Are Manchester United back on track? It’s probably premature to make such a conclusive claim, but then we can’t help but notice the hint of success now that Ruben Amorim has strung together a five-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.

It was refreshing to see the Portuguese coach speak candidly after the recent draw at Tottenham Hotspur, though. Amorim understands that, while progress has been made in recent months, there is so much work still to be plied.

While the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have reshaped the Red Devil frontline for the better, there’s no question that issues remain in the centre of the field, even with Casemiro resurgent and the skipper, Bruno Fernandes, in fine form.

Man Utd's search for a midfielder

INEOS and the Manchester United recruitment team have accepted that the midfield requires something of a rebuild, with Bruno and Casemiro into their 30s and Kobbie Mainoo out of sorts.

One of the pleasing changes of recent months has been a focus on adding Premier League-proven quality. Mbeumo and Cunha stand as testaments to this. Now, the same logic must be applied in the centre.

There are a number of possibilities, the most noisy of which centres on England star Elliot Anderson, though Nottingham Forest have placed a prohibitive £100m price tag on their prized star’s name.

United are ready to spend in 2026, though, and could instead make a move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, having profiled the Cameroonian talent last summer.

According to GIVEMESPORT and Fabrizio Romano, Old Trafford Director of Football Jason Wilcox has held positive discussions with the young midfielder; however, it looks like Brighton have doubled down on their £115m valuation.

Crucially, Baleba is “very keen” on leaping at the chance to sign for Amorim’s outfit, and so a deal could certainly be pulled off next year.

Why Man Utd want Carlos Baleba

Man United have needed a mobile centre-midfielder for a while, and in Baleba, they might just land the perfect player.

The Brighton star is into his third season in the Premier League, and though he hasn’t been at his best since the summer, this is likely because of the fallout from United’s failed attempt to bring him away from Fabian Hurzeler’s outfit in August.

Hailed by analyst Joao Miguel as being a “transition monster” who “eats hectares of space for lunch”, the 5 foot 11 star would dovetail right into the way Amorim wants to play, perhaps even more so than Anderson, who is firmly rooted in Forest’s counter-pressing brand of football.

Anderson might be more mobile and energetic in his game, but Baleba’s mix of tough-tackling defending and ball-playing quality makes him the perfect alternative, and one who could even come to surpass the England man.

For all the gains United have made in recent months, they are still an imperfect outfit. Too easy to catch on the break and lacking physicality, xGA data reveals Amorim’s side to be among the most statistically porous in the division.

Burnley

22

23.4

Nott’m Forest

20

16.6

Man United

18

16.4

West Ham

23

16.3

Wolves

25

16.0

Baleba’s strength and ground-covering presence would ease this problem and then some, adding the fresh legs needed to keep Bruno on his A-game. This positive chain would ripple through to the forwards, who are already showing such promise.

Anderson is emerging as a talented midfielder, and either would be a credit to the Man United project. However, Baleba’s desire to move to Manchester, the club’s comprehensive profiling of his style and his powerful and athletic approach could see him emerge as the pick of the bunch.

The new Ronaldo: Man Utd preparing British-record bid for £200m superstar

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2 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2025

The India opener also credited India’s team management for showing faith in his high-risk style and allowing him to express himself

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2025

After powering India to a six-wicket win with a 39-ball 74, Abhishek Sharma referred to his innings as a reply to Pakistan for “coming at us without any reason”.The climate of heightened political tensions between the two countries has spilled over onto the field during this Asia Cup, with India refusing to shake hands with Pakistan’s players, and Pakistan’s displeasure at this spilling over into a protest against match referee Andy Pycroft that threatened, at one stage, to escalate into a boycott.Related

Suryakumar found guilty of breaching code of conduct; verdict on Rauf and Farhan awaited

Shaheen Afridi brushes off criticism as Pakistan eye Asia Cup final

Similar goals, similar problems: SL, Pakistan resume borderline sappy yet competitive rivalry

Things Pakistan say, things Pakistan do, and the gap between them

Agha on Fakhar dismissal: 'It did look like it bounced ahead of the keeper'

