كشف محمد محمود، رئيس اتحاد المصارعة، عن تفاصيل جديدة بشأن أزمة محمد إبراهيم كيشو، لاعب منتخب مصر للمصارعة، عقب إلقاء القبض عليه.
ألقت السلطات الفرنسية القبض على كيشو في حالة سكر، عقب اتهامه من قبل إحدى الفتيات الفرنسيات بتحرشه بها، فجر الجمعة، خلال تواجده للمشاركة في أولمبياد باريس 2024.
طالع.. مواعيد مباريات ومواجهات المصريين اليوم في أولمبياد باريس.. نهائي الخماسي الحديث
وقال محمد محمود، في مداخلة عبر برنامج “الهدف” على قناة أون تايم سبورتس 2: “كيشو حصل على إذن بمشاهدة نهائيات وزنه في المصارعة رفقة محمد متولي ومدربهما، لكنه لم يعد برفقتهما، حاولنا التواصل معه ولا يوجد رد”.
وتابع: “بعد ذلك أبلغت اللجنة الأولمبية بتغيب اللاعب. اللجنة قامت بدورها وبحثت عنه، وعرفنا الخبر في الساعة الرابعة صباحا أنه ذهب مع اثنين من المصريين المقيمين في فرنسا إلى مكان يشبه المقهى، وتقريبا تناول مواد كحولية”.
وواصل: “كان يوجد مجموعة من الشباب ومعهم فتيات، وتقريبا تحرشوا بهم، والأمن الخاص بالمكان قام بإخراجهم جميعا، بعدها طلبت البنت الشرطة واتهمت كيشو بمضايقتها”.
وأكمل: “نحن لا نعرف حقائق الواقعة بالضبط حتى الآن، اللجنة الأولمبية أحالت الموضوع للجنة القيم، وكلنا نرفض أي سلوك شخصي خاطئ”.
وأتم: “السفير المصري ووزير الرياضة يحاولان حل الأزمة، خاصة وأن مثل تلك الأمور صعبة جدا في فرنسا “مش زي عندنا ممكن تروح بواسطة” ليس كما الحال في مصر. كيشو ما زال متواجدا في القسم، ويوجد بارقة أمل لخروجه والعودة إلى مصر، وسيخضع للتحقيق فور عودته ويحاسب لو كان مخطئا. ومن المحتمل أن يخرج غدا لو انتهى الأمر”.
The pair’s 162-run stand gave New Zealand a solid platform from which they can think of batting just once in the Test
The Report by Shashank Kishore16-Dec-2018
Associated Press
One of Sri Lanka’s two Test wins in New Zealand has come at the Basin Reserve. At the end of the second day’s play, it looks increasingly possible that they are unlikely to reprise that stunning win from 2006, after Kane Williamson and Tom Latham deflated them on a batting day as New Zealand nudged ahead by 29, with eight wickets in hand.In that Test, Sri Lanka had Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga to call upon after posting close to the 282 they managed here. On Sunday, barring Lahiru Kumara’s bristling pace and bounce, there was little bite in the bowling. This meant a party for large parts of a three-hour passage in the afternoon for Williamson, who put together 162 with Latham at more than four runs per over.Watch LIVE on ESPN+
Readers from the US can also watch the match LIVE here, on ESPN+
If New Zealand were to be a little critical of their efforts, they would rue gifting both wickets to Sri Lanka. Jeet Raval’s wait for a maiden Test century continues as he was out to an ill-advised pull to a delivery that just didn’t come on, and took the toe-end off a Kumara short ball, as he played early, to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.Williamson missed his 20th Test century by just nine runs shortly after tea when he swept an innocuous Dhananjaya de Silva delivery to backward square leg. But Latham carried on, in his own industrious way, overcoming pockets of struggle and a hint of luck early in his innings, to bring up his seventh Test century, thereby breaking a three-figure deadlock that eluded him for 11 Tests since his marathon 177 in Wellington against Bangladesh in January last year.If these two efforts weren’t enough, Ross Taylor came in to replace Williamson and helped himself to a buffet spread against a tired attack to eke out a half-century, surpassing Brendon McCullum along the way to become New Zealand’s second-highest run-scorer in Test history. Like Latham, Taylor too was a recipient of Sri Lanka’s generosity when Dhananjaya put down a wild slash at first slip on 23 off Lakmal. With the fields largely spread out on the face of Dinesh Chandimal’s defensive captaincy, this was a perfect recipe to build a lead. This meant New Zealand were in a position where they could entertain thoughts of batting just once in this Test.It seemed as if Williamson was on pause-play mode, continuing from where he left off