, averaging 3.42 progressive carries and 2.85 successful take-ons per 90 that season.

With Joao Moutinho entering the later years of his thirties at the time, it was the logical move for Wolves to hire a refreshed source of class in midfield, which was achieved in principle by capturing Nunes.

The 23-year-old arrived as the Old Gold’s record signing, carrying the weight of being lauded as “one of the best players in Portugal” by journalist Pedro Sepulveda following his unveiling as a Premier League player.

Was Nunes really worth over £42m?

Nunes arrived in what was a difficult season for Wolves, with the club starting the campaign poorly under Bruno Lage, who was sacked as a result.

Steve Davis then took the reins temporarily before Lopetegui arrived, causing disruption in the squad and a particularly difficult atmosphere to adapt to.

All in all, the £42.2m signing lacked the ability to showcase his true value during his short time at Molineux, showing glimpses of what he could do, but nothing near enough to warrant his hefty price tag.

In a total of 41 appearances in gold, Nunes scored one goal and registered one assist in all competitions, communicating his lacklustre start to life in England.

While the one goal he did register was nominated for the goal of the season, the midfielder failed to impose himself to the level that he did at Sporting, as highlighted by the drop in his averages compared to the 2021/22 season.

As per FBref, in the Premier League the Portugal international averaged 2.15 progressive carries and 1.61 successful take-ons per 90, displaying lesser averages than those on show in Liga Portugal.

Despite not fulfilling his full potential and expectations, after a year with the club, Nunes was on the move again, with market activity that was predicted by Sepulveda along with his praise.

Where is Matheus Nunes now?

Portuguese journalist Sepulveda told Sky Sports that the now 24-year-old would be talked about in the “next transfer window” following his arrival, with him envisioning that the midfielder would move on if he hit the ground running in England.

Although he didn’t blow fans away to the level that was expected, Nunes was snatched up by Manchester City on deadline day, after a period of uncertainty over his future.

Sepulveda anticipated a “huge transfer” at the point of the Portuguese star's arrival, which came in the form of a £53m move to the treble winners.

Nunes’ exit was far from pretty, as he retaliated to O’Neil’s initially rejected bid for him from City by refusing to train or play, subsequently forcing the player to be sold.

The Old Gold eventually agreed a deal for his services in the final hours of the transfer window, gaining a profit from the price they paid for him and giving the 24-year-old the outcome he’d pushed for.

Perhaps if the midfielder had performed at a higher level at Molineux, his sale wouldn't have been negotiated, however considering his single goal and his average Sofascore match rating of 6.77, the deal was sanctionable.

From high levels of excitement to hitting reality in what was a complicated season for Wolves, the club made a profit of over £10m on the 24-year-old, with his career in the Midlands amounting to a single goal.

Like any young player signed for a high price and waxed lyrical about, the first impressions were promising for Wolves, however, the side will now adapt to life without the 24-year-old after a year of simply sufficient performances.

Glasgow Rangers have endured their poorest start to the season in recent years as Michael Beale has led the Ibrox side to just four wins from nine games thus far, with one coming against second tier Greenock Morton.

The Gers have already exited the Champions League at the playoff round while suffering an underwhelming 1-0 defeat to Celtic in the first Old Firm game of the season.

It isn’t the time to panic, yet with important matches against St Johnstone and Real Betis to come following the international break, the pressure is currently mounting on Beale to rejuvenate the team.

With nine summer arrivals, the club underwent their biggest overhaul in years, yet the 43-year-old has still to find the ideal system in which to get these new signings firing.

The club desperately need a leader that will increase the standards at the Glasgow side, and despite his attacking contributions in recent years, James Tavernier has only led the club to one Premiership title and a Scottish Cup triumph, nowhere near good enough.

What the supporters would give to have a player like Barry Ferguson back in the starting XI, raising the standards to the levels expected and leading the club to trophies.

When did Barry Ferguson make his debut for Rangers?

The youngster grew up watching his elder brother, Derek, turn out for the Ibrox side under Graeme Souness and the younger Ferguson finally got his first taste of senior action under the late Walter Smith in May 1997, shortly after the Gers had secured their ninth league title in a row.

Having been edged into the first team picture slowly, Dick Advocaat saw him as a crucial part of the team and even made him captain in 2000 when he was just 22 following a poor start to the season, signifying just how important he was turning out to be for the club.

How much did Rangers sell Barry Ferguson for?

The midfielder really came to the fore under Alex McLeish during the second half of the 2001/02 season and was immense during the 2002 Scottish Cup final, scoring a stunning free kick to draw the game level before Peter Lovenkrands netted a last minute winner.