Sunday’s Super Fours match, the second meeting between the two teams during the tournament, witnessed several feisty moments including heated exchanges between Pakistan fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf and India openers Abhishek and Shubman Gill.Rauf was also captured on cameras by fans making gestures to the crowd. In response to being heckled by chants of “Kohli, Kohli” from a section of Indian fans, he held up his hands and appeared to indicate the number six, and then made more gestures that resembled an aircraft flying and coming down.”Today, it was pretty simple,” Abhishek said while receiving the Player-of-the-Match award. “The way they were coming at us without any reason, I didn’t like it at all. And I thought that this is the only [answer] that I could give with my bat and obviously [contribute] with the win towards my team. That’s all that was going through my mind. I just wanted to deliver for my team.”Abhishek and Gill have been close friends since their Under-14 days; they stitched a 105-run stand off just 59 balls, giving India a flying start in their chase of 172.”We’ve been playing since our school days, so we enjoy each other’s company really well,” Abhishek said. “And the way we started, I thought that we’re going to do this in one of the games and that’s how we’re going to start our partnerships.”And luckily it was today, and I feel the way he [Gill] was giving them back, I really enjoyed it on the other side.”Shivam Dube took two wickets to peg Pakistan back after a strong start•AFP/Getty Images

Abhishek’s innings, which included six fours and five sixes, all but sealed the game for India. He began the innings with a first-ball six off Afridi, going one better than last week’s group-stage meeting where he hit the left-arm quick for a first-ball four.”I feel it’s very important for the team because if you see someone playing like this, they need really good support from the captain and the coach,” Abhishek said about his high-risk batting style. “I feel that’s what I’m getting from my team and that’s the intent they want me to show in all the games.”That’s how I want to play because I’ve been practising really hard for this. If it’s my day, I’m going to make sure that we win the game.”Unlike the group-stage game, which they dominated from the outset, India endured a few nervous moments on the field. Pakistan, courtesy Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, raced to 91 for 1 in their first ten overs but India pulled the game back in the second half, conceding just 80 runs in the last ten.”The way the boys are stepping up in every game, showing character, I think it’s making my job really easy,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said. “I think the boys showed a lot of character, composure; they were calm after first innings. After the ten overs, I told the boys during drinks as well, the game starts now, and the way they reacted, everyone on the field and all the bowlers, I think it was commendable.”Suryakumar also heaped praise on the “fire and ice combination” of Abhishek and Gill. “The way Abhishek complements Shubman Gill’s batting is amazing and it’s very enjoying to watch both of them bat together. The way they did it today, I think it was required for someone to bat at least 10-12 overs and give us that strong base and they did the same thing.”It was an off day for Jasprit Bumrah, who conceded 45 runs in four overs, but allrounder Shivam Dube stepped up, returning 2 for 33 in his four overs. “That’s completely fine,” Suryakumar said on Bumrah’s display. “He’s not a robot, he will have a bad day someday, but the way he comes back in every game after that is really important. Very happy the way Shivam Dube came out, raised his hand and bailed us out in that situation.”

Marcelo Bielsa's recent press conference following Uruguay's thumping defeat by the USA was as intense as his management style and has caused a huge backlash with claims it has damaged team morale. Known for his eccentric nature, Bielsa went on a lengthy tirade, criticising players, officials, and even the media for perceived biases.

Heavy defeat poses major questions

United States thrashed Bielsa's Uruguay 5-1 in Florida earlier this week, a result that has put the veteran coach under intense pressure. The defeat was Uruguay's worst since 2004 and the first time they conceded five goals against the Americans. Uruguay without key players like Federico Valverde and the suspended Darwin Nunez, fielded a strong side but comprehensively outplayed by Mauricio Pochettino's team. Goals from Sebastian Berhalter, a brace from Alex Freeman, and Diego Luna gave the US a 4-1 lead at half-time and Tanner Tessmann added a fifth in the second half after Rodrigo Bentancur had been shown a straight red card. 

Bielsa shouldered full responsibility for the "disastrous performance," describing himself as "ashamed". He dismissed suggestions of a mentality problem, instead pointing to a tactical failure to match the U.S.'s intensity and organization. The result prompted a wave of criticism in the Uruguayan press, with outlets labeling the loss an "historic humiliation". 

Despite the fallout, Bielsa remains defiant, insisting he has the conviction to lead the team to the World Cup.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBielsa: 'For me, it’s karma'

Bielsa said: "I’m a generator of tension. When I arrive, the environment becomes tense. That’s why I appear infrequently. I’m toxic. To associate yourself with me makes you worse off. Do you understand me? There are toxic types who only see the errors that they are correcting, who are demanding, who are never satisfied with anything. He talks only about the work he is doing. When he goes out to eat, he reads the newspaper because he doesn’t want to integrate with those around him, so that he doesn’t have to talk about things that distract him from all that. Don’t think I enjoy it. For me, it’s karma."

He's called "El Loco" for a reason

Bielsa is known for his meticulous yet unconventional methods, and has crafted a volatile managerial career defined as much by his innovative tactics as his contentious actions. His most high-profile incident was the "Spygate" scandal in 2019 while managing Leeds United. A staff member was caught observing a Derby County training session, a practice Bielsa stunningly admitted he performed against all rivals. He defended the action as merely accessing publicly available information, personally paying the club's £200,000 fine in a display of eccentric integrity that polarised the football world. 

Bielsa is also notorious for his abrupt departures and perceived man-management flaws. In 2016, he infamously resigned as manager of Lazio after just 48 hours, citing the club's failure to meet contractual promises. His intense, demanding style has drawn criticism from players; most recently, Uruguayan star Luis Suarez lamented a lack of communication and respect. Critics frequently point to his rigid tactical philosophy as a weakness, most notably during Argentina's 2002 World Cup campaign where a talented squad exited early, a testament to his stubborn adherence to a system regardless of the cost. These persistent controversies form a core part of his legacy and also why his nickname is "El Loco".

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Getty Images SportWorld Cup draw awaits

Uruguay have already qualified for next year's World Cup, securing one of the automatic spots from the South American (CONMEBOL) region. They are in Pot 2 for the official draw, which is scheduled to take place on December 5th, in Washington. The two-time World Cup champions will avoid Pot 1 giants like Argentina and Brazil in the group stage but could face a challenging draw elsewhere.

Viktor Gyokeres has been told that he is "too heavy", with the Arsenal striker was advised to lose weight to achieve Premier League success. The Gunners' bold summer gamble on the Sweden international was meant to herald a new era at the Emirates Stadium, but his first weeks in north London have been dominated by concerns rather than celebration. He was signed for a total fee of £63.5 million from Sporting CP, but questions have been raised over his physical readiness for English football's unforgiving pace.

• Unsteady start for Arsenal's new hope

  Gyokeres arrived at Arsenal with the reputation of a late bloomer. Though he spent four years contracted to Brighton between 2017 and 2021, he never played a single Premier League minute, instead reviving his career through two prolific seasons at Coventry before conquering Portugal with Sporting. Feeling he had outgrown Lisbon, the striker pushed to complete his move to the Emirates. But the drawn-out transfer had left him behind in his conditioning. His debut came under sweltering conditions in Hong Kong during a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham, a match in which he appeared short of rhythm and sharpness. Social media was quick to point out that the new signing appeared "a little heavy", prompting early whispers over whether he had reported for duty in peak physical condition. 

  Just as Gyokeres seemed to be settling into his new surroundings, disaster struck. During Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor, a match in which he opened the scoring before Declan Rice added the second, the Swede signalled discomfort and was withdrawn at half-time. Arteta’s post-match tone was measured but clearly troubled. 

  "I am concerned because he hasn't had many muscular issues and he needed to leave the pitch and he was feeling something," he told reporters. "That's obviously never a good sign, especially for a player that is very, very explosive. So we are digging in a little bit more to understand where we are in terms of the injury and we'll announce the moment we know."

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  Schwarz questions Gyokeres' readiness

  Former Arsenal star Stefan Schwarz believes the striker’s struggles are rooted not only in physical shortcomings but also in mental and tactical adaptation.

  "I believe with Viktor Gyokeres, he's not fully fit yet," he told in an interview with "As well with the new system, new manager, and new teammates, it takes time to develop the understanding. It's not just the physical part of it, it's the mental part as well. Mental tiredness may be from adapting to a new club, new expectations, and higher expectations from supporters around the whole world. But it's a good partnership (Gyokeres and Arsenal). And hopefully it will benefit Sweden for sure and Graham Potter."

  Despite the criticism, Schwarz remains optimistic that Arsenal is the right environment for the striker to flourish.

  "He's in a strong team. Arsenal has been fighting for the big titles, so maybe he can help the team to take this big step. But, of course, everyone is a piece of the jigsaw puzzle," he added.

  "So everyone is important, but of course, he has a big presence. He's a strong, physical guy, and a good finisher with both feet. However, he needs to get his fitness up. I think he's in the right team with Mikel Arteta and the players around him. It's a fantastic squad. The quality shown by the players on the bench and the options that Arsenal have means that Gyokeres won't play all the games because I think they have a lot of good options to make tactical decisions from time to time based on the opponent or the result during the games."

• 'Sometimes the dog who barks loudest is not always the strongest'

  Schwarz did not shy away from the blunt assessment that Gyokeres needs to shed a few kilos to be successful in the Premier League. 

  "Sometimes the dog who barks loudest is not always the strongest," he said. "I think it's just the players in the Premier League. They are more powerful players, faster players. The strikers will always be counted on for the goals that they are scoring. Hopefully, he'll start to create and score goals, have a good run, get that real boost, and get a bit lighter because he's a heavy player. I think that would help.

  "He didn't have a proper pre-season, and you need to play the games. You have those six weeks to interact with your colleagues, to understand the movement. When the midfielder makes the pass, you just have to look in their eyes, you know where they'll pass it. That's a relationship that takes a bit of time, and football is about fine margins. Look at Dennis Bergkamp, he was the best at that. He will learn and score a lot of goals, and that will benefit Arsenal."

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  What comes next for Gyokeres?

  Arsenal’s first match after the international break is no gentle reintroduction as it happens to be a north London derby with Tottenham at the Emirates on November 23. The club hopes that Gyokeres’ injury is not severe enough to rule him out of the biggest league fixture of their season so far. He may not be the only player racing the clock. Arsenal are also monitoring the recoveries of Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and captain Martin Odegaard, all of whom could return in time for the showdown with Spurs.

It's a tale as old as time: the girl marrying the boy on the football team. But that tale is set to become a reality Tuesday after Taylor Swift unexpectedly announced her engagement to Travis Kelce after two years of dating.

Swift and Kelce's joyous news may have fallen on deaf ears to the Brads, Chads and dads out there, and somehow even one NFL coach. As the rest of the world celebrates what feels like a fairytale come true, we took a look back at the 10 biggest moments in the NFL power couple's love story.

The moments range from "Pinch me, I'm dreaming" to downright corny, yet they share the same invisible string connecting a world-class football player to a world-famous pop star for the rest of their lives (dare we say, some things bigger than sports).

MORE: One Taylor Swift Song to Describe Every NFL Team Entering the 2025 Season

Without any further ado, here we go…

10. It's Instagram official

A month before their engagement, Kelce sent Swift's fans into a frenzy after he shared an offseason photo dump of never-before-seen pictures with his then-girlfriend.

The youths call it "hard-launching," or "putting someone on the grid." Of course, Kelce and Swift had been going strong for nearly two years by then, so the relationship itself wasn't a surprise. The photos, however, were.

Kelce gave fans a rare glimpse of his personal life with Swift, from his vacations with their friends to romantic dinner dates. It marked a sizable relationship milestone for the couple and, in retrospect, served as a precursor of happy news to come.

9. Swift goes back to school at Tight End University

No one does Nashville like country-turned-pop singer Taylor Swift (and yes, we know she was born in Pennsylvania).

This year's Tight End University program saw Swift make a surprise guest appearance at her boyfriend's annual event, and she left behind an unforgettable mark on the stage. At the time, Swift hadn't performed in public since buying back her masters to her first six albums, and she chose—out of all places—a rowdy sports-centered shindig in Nashville to put on a special show.

Those in attendance were graced with a live version of one of her top hits, "Shake It Off:"

Add it to the lore.

8. Karma is the guy on the Chiefs

As much as Swift loves her easter eggs, she'll also drop the in-your-face hint from time to time. During her Eras Tour concert in Argentina in November 2023, she changed the lyrics in her song, "Karma," to pay a sweet tribute to Kelce.

Swift sang, "Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me," changing the original word, "screen," to "Chiefs."

Given that this happened during the couple's early dating days, the small lyric tweak was, in fact, a really big deal.

Here's video of that cheeky moment, including Kelce's bashful reaction:

7. Finally meeting Queen Kylie and Shirtless Jason Kelce

If Kelce and Swift could be considered America's Royal Couple, Jason and Kylie are… the king and queen of Philly.

Swift first met Philly's royalty during a cold and wintry playoff game between the Chiefs and Bills in January 2024, and it honestly could not have been more iconic. There's Swift chatting it up with Ky in the suite. Swift watching a shirtless Jason leap out the window and howl at the moon. And later, Jason bringing the pop star small children for her to meet, because it was a nice thing to do.

Swift even recounted her experience at the game during her podcast debut:

"It was wild," Swift said. "All of a sudden, you're out there in the snow, you're handing me children through the window… 'Whose kid is that, Jason?'"

Which just so happens to be a good segue…

6. New neeeeews: Swift's podcast debut

As far as surprises go, Swift hopping on to announce her 12th album came out of left field.

There were too many priceless moments to count: the pet otter dream, Swift knowing and not knowing ball, the Super Bowl easter eggs, her emotional reaction to buying back her masters, the stories of Swift and Kelce's rosy domestic life. We'll be the first to admit that the Kelce brothers' bro-ey podcast can often drag on for too long, but with Swift as their very special guest, fans lapped it all up.

Both Swift and Kelce can now add breaking the internet and a new Guinness world record to their respective impressive resumes.

5. How it all started

Now we're getting into the heavy-hitters.

Kelce had a friendship bracelet and a dream, and Swift had a strict rule about not doing meet-and-greets during her Eras Tour. The Chiefs tight end publicly giving Swift a shout-out on his podcast was the equivalent of John Cusack boom-boxing it, and this romantic comedy looks like it'll get its happy ending after all.

"If you’re up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are friendship bracelets, and I received a bunch of them being there, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my number on it," Kelce said. "Alright, nah."

Shoot your shot, fellas.

4. Don't drop the baby at Wembley

It's a little too early to be thinking of Kelce and Swift growing their family right now, but if they do choose to go down that path, they'll have the perfect story to tell their unborn child.

Last offseason, the Chiefs star made his one and only on-stage Eras Tour appearance at Wembley Stadium, going undercover as one of Swift's backup dancers during her set.

Fitted in a top hat and tuxedo, Kelce dazzled hundreds of thousands of Swifties in London with a brief but instantly memorable performance that had him thinking the whole time: "Do not drop the baby," as he was tasked with picking up Swift and carrying her to a couch during a transition between songs.

“I’m still cracking up/swooning over @killatrav’s Eras Tour debut. Never going to forget these shows,” Swift wrote in an Instagram post after the show.

Neither will we.

3. Swift's first Chiefs game at Arrowhead

The collective gasp when we saw Swift in the Chiefs suite during a September home game against the Bears. That's it. That's the blurb. Nothing else needs to be said.

2. Celebrating the Chiefs' 2023–24 Super Bowl win

As red confetti fluttered in the air and reporters swarmed the field, one photograph was shared 'round the world after the Chiefs' Super Bowl win in 2024: Kelce locking lips with Swift.

Kelce had just helped Kansas City clinch its second straight Lombardi Trophy in an overtime victory against the 49ers, and his night was sealed with a sweet kiss by his girlfriend, who flew to Las Vegas from Tokyo to watch him play.

That photo of Kelce and Swift is currently displayed at Arrowhead and has been named one of TIME's top 100 photos of the year. A picture is traditionally worth a thousand words, but this one just needs two: True love.

1. Put a (wedding) ring on it

Tell a friend: Kelce and Swift are engaged. After receiving a blessing from Swift's father, the Chiefs star planned a special proposal for Swift and popped the question in a picturesque garden in Missouri. The rest, as they say, is history.

كشف محمد إبراهيم مدرب منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا، حقيقة تلقي مهاجم الأهلي والفراعنة الصغار، عرضًا من برشلونة الإسباني، خلال المشاركة ببطولة كأس العالم للناشئين.

وذكرت تقارير عديدة خلال الساعات الأخيرة، رغبة نادي برشلونة في التعاقد مع حمزة عبد الكريم خلال الفترة المقبلة.

حمزة عبد الكريم يبلغ من العمر 17 عامًا فقط ويعتبر من بين أبرز المواهب الشابة في كرة القدم المصرية خلال السنوات الأخيرة.

وتم تصعيد حمزة عبد الكريم إلى الفريق الأول لـ الأهلي خلال هذا الموسم، وشارك اللاعب مع الأحمر خلال مباراة شبيبة القبائل ببطولة دوري أبطل إفريقيا.

طالع | سبورت تنشر تفاصيل مفاوضات برشلونة مع الأهلي للتوقيع مع حمزة عبد الكريم

وقال محمد إبراهيم في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة صدى البلد: “مجموعة من اللاعبين في منتخب 2008 تستحق جميعها أن تكون في مواقعها، ونتمنى أن يحترف جميع اللاعبين، وأن توافق الأندية على احترافهم، ونرغب في أن نرى خمسة أو ستة أو عشرة أو عشرين لاعبًا في الدوريات الكبيرة خلال الفترة المقبلة بإذن الله”.

وتابع: “فيما يخصّ حمزة عبد الكريم، فقد سألني مندوب برشلونة عنه بعد مباراة سويسرا، وبرغم خسارة المنتخب المصري كنت سعيدًا جدًا، وأبلغت حمزة ووالده بذلك، لكنني لم أكن على علم بمدى جدّية هذا المندوب، وأنا أتمنى له التوفيق دائمًا”.

وواصل: “هناك لاعبون آخرون عرض عليهم خوض فترات المعايشة، منهم بلال عطية، والنجعاوي، وآخرون، وأتمنى أن تكون هناك مجموعة كبيرة من هؤلاء الشباب محترفة”.

وزاد: “هذا العمر خطير جدًا وصعب، ولكن، هؤلاء اللاعبين امتلكوا قدرًا كبيرًا من الانضباط والالتزام، ولديهم مقومات كبيرة جدًا تجعلهم في مكانة مهمة، إضافة إلى إصرار كبير، وهو أمر بالغ الأهمية في هذه المرحلة”.

وأتم: “البيت هو الأساس، والتربية في هذا السن شديدة الصعوبة، لكن هؤلاء الأولاد كانوا ملتزمين، وأحبّهم جميعًا، وكانوا على قدر كبير من المسؤولية”.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com a vitória na estreia da Taça Santos Dumont, o América-RJ ocupa a liderança parcial ao lado do Maricá. Com isso, os Encarnados dão um passo em busca de uma vaga na elite do futebol do Rio de Janeiro.

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REGULAMENTO

A Taça Santos Dumont conta com 12 times que se enfrentam em turno único de pontos corridos. Os quatro primeiros colocados se classificam para a semifinal em busca de uma única vaga na elite do Campeonato Carioca.

Por outro lado, os dois últimos colocados serão rebaixados para o terceiro escalão do estadual do Rio de Janeiro.

A semifinal será disputada em jogos de ida e volta, e os confrontos serão realizados entre o 1º colocado x 4º colocado e 2º colocado x 3º colocado. Em caso de igualdade no marcados, os clubes com as maiores pontuações nos pontos corridos da Taça Santos Dumont se classificam para a decisão.

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Assim como na fase anterior, a final será disputada em duas partidas, e o vencedor conquistará uma vaga na elite do Campeonato Carioca. Em caso de empate no agregado, o duelo será decidido na disputa por pênaltis.

CLUBES TRADICIONAIS

Além do América-RJ, a Taça Santos Dumont conta com clubes tradicionais no cenário do futebol do Rio de Janeiro. Americano, Audax-RJ, que foi rebaixado na última Taça Guanabara, , Cabofriense, Duque de Caxias, Olaria e Resende estão entre as equipes mais conhecidas.

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Por outro lado, Araruama, Artsul, Maricá, Petrópolis e Serrano-RJ também participam da competição que forma o segundo escalão carioca.

Tudo sobre

Futebol NacionalRomário

Friday was a scary 24 hours for Tigers fans, who watched star pitcher Tarik Skubal allow four earned runs to the Marlins before leaving his start with discomfort in his side.

Fortunately, Detroit manager A.J. Hinch indicated to reporters Saturday that Skubal would be fine.

"Tarik Skubal’s imaging came back clean and he plans on making his next scheduled start," ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote on social media Saturday, citing Hinch. That start would potentially take place Thursday against the Guardians.

Skubal, 28, is a strong candidate to win his second straight American League Cy Young Award. He's 13–5 with a 2.26 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 183 1/3 innings this season, and he leads all AL hurlers in bWAR for the second consecutive year.

The Tigers are currently 84–64, and lead Cleveland by 7.5 games in the race for the AL Central Division. Detroit hasn't won a division crown since taking four straight from 2011 to '14.

Chasing 113 in 31 overs, Pakistan were well in control before rain ended the game prematurely

Valkerie Baynes15-Oct-2025

Fatima Sana wrecked Pakistan’s top order•ICC/Getty Images

No result Pakistan will never know, and England won’t want to know after they escaped what had threatened to be the upset this World Cup craved, thanks to the start of the Colombo monsoon.Both teams took a point – Pakistan’s first from four matches and England’s moving them to the top of the table, leading Australia on net run rate – after what had shaped as a thriller ended in a washout, the second in as many days at the R Premadasa Stadium.But it is Pakistan who should hold their heads high after a devastating opening spell from their captain Fatima Sana, who put England on the canvas at 78 for 7 before a 47-run stand for the eighth wicket between Charlie Dean and Em Arlott dragged them to 133 for 9 in 31 overs.Chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 113, Pakistan were well in control, reaching 34 without loss after 6.4 overs before heavy showers returned to end the match prematurely.Related

• Fatima Sana – a captain burdened, a fast bowler unrestrained

• England's lucky break masks deeper batting issues

England, unbeaten heading into the match, were without their spin and seam-bowling spearheads when Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell were ruled out through illness and replaced by legspinner Sarah Glenn and seamer Arlott.But it was their misfiring batting line-up that came unstuck. Of England’s recognised batters, only Nat Sciver-Brunt, with a century in the previous match against Sri Lanka in Colombo, and Heather Knight, with a gritty 79 not out that rescued England from the threat of another upset at the hands of Bangladesh, had been in the runs since England chased down a paltry target of 70 without loss in their opening game with South Africa.Arlott, who had impressed England head coach Charlotte Edwards with a century at the start of the domestic season and went on to make her international debut during the English summer, was run out for 18 off 23 balls in the penultimate over while Dean expertly picked gaps in the field to top-score with 33 before becoming Sana’s fourth wicket, scooping to Omaima Sohail at short fine leg.Tammy Beaumont was bowled for 4•Getty Images

Earlier, openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones continued to struggle and both departed inside the first three overs of the match. Beaumont left a dazzling nip-backer from Diana Baig to her peril as the ball clipped the off bail, leaving her with scores of 21 not out against South Africa followed by 13, 32 and 4 so far.Jones, meanwhile, helped herself to two fours off Sana’s first over before the latter produced a superb nip-backer which clattered into the top of middle and off, Jones departing for a second single-figure score in three innings.Knight, who had three dismissals overturned against Bangladesh, challenged an lbw decision in Sana’s next over and replays showed the ball was missing down the leg side. She also survived a hopeful Pakistan review for lbw two balls later when the ball was tracking outside off.But Sana’s biggest and best wicket was arguably that of Sciver-Brunt, done by yet another one that nipped back off the seam. She shaped to cut only for the ball to slide under her glove and onto the top of middle stump.Knight tried her luck once more when she was rapped on the pad by Sana but, with the ball on target to hit the top of leg stump, England were left floundering at 38 for 4.Sadia Iqbal chimed in for the spinners when she bowled an out-of-sorts Emma Lamb, sitting back in her crease to an arm ball that dipped and slid through her defences. Lamb had entered the World Cup in great form with half-centuries in warm-up games against India and Australia but she is another England batter yet to reach 20 at this tournament.Omaima Sohail scored an unbeaten 19 off 18 balls•ICC/Getty Images

Likewise, Sophia Dunkley, who was removed for 11 via a successful review when she was struck on the pad attempting to sweep with the ball homing in on leg stump as Iqbal celebrated her second wicket and England lurched to 57 for 6 in the 12th over.Alice Capsey, on 8, swept Rameen Shamim’s first delivery, a low full toss, straight to square leg where Muneeba Ali shelled a simple chance. But Shamim had Capsey lbw for 16 when she missed a sweep shortly before the rain arrived for the first time, with England 79 for 7 after 25 overs.After a stoppage of around three hours and 45 minutes, play resumed with England needing to bat out another six overs, during which time they added 54 runs, thanks largely to Arlott and Dean.Pakistan have never beaten England in ODIs and have just one win against them in T20Is in 2013, which only added to their sense of what might have been had the weather not intervened.Sohail hadn’t played since her first-ball duck in Pakistan’s defeat to Bangladesh in their opening game but, recalled to bolster a batting line-up which – apart from Sidra Amin – had proved fragile at this event, she marshalled Pakistan’s pursuit here, easing to 19 off 18. She was supported by Muneeba, who remained unbeaten on 9.Pakistan’s performance offered some encouragement for a side that also had Australia 76 for 7 before losing by 107 runs, although that may well be an empty consolation.For England, it is a sharp reality check for a side which perhaps hasn’t fully exorcised the demons of a year ago, where their shortcomings under pressure knocked them out of another global showcase.

Cole Palmer has missed recent national team call-ups due to a persistent groin injury and a fractured toe, hampering his involvement in England's 2026 World Cup planning. And there's more bad news for the Chelsea star as his absence from the official 2026 England calendar has caused some media speculation, with some fans worrying it is a "major hint" he could miss the World Cup.

Palmer overlooked by Three Lions 

The 2026 England calendar will be a popular stocking filler for many excited young football fans this Christmas, but they certainly won’t feature on anyone’s present list in the Palmer household. The players included features the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, and there’s even a space for Jack Grealish. But The Blues’ star forward and the man who scored the Three Lions’ sole goal in the Euro 2024 final against Spain doesn't make the cut. 

The England store website says: "Celebrate the England National Team every day of the year with this 2026 Calendar. Featuring vibrant imagery and key dates, it’s the perfect way to keep track of important events while showing your support."

However, sources from the FA have suggested that players were largely selected for the calendar based on appearances during the 2024/25 season for production deadlines, a campaign during which Palmer struggled with injury issues and limited playing time under manager Thomas Tuchel.

AdvertisementAFPIntrigue over Palmer's latest injury 

Palmer has had to sit out a number of matches recently with a variety of injuries, but the most recent injury to his toe has caused real intrigue, particularly regarding how it occurred. And team-mate Marc Cucurella has hinted it may have happened while playing popular football computer game FIFA. 

He told reporters on Monday: "To be fair, I don't believe it. It is true that these things can sometimes happen. I have had this a couple of times but I'm stronger than them, so I don't feel anything. It's a big upset for us because he's getting closer to playing with us, to train with us, and then now he needs to rest. But this is part of life, a part of footballers' lives, we have personal lives, and we have these kinds of problems, so hopefully he can recover fast." 

When asked what he was doing, Cucurella replied: "I don't know. He's running because I think he lost a FIFA game or something like this, I think!"

Injury-prone Palmer on track to face Gunners

It has been a rollercoaster week for Palmer and the injury updates which have come from Blues boss Enzo Maresca. Midweek, Palmer was still recovering in a protective boot, by Friday he was in contention for the crunch London derby clash with Arsenal. 

Ahead of the game with Barcelona, Maresca said: "Yes, Cole is wearing a (protective) boot. We don’t know when he will be back but for sure it will be soon. He’s already on the pitch, he’s already touching the ball, and the feeling (for him) is good. At the moment, we are only looking at tomorrow’s game. It’s a Champions League game against Barcelona, that is our focus, and then we will look ahead to Arsenal. I don’t think he will be available for these two games, but he is doing well." 

But during his Friday press conference, he confirmed Palmer is ready to face the Gunners. Speaking to reporters, he said: "He is available for both (to start and to play). (His return will elevate the squad) A lot. As you said, he's probably our best player. We are happy he is back. We need to give him time to make sure he's 100 per cent fit. He has done fantastically in the past, and there is no doubt he will do fantastically in the future."

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Getty Images SportAll eyes on Stamford Bridge

League leaders Arsenal visit Chelsea on Sunday with both teams in excellent form and the midfield clash featuring Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo will be key. A win for the Blues will move them to three points behind their north London rivals, but their recent record against Arteta’s side is poor, having won just one of the last 11 Premier League encounters.