in Abu Dhabi 10 days ago, where he made a remarkable Test century against Yasir Shah and company on a crumbly surface. In comparison, Sri Lanka’s attack was much milder here, with the three-man pace pack struggling to sustain any kind of pressure, first with the new ball and then later in the day even as there was a hint of reverse swing. Dilruwan Perera, a force on dry subcontinent turners, also went wicketless.Where New Zealand employed spin for just three overs, Chandimal bowled Dilruwan and Dhanajaya for a combined 21 overs, for the cost of 89 runs and Williamson’s wicket, much against the run of play. But while he was at the crease, he profited from punchy strokes on the up, his first three scoring shots coming off boundaries as he quickly matched Latham, who had taken 74 balls to make just three runs more.The first of those boundaries was off a genuine outside edge that raced past second slip. It would be the only streaky boundary from Williamson’s bat. The second and third were trademark back-foot punches that pierced the off-side ring. At the end of the first session, it was amply clear which side felt the heat, as Williamson raced past his 29th Test fifty with the promise of much more.All along, Latham kept soldiering along at a steady pace without actually being noticed at the other end. That he managed to stave off Suranga Lakmal’s late inswing from around the stumps was largely due to his tight technique and the shelving of loose drives. He survived early in the innings too, because of poor field placement. Jabbing at a late inswinger from Lakmal, the ball popped off a thick inside edge to where a short leg would’ve been.Sri Lanka’s frustration increased when they lost a review in the third over after lunch, the 26th of the innings, when they referred an lbw appeal against Latham off Lakmal. The ball would’ve smashed into the stumps, but for the line – it pitched outside leg. From there on, there was hardly any noise or intensity created by the bowlers, who largely went through the motions.After a brief spell in the morning session, Mathews wasn’t given a bowl for the remainder of the day when it seemed as if Sri Lanka could do with his relentless plugging away around the off stump. It’s also possible this could’ve been part of his workload management, given this was the first time he was bowling in a Test since January 2017 because of a spate of injuries. With more pace on the ball courtesy Kumara and the erratic Kasun Rajitha, Williamson treated the Sunday crowd to an array of dazzling off-side play.This stand was built upon a solid foundation laid by the openers – Raval and Latham putting on 59, nine more than their highest stand in six innings on the UAE tour against Pakistan.Earlier in the day, Dickwella played a trademark scoop to begin proceedings, but Sri Lanka added just seven to their overnight 275 for 9 before last man Kumara was dismissed. He was superbly caught at leg slip by Colin de Grandhomme, off a thick inside edge that flew in between the batsman’s legs. Dickwella was stranded on 80, three short of his highest Test score, as Tim Southee finished with 6 for 68 – his eighth five-for in Tests. This was also his maiden five-for at the Basin Reserve.
قرر أشرف صبحي، وزير الشباب والرياضة، عقد اجتماع عاجل مع البعثة الأولمبية، بعد خسارة منتخب كرة القدم أمام المغرب في أولمبياد باريس.
وتلقى منتخب الفراعنة، خسارة قاسية أمام المغرب بنتيجة 6-0 في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم في مباراة تحديد المركزين الثالث والرابع.
طالع..صحف العالم: هزيمة منكرة للفراعنة.. المغرب يسحق مصر ويفوز ببرونزية تاريخية في أولمبياد باريس
وكشف مصدر خاص لـ بطولات، أن وزير الرياضة سيعقد اجتماعًا مع البعثة المصرية، اليوم بعد النتائج المخيبة للآمال في أغلب المنافسات.
وتم إبلاغ جميع اللاعبين والإداريين، بالتجمع في القرية الأولمبية بباريس، خلال النصف ساعة المقبلة للاجتماع مع وزير الرياضة.
وتقام منافسات أولمبياد باريس خلال الفترة ما بين يوم الجمعة 26 يوليو، وتستمر حتى 11 أغسطس المقبل.
وتستمر منافسات البعثة المصرية والتي تعد هي الأكبر من حيث عدد اللاعبين على مدار تاريخها في الدورات الأولمبية بواقع 148 لاعباً ولاعبة أساسيًا و16 لاعبًا احتياطيًا بإجمالي عدد لاعبين 164 لاعبًا في 22 رياضة، وتعد بعثة الفراعنة الأكبر في مشاركات العرب وإفريقيا.
Diretamente da Ressacada, Avaí e Vitória, que possuem objetivos distintos na Série B, se enfrentaram pela 34ª rodada da competição. Lutando pelo acesso, o Leão da Ilha esteve na frente do placar por duas vezes e ficando a dois pontos do G-4, mas viu os rivais correrem atrás e o jogo terminar em 2 a 2.
Com o resultado, o Avaí mantém o sonho de subir para a Série A, mas o objetivo é freado. A equipe de Claudinei foi para 48 pontos e fica a quatro do CSA, primeiro do G-4 que tem 52 pontos. O pontinho do Vitória não alivia, mas deixa os baianos com 38 pontos, dois a mais que o primeiro do Z-4.
Ainda na luta pelo acesso, o Avaí faz o confronto direto contra o CSA no sábado (16), às 16h30 (de Brasília). O Vitória, por sua vez, joga no dia seguinte contra a Chapecoense, que já garantiu retorno à Série A. O duelo está agendado para às 16h (de Brasília).
COMO FOI O PRIMEIRO TEMPO
O jogo começou estudado pelas equipes, mas na sequência o Avaí foi se soltando e se sobressaindo no ataque. Ronaldo fez a primeira tentativa do Leão da Ilha em cobrança de escanteio, mas a bola foi para fora. Na jogada seguinte, Valdívia avançou pelo meio e chutou rasteiro de fora da área onde obrigou César a jogar para escanteio. Mas no corner, o próprio camisa 10 aproveitou desvio de Rômulo e de primeira abriu o marcador aos 11 minutos.
Lutando contra o Z-4, o Vitória não mostrava reação nenhuma e assistia o Avaí trocar passes desde a defesa. As poucas jogadas dos baianos no ataque do time rubro-negro eram por meio de jogadas aéreas, seja levantamento na área ou escanteio. Eram poucos os recursos da equipe de Rodrigo Chagas no primeiro tempo.
Após conseguir o resultado, o Avaí diminuiu o ritmo e administrou o placar. Com isso, o Vitória cresceu sua posse de bola, teve chegadas timidas no ataque, mas que foram bem cortadas pela defesa catarinense. Um jogo de boa movimentação, mas de forma geral o primeiro tempo entre os times foi morno.
COMO FOI O SEGUNDO TEMPO
Na volta do intervalo, o Avaí entrou desligado e foi surpreendido pelo Vitória. Vico leva a bola da direita até a entrada da área e dá lindo passe para Fernando Neto, que tocou na saída de Glédson. Nos minutos seguintes, os catarinenses sentiram o gol e não conseguiram produzir, enquanto os baianos se acomodaram com o resultado e pouco fizeram para tentar virar o duelo.
O duelo continuou sem sal minutos mais tarde. O Vitória se assentou no gol de empate, enquanto o Avaí não mostrou agressividade apesar de trocar passes. Para quem assistiu, o jogo até seus 30 minutos foi bem fraco. Mas foi ai que apareceu a estrela de Jonathan, que aproveitou o rebote de César em um chute de Valdívia, e colocou os catarinenses novamente na frente no placar. O camisa 39 entrou no jogo aos 17 minutos e marcou aos 32 minutos.
Aos 38 minutos, o Vitória por pouco não igualou o marcador após um cruzamento venenoso a meia altura de Rafael Carioca, que Léo Ceará não conseguiu aproveitar. O Avaí novamente ficou mais reativo após o gol e os baianos aos poucos cresciam a posse de bola. No erro do adversário, os catarinenses usavam do contra-ataque para avançar, mas eram poucos os jogadores para ajudar no campo ofensivo.
E o Avaí novamente pagou pelo recuo. Aos 45 minutos, Alisson Farias cruzou com precisão para Léo Ceará. O artilheiro testou firme para o fundo das redes para empatar o duelo e dar números finais.
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Everton face an uphill battle ahead of the second half of the campaign, having been dragged down to 19th place in the Premier League for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. This misery was piled on by a 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester United on Sunday which has left the side five points adrift of safety.
Everton manager Sean Dyche.
However, Sean Dyche and his recruitment team have been hard at work identifying players that could be brought to Goodison Park to help in the club's pursuit of top-flight survival.
The Toffees have been linked with one player, in particular, this week who could do an excellent job in the middle of the park.
Everton transfer news – Leander Dendoncker
According to Football Insider, Everton will dip into the January transfer market for a defensive-minded player and have set their sights on signing Aston Villa's out-of-favour midfield general Leander Dendoncker.
Aston Villa midfielder Leander Dendoncker.
The 28-year-old's services are no longer required at Villa Park and the Midlands club were reportedly set to sanction a last-minute sale of the player to Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce before the transfer deadline, but a move fell through in the end.
The Belgian hasn't started a single Premier League game for Villa under Unai Emery this season, playing just seven minutes of top-flight football, but could be handed a career lifeline by Dyche and Everton sporting director Kevin Thelwell, who signed him during his time in charge at Wolves.
How Leander Dendoncker compares to Idrissa Gueye
Despite picking up £90k-per-week for his troubles, Dendoncker has played merely 119 minutes in total in all competitions this term, earning himself two starts. In the two games Dendoncker was named in the first XI, he was replaced at half-time against Zrinjski Mostar in the Europa Conference League and Everton, ironically, in the EFL Cup.
The Belgium international moved to Villa at the start of the 2022/23 campaign for £12.9m when Steven Gerrard was in charge of the team. However, the midfielder struggled to have any real impact at all, featuring just 21 times for the Villans in all competitions, 13 of which were substitute appearances.
In one of Dendoncker's rare starts for Villa, which came in a 1-1 draw away at Brentford, The Athletic journalist Gregg Evans hailed the Belgian as "superb", but these opportunities have come few and far between for the player.
However, Dendoncker was a key player at Molineux with Wolves under both Nuno Espirito Santo and Bruno Lage. In fact, his stats in his final season with the Old Gold were better than Everton's energetic, 34-year-old midfielder Idrissa Gueye this term.
Per 90 Metrics
Dendoncker – 2021/22
Gueye – 2023/24
Goals
0.12
0.11
Expected Goals
0.1
0.09
Progressive Passes
2.95
3.88
Key Passes
0.51
0.82
Assists
0.16
0
Blocks
0.71
0.82
Clearances
1.75
0.94
Tackles
1.01
0.82
Defensive 1/3 Tackles
1.15
0.82
Aerial Duels Won %
47.6
12.5
Stats via FBref
As shown above, Dendoncker's attacking stats aren't much better than Gueye but they are still a slight improvement, although it is defensively where the Belgian particularly shines. Additionally, the Villa want-away is six years younger than his counterpart and could essentially be the Senegal international's long-term replacement in the team.
The Villa "goal machine" – as once described by journalist Tim Spiers – may even be available for as little as £3m, as per CIES Football Observatory.
The former Wolves man is also quite a versatile player which could suit Dyche as he is able to cover at centre-back, having played in this position 65 times in his career so far, including 27 in the Premier League. This would benefit Everton if any injuries arose to the likes of James Tarkowski and Jarrard Branthwaite.
Dendoncker may be a little rusty at first, given his lack of game-time over the past two seasons, but if Dyche can reignite his form at Wolves, there is certainly a good player in there.
After last playing a Test in January 2018, the bowler has only featured in ODIs and T20Is since he was not 100% fit during the Australia Tests
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-20192:37
It’s very rare that our top order doesn’t click – Bhuvneshwar
Not bowling for a long time in international cricket in 2018 impacted his bowling rhythm, India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar has stated ahead of the second ODI against Australia in Adelaide on Tuesday. Bhuvneshwar largely played limited-overs matches in 2018 when India traveled for the three toughest overseas tours for any India side – to South Africa, England and Australia – largely because he was battling niggles and trying to get his rhythm back.Bhuvneshwar hasn’t featured in a Test since playing in Johannesburg, in which he was Player of the Match, in January last year because he had to sit out of the Test series in England, where he was expected to play a big role in swinging conditions, with a back injury he picked up in the ODI series in England. He returned two months later for the Asia Cup in the UAE, and has only played ODIs and T20Is since then, against West Indies at home and in Australia for the ongoing tour.When asked if the break from international cricket affected his rhythm, he said: “It did impact [my rhythm]. Match rhythm is totally different when it comes to bowling. I was trying everything to be in rhythm in the nets. But it can’t be a 100% when you compare to a match. It wasn’t great in the last match but it wasn’t bad as well. It can improve as the matches will go on. I was trying everything to be in rhythm.”I was going through niggles at that time [in England], and when you have a niggle you can’t be a 100%. Since then and now, I have trained a lot, especially during the one month of the Test series. That is the reason I am back to [bowling at] 130-135kph, whatever the thing is. The main thing is I’m niggle-free right now. That’s the main thing for me.”On Saturday, Bhuvneshwar took the field after over a month since playing the third T20I, which was also in Sydney, to finish with 2 for 66. He struck with his eighth delivery by removing captain Aaron Finch with an inswinger, which also fetched him his 100th ODI wicket. Later, he dismissed top-scorer Peter Handscomb in his third spell, one delivery after the batsman was dropped at the long-leg boundary by Ambati Rayudu at the start of the 48th over.Associated Press
Even though Bhuvneshwar was part of the Test squad in Australia, India relied on the pace battery comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami to win the series 2-1. Bhuvneshwar revealed that he was not a 100% fit during the four-Test series.”See, I was fit but I couldn’t say that I was a 100% because in Test matches, it’s a five-day match, so I really didn’t know I would be able to go through that thing. What was good was we had bowlers who could play at that time, and I got time to be 100% fit again. I wasn’t really sure that time.”In the nets I wasn’t planning or preparing to bowl in the ODIs. I was preparing like I have to play in any of the Tests. I was preparing in that manner. There wasn’t anything specific that I could do. But it was just normal bowling and increasing the number of overs. If I was bowling four overs [to start with], then go to six, then eight, then 10. The key thing for me is to be niggle-free, and be in bowling rhythm.”To switch to training for the ODIs, Bhuvneshwar was seen practising by placing a shoe on the pitch for accurate lengths and trying the yorkers, a weapon he uses often with the old ball in the death overs.”This (keeping shoes on the pitch) is something that I’ve been doing for some time,” he explained. “So keeping shoes there and bowling yorkers, practicing that thing. I didn’t practise that for almost a month now because in Tests, we hardly needed that. And I didn’t play a match. Going into an ODI or T20I series, you need that thing. So I was practicing that.”Apart from yorkers, Bhuvneshwar also possesses the knuckle ball which he uses once the ball gets older and the swing wears off. Apart from Bumrah, who has been rested for the ongoing series, Bhuvneshwar is India’s key bowler for both the opening overs and the death overs, with the World Cup under five months away.”The skills needed are totally different,” Bhuvneshwar said. “You are trying to swing the new ball and take wickets. With the old ball, you are looking to bowl yorkers or slower balls. But they are both difficult. When you are bowling with a new ball, there are only two fielders outside the circle. With the old ball, batsmen don’t care how many guys are outside the circle. [The] skills are also different.”
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Palmeiras e Santos protagonizarão a terceira final brasileira na história da Copa Libertadores. Após eliminar o River Plate na fase de semifinal, o Alviverde conta com a boa fase do treinador português Abel Ferreira para levar o título. Já o Peixe, dirigido por Cuca, aposta na experiência de um técnico que já foi campeão do torneio e deseja repetir essa história.
Com times brasileiros! Ranking aponta os 50 melhores clubes de 2020; veja lista
Enquanto o Santos segurou um empate sem gols com o Boca Juniors na Argentina, pela partida de ida da semifinal, e depois decidiu em casa, com um 3 a 0, o rival alviverde fez o caminho inverso, abrindo 3 a 0 no River Plate em Avellaneda. Mesmo com a vantagem, a classificação foi custosa, já que, no segundo jogo, os argentinos abriram 2 a 0 em pleno Allianz Parque.
Abel Ferreira chegou ao Palmeiras em junho de 2020 para substituir Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Desde então, o português de 42 anos, que já treinou clubes como Braga e PAOK, conseguiu levar o Palestra para as finais da Copa do Brasil e da Libertadores e ainda mantê-lo vivo na briga pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, já que o time ocupa a 5ª colocação no momento, estando atrás do líder Internacional por uma diferença de oito pontos, com dois jogos a menos.
O comandante europeu vive, de longe, sua melhor fase desde que chegou ao Brasil. Na última segunda-feira (18), o Palmeiras goleou o maior rival, Corinthians, por 4 a 0, no Allianz Parque. O resultado, além do sabor especial, ainda concedeu a Abel o topo das estatísticas dos treinadores com maior aproveitamento no Brasileirão. Das 11 partidas em que comandou o time na competição, ele conquistou 7 vitórias, 2 empates e apenas 2 derrotas, o que resulta um aproveitamento de 69,7%.
Palmeiras pode levar? Acesse a tabela do Brasileirão e simule resultados
Agora, os olhares palmeirenses estão voltados para as duas finais. No dia 30 de janeiro, no Maracanã, Abel Ferreira tem a chance de conquistar seu primeiro troféu com o time brasileiro e ainda manter o retrospecto vitorioso de um técnico português na Libertadores, já que Jorge Jesus faturou a última edição do torneio com o Flamengo. Adiante, nos dias 11 e 17 de fevereiro, o Palmeiras decide a Copa do Brasil contra o Grêmio.
Do outro lado do duelo, guiando o Alvinegro da Vila Belmiro, o técnico Cuca quer conquistar seu bicampeonato de Libertadores. Em 2013, com Ronaldinho, Tardelli, Jô e companhia, o Atlético-MG conquistou a América pela primeira vez, sob o comando dele.
De desacreditado a finalista, Cuca chegou no Peixe em agosto de 2020 para substituir Jesualdo Ferreira, que por ironia é um português que não deu muito certo no futebol brasileiro. O momento do clube era o pior possível: crise política, salários atrasados, elenco rachado com a diretoria, atletas entrando na Justiça contra o clube, etc. Além disso, o Santos também não pôde contratar nenhum jogador por causa de uma punição da Fifa. Coube ao treinador recorrer à famosa categoria de base santista e promover nomes.
Mesmo assim, Cuca aceitou dar início a sua terceira passagem pelo Santos, que para boa parte da imprensa seria uma campanha de meio de tabela, ou até mesmo luta contra o rebaixamento no Campeonato Brasileiro, e eliminação precoce no mata-mata.
Entretanto, com partidas surpreendentes, o Alvinegro Praiano eliminou o Grêmio nas quartas de final da Copa Libertadores da América, goleando o Imortal por 5 a 1 na Vila Belmiro, no jogo de volta, e ainda marcou três no Boca de Tévez, além de estar na 8ª posição do Brasileiro.
Agora, resta aguardar o dia 30 de janeiro de 2021. Tendo o Maracanã como palco, Abel Ferreira e Cuca lutam não só pelo caneco, mas também pela consagração de seus nomes na história de Palmeiras e Santos, respectivamente, e para superar desafios pessoais em suas carreiras.
أكد لاعب مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي، ماتيو كوفاسيتش، أن فريقه قدم مباراة جيدة للغاية، وذلك عقب الفوز على تشيلسي، مشيراً في حديثه إلى أن الفوز لم يأتي بسهولة.
وفاز مانشستر سيتي أمام نظيره تشيلسي بنتيجة 2/0، في إطار منافسات الجولة الأولى من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج”.
وتمكن كوفاسيتش من تسجيل هدف مانشستر سيتي الثاني بحلول الدقيقة 84 من الشوط الثاتي.
اقرأ ايضاً.. فيديو | مانشستر سيتي يبدأ رحلة الدفاع عن اللقب بثنائية أمام تشيلسي في الدوري الإنجليزي
وقال ماتيو كوفاسيتش في تصريحات لـ شبكة “سكاي سبورتس”: “افتقدنا بعض اللاعبين الكبار اليوم، لكن الأمر دائمًا صعب عندما تفتقد لاعبين كبار”.
وأضاف كوفاسيتش: “حصلت على فترة راحة أطول حتى أتمكن من التعافي بشكل أفضل، أردت أن أكون جاهزًا لبداية الموسم”.
وحول غياب رودري أكد قائلاً: “ألعب اليوم بعض أدواره، لكننا نفتقد رودري دائمًا لأنه، إن لم يكن أفضل لاعب، فهو أحد الأفضل في العالم”.
وأشار الدولي الكرواتي: “لا أسجل الكثير من الأهداف وعندما تسجل تريد الاحتفال. لكن لدي احترام كبير لتشيلسي، لقد قضيت خمس سنوات هنا”.
وأنهى قائلاً: “لقد سجلت هدفًا، لكن هذا ليس دائمًا أهم شيء بالنسبة لي، الأهم هو الفوز، هذا الفريق متعطش للغاية ومن دواعي سروري أن أكون جزءًا منه وأن أفوز بالألقاب”.
It was always going to be difficult for Birmingham City supporters to take to Wayne Rooney, having succeeded a manager who took the side into the playoffs following a 3-1 win in the West Midlands Derby against West Bromwich Albion.
A good start to life in the dugout was what was required to ease pressure off his shoulders but Rooney has had anything but. In his nine games in charge so far, the Blues have suffered six defeats, drawn twice and picked up merely one win which came against Sheffield Wednesday, who had been bottom of the league at the time.
Nevertheless, every game offers a new opportunity to pick up some points and a win against Cardiff City tonight would give Birmingham a huge lift in their fight to climb back up the table. Here is the side's predicted lineup ahead of their visit to the Bluebirds.
1 GK – John Ruddy
Veteran goalkeeper John Ruddy has started in every single Championship game for Birmingham City this season and this likely won't change against Cardiff. On Friday night at the CBS Arena, the 37-year-old faced seven shots in total and the scoreline could have been a lot worse for the Midlands club had Ruddy not come to the rescue on a number of occasions.
2 LB – Lee Buchanan
22-year-old fullback Lee Buchanan struggled to get going against Coventry at the weekend. The former Derby County defender didn't put a single successful cross into the box and failed to complete one dribble throughout the game, offering very little on Birmingham's left side. Furthermore, Buchanan lost 88% of his ground duels, as per FotMob, in what was ultimately a subpar display.
Nonetheless, having started in every game since returning from injury in November and having played under Rooney at Pride Park as well, the manager will likely leave Buchanan in at left-back.
3 CB – Dion Sanderson
Birmingham centre-back Dion Sanderson.
Dion Sanderson had been an ever-present member of the lineup across Eustace and Rooney's spells in the dugout. However, after Friday's clash with the Sky Blues, Rooney confirmed that the former Sunderland defender was absent from the team due to a "strange" foot injury. Sanderson is still being assessed ahead of kick-off tonight but will likely be rushed back into the first eleven as a result of Emanuel Aiwu's torrid display at Coventry.
The loanee failed to win a single ground duel and lost 75% of his aerial battles against Coventry's physically strong attacking duo of Ellis Simms and Haji Wright, who bullied the 22-year-old aerially.
If fit, Sanderson should return to add that bit of steel at the back, having won 55% of his aerial duels this season.
4 CB – Marc Roberts
Marc Roberts has been nothing but a bit part player this season. In fact, his start away at Coventry was his first of the season, having made merely four appearances in total in the Championship this term. The 33-year-old didn't cover himself in glory but still won 67% of his aerial duels which will matter against Cardiff, particularly with Ike Ugbo up top.
Roberts could keep his place and partner with Sanderson for the first time in the 2023/24 campaign as Rooney looks to add some defensive quality to a backline that is leaking goals at the moment, having conceded 11 in their last five outings.
5 RB – Juninho Bacuna
Juninho Bacuna is possibly the only player who is guaranteed to start tonight after Friday's display. The 26-year-old looked like Birmingham's most dangerous player, whipping eleven crosses into the penalty box and playing nine passes into the final third. Meanwhile, the fullback also made ten ball recoveries and three interceptions, according to FotMob.
6 LM – Jay Stansfield
Jay Stansfield struggled to make any impact against Coventry last week. The Fulham loanee failed to have a single shot on goal throughout the match before being hooked in the 70th minute by Rooney.
Nonetheless, the 21-year-old is Birmingham City's joint top scorer this season with five goals and still created two chances at the CBS Arena so will likely keep his place in the starting lineup.
7 CM – Krystian Bielik