The very next season was to be his most productive at the Light Blues. He captained the team to an iconic treble, claiming the title over Celtic by just a one goal margin while winning both domestic cups and the future looked bright for the player.

During the summer transfer window of 2003, there were rumours circling regarding his future at the club and with mounting debt and the need to reduce the wage bill, McLeish had no choice but to sell Ferguson to Blackburn Rovers for a fee in the region of £7.5m.

In an interview with Simon Ferry on Open Goal (via Glasgow Times), the 45-cap Scotland international claimed it was a mistake moving south of the border.

He said: “The year before there was a couple of clubs who were interested in me. I wasn’t interested in leaving, to be honest with you. A couple of clubs came in, but I kind of just let the club deal with it, I didn’t want it to play on my mind.

“But the club needed a bit of money at that stage and Blackburn met the valuation. I knew that week leading up to the Copenhagen game that that was my last game.

“Did I want to leave? In hindsight I probably shouldn’t have left, I should have stayed another season. I went down to speak to them and I knew as soon as I signed, I knew a week later I’d made a mistake. It didn’t feel right.”

What happened to Barry Ferguson after he left Rangers?

A fee of £7.5m was impressive business for a player who had cost nothing, yet his career failed to take off at Blackburn, and he was back in a Rangers' jersey within 18 months of leaving – with the Old Firm giants having to fork out just €6.5m (£5.5m) to seal that reunion.

From January 2005 to May 2009, Ferguson became the linchpin of a new-look Gers side who went on to win two league titles along with four domestic cups and following a dramatic last day of the 2008/09 campaign in which Rangers secured their first title since 2005, Ferguson left to join Birmingham City, managed by McLeish.

Ferguson went on to win the League Cup for the club, defeating Arsenal following a late winner and the former Gers manager praised him during his spell in the Midlands, saying: "We've asked him to change a little bit since coming to Birmingham and Lee Bowyer has taken the lion's share of the goals.

"But that was vintage Barry against Forest and the run forward, and the finish for the goal was exemplary. It was a good finish and in the second half he was very commanding in the game for us.

"He was very instrumental in us getting the victory with his performance, apart from his goal. He has made a big contribution since he came here."

How many times did Barry Ferguson play for Rangers?

Across his two spells in Glasgow, the former midfielder turned out 428 times for the Light Blues, scoring 60 goals across those appearances.

There is no doubt he is arguably one of the finest ever academy graduates at the club, especially judging by the sheer volume of silverware he won and the number of matches played.

Ferguson – who was dubbed a "leader" by former Rangers defender Marvin Andrews – had to mature quickly when he was appointed as the Rangers captain 23 years ago, yet it was potentially the best thing to happen to him as he began to take a lot more responsibility and led the club to some wonderful moments.

Beale would love a player in the mould of the former Scottish international right now, one who could take games by the scruff of the neck and dictate the play, while also proving to Celtic that Rangers are the finest team in Scotland.

Although the club had to live without him for a brief spell following his sale, the transfer went down as the biggest sale (at the time) in their history, and they certainly hit the jackpot, especially considering he didn’t take long to come back to Scotland.

MatériaMais Notícias

No próximo sábado, o Paraná viaja até o Rio Grande do Sul e o adversário é o Brasil de Pelotas, no Bento de Freitas. O duelo é extremamente importante para o Tricolor, que dependendo da combinação de resultados, pode voltar ao topo da Série B.

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Para o jogo fora de casa, o técnico Allan Aal terá a volta do atacante Andrey, que estava suspenso na rodada passada e retoma o seu lugar no time titular.

Dúvida

No meio campo existe apenas uma incerteza. No posto de volante, Aal terá que optar por Karl ou Kaio.

Confira a provável escalação do Paraná: Alisson; Paulo Henrique, Salazar, Fabrício e Jean Victor; Karl (Kaio), Higor Meritão, Renan Bressan, Gabriel Pires e Andrey; Bruno Gomes.

Aston Villa are monitoring Aymeric Laporte, and their chances of signing him may have just received a boost, as Manchester City are now looking to cash in on the defender for a fee of £30m, according to a report from The Mirror.

Who are Aston Villa signing this summer?

Villa have bolstered their backline significantly this summer, bringing in Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres for a fee of €33m (£29m), meaning Unai Emery is now mainly focussing on strengthening his squad in more attacking areas.

Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor recently told GiveMeSport: I still sort of see another attack-minded player, someone who’s going to add more goals and power to the side. I think Ollie Watkins has done brilliantly, but I still feel like Aston Villa can probably take that area of their team to the next level.

“Maybe full-back as well might be an area they look to strengthen. I’ve seen Ezri Konsa has been playing right back a fair bit with Matty Cash.

“And there was a midfielder that Villa have been looking at, who is Tyler Adams. I think that’s one to watch,

It is not out of the question for the Villans to bring in a new centre-back, however, having recently made an approach for OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, who is valued at around €40-50m (£35-43m) by his current club.

According to a report from The Mirror, the Midlands outfit are also monitoring Laporte, and they may have now been given a good opportunity to sign him, with Man City ready to let him leave for a fee of £30m.

After signing Josko Gvardiol earlier this week, Pep Guardiola is now blessed with options in defence, and he is willing to sanction the Spaniard's departure, but there will be fierce competition for his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have also been monitoring the 29-year-old, and there could soon be interest from abroad, with Guardiola keen to offload him to a foreign club, rather than strengthening a fellow Premier League side.

How tall is Aymeric Laporte?

The Man City defender stands at 6 foot 2, and he uses his height to his advantage on a regular basis, winning 254 of the 396 aerial duels he has contested in the Premier League, in a total of 120 appearances.

As well as being dominant in the air, the France-born centre-back is also extremely impressive with the ball at his feet, ranking in the 99th percentile for passes attempted per 90 in the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and achieving a 92.7% pass completion rate.

Lauded as a "beast" by football writer Muhammad Butt, the former Athletic Bilbao man has all the attributes to be a huge success at Villa Park, and £30m seems like a fair price, given he has only just turned 29 and that he has plenty of experience playing at the highest level.

The only potential issue is that Man City would prefer to sell Laporte to a foreign club, meaning Villa may not stand a very good chance of signing him unless the Citizens soften their stance later in the window.

Karun Nair and KL Rahul put on 239 runs for the sixth wicket•PTI

Rahul, Nair added to Karnataka squad: KL Rahul and Karun Nair have been named in Karnataka’s squad for the third round of Ranji Trophy matches beginning October 24, against Hyderabad in Shimoga. Both of them are currently part of the Board President’s XI squad chosen to play the two warm-up fixtures against New Zealand ahead of the limited-overs series starting October 22.Rahul, who has been left out of the New Zealand ODIs, struck a 68 in the first warm-up game in Mumbai on Tuesday. Nair, who led India A in the two unofficial Tests against New Zealand A, top scored with a 64-ball 78, in the side’s 30-run victory.”Having Rahul and Karun is a big boost for Karnataka,” R Vinay Kumar, the Karnataka captain, said. “Rahul has cemented his place in the Indian team while Karun is also doing well. The sight of their names on the team sheet will put opponents under pressure.”

Slams 139 off 76 balls as Vanuatu run down 228 target in 28.2 overs to get into semis of World Cricket League Division Five on net run rate

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Sep-2017

Patrick Matautaava produced one of the all-time great knocks in the history of the World Cricket League, striking an unbeaten 139 off 76 balls as Vanuatu defeated Germany by four wickets. Chasing a target of 228, Vanuatu needed to achieve victory in 31.3 overs or less to overtake Germany on the net run rate tiebreaker with the Germans holding a +1.710 advantage at the start of the day. They only needed 28.2 overs in the end thanks to Matautaava’s sensational century.While Vanuatu’s scoring rate was strong at the start of the chase, wickets also tumbled quickly and when captain Andrew Mansale fell for a second-ball duck to end the 10th over, it left Vanuatu 58 for 4. Matautaava had also retired hurt on 5 in the sixth over after facing just eight deliveries but after getting treatment resumed his innings in the ninth and commenced a blistering counterattack.Four of the first five deliveries Matautaava faced upon returning to the crease were hit to the boundary and he never looked back. The 25-year-old brought up his half-century off 37 balls in the 18th over, then needed just another 20 deliveries to reach triple figures as he dominated a 135-run fifth wicket stand with Ronald Tari that spanned just 14.4 overs. When Tari fell, there were still 35 runs needed to win with five wickets in hand and 6.5 overs in which to do it to make the semi-finals. It only took another 3.4 overs as Matautaava scored 31 of the remaining runs required. His 15th boundary of the day clinched victory to go along with eight sixes.Matautaava’s heroics were set up by offspinner Jelany Chilia’s 4 for 39 after Mansale won the toss and as expected sent Germany in. Matautaava and Wesley Viraliliu pinned down the Germans early with the score 55 for 4 after 17 overs but captain Rishi Pillai fought back with 71 off 82 balls. Chilia burrowed through the middle order though and eventually nabbed Pillai as part of his haul to prevent the Germans from making a late surge and they were eventually bowled out in the 50th over.Jersey clinched the top spot in their half of the draw with a 108-run win over Ghana. Jersey made 226 for 8 after being sent in as everyone in the top five crossed 30 but no one passed Nat Watkins’ 44 off 88 balls opening the innings. Obed Agbomadzie’s remarkably consistent tournament with the ball continued as he bagged another three wickets to keep Jersey in check.With Vanuatu’s speedy victory over Germany in progress, a Ghana win would have put them in the semis. However, they wilted under pressure from Jersey’s left-arm spin attack as Ben Stevens claimed 3 for 17 and Watkins 2 for 31. Ghana was eventually bowled out for 118 in 36.4 overs.In a virtual knockout match for the last semi-final spot up for grabs, Qatar pulled off a tense three-wicket win over Guernsey by chasing down a target of 232 with 13 balls to spare. Oliver Newey struck his third half-century in a row from No. 3 for Guernsey, making 80 off 101 balls, but fell in a key sequence with 11 overs to go as Tamoor Sajjad (2 for 33) and Mohammed Nadeem (3 for 49) ensured they were held in check in the death overs.Qatar’s chase got off to an emphatic start with a 112-run opening partnership between Inam-ul-Haq (63 off 83 balls) and Qalandar Khan (56 off 64 balls). Medium pacer David Hooper removed both to open the door for a pair of quick middle-order strikes by left-arm spinner Matthew Ellis to test Qatar’s nerves. Muhammad Tanveer struck a crucial 47 off 62 balls before he fell to Newey with 22 needed off the last 35 balls. Newey struck again in his next over to leave the tail exposed but No. 9 Awais Malik bashed 10 off four balls while wicketkeeper Mohammed Rizlan kept calm to finish unbeaten on 22 to eliminate Guernsey.Italy finished their unbeaten run through Group A with a 122-run win over Cayman Islands. Damian Crowley’s 105 off 88 balls propelled Italy to a commanding total of 326 for 6. The ex-captain finished the group stage as the tournament’s leading scorer with 243 runs.Sacha de Alwis (52 off 44 balls) and captain Ramon Sealy (89 off 92 balls) each made solid contributions in Cayman Islands’ reply but lacked support as no one else made more than Conroy Wright’s 16 at No. 7. Carl Sandri bagged the biggest haul of the tournament, taking 6 for 46 to spin out Cayman Islands for 204 in 42.2 overs.The tournament semi-finals begin on Thursday with Italy taking on Vanuatu for one promotion berth while Jersey will play Qatar to determine the other team that will move up to Division Four. It will be the maiden encounter between the sides for each semi-final pairing.

Everton are still interested in signing Leeds United winger Wilfired Gnonto in the summer transfer window, according to a promising update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

How much does Wilfried Gnonto earn?

The £20,000-a-week-earning Whites attacker burst onto the scene at Elland Road last season, catching the eye with his dribbling ability and all-round entertainment value. While some youngsters are daunted by the pace and power of the Premier League and can take time to adjust to it, he consistently stood out as one of his side's brightest sparks.

Ultimately, Gnonto couldn't do enough to keep Leeds from avoiding relegation to the Championship, but he could walk away with his head held high, having registered four goals and assists apiece, in all competitions.

The issue now for the Whites is keeping hold of the 19-year-old beyond the end of the current transfer window, with other clubs trying to snap him up. They will be aware that he likely won't want to be playing in anything other than a top league at this point in his career, so an exit seems on the cards.

Everton are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move for Gnonto, seeing him as someone who could provide the team with some badly-needed attacking magic. A £15m has already reportedly been rejected and it appears as though they haven't walked away from a possible deal yet.

Could Everton still sign Wilfried Gnonto?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, described Everton's pursuit of Gnonto as "one to watch" currently, hinting that the Blues could still snap up the Italian at some point this summer:

"I expect Leeds to be really busy and I think that there'll still be some other outgoings. I think that Gnonto to Everton is one to watch."

Gnonto is still clearly a very raw footballer who won't necessarily perform to a high level every single week, but the thought of him in an Everton shirt moving forward is a mouthwatering prospect for the supporters.

Last season, he showed how much potential he has as a player, combining direct running with blistering speed out on the left-hand side, and his long-term ceiling is extremely high.

Leeds coach Michael Skubala has described Gnonto as a "special" footballer, while Gary Neville has also spoken of his admiration for him, saying:

"Sometimes you see potential and talent but watching him so closely, his understanding of where to be, his choice of pass, when to run with it, his awareness of teammates, really good honestly."

For Everton to bring in Gnonto over other potential suitors would be a massive coup, considering he already has 12 caps and one goal for a talented Italy side who are the reigning European champions, despite not yet even celebrating his 20th birthday.

The sky is the limit for the Leeds hero, and his style of play means he could swiftly become something of a cult hero at Goodison Park in no time, during a time at the club that has seen a dearth of genuine attacking quality on show for such an extended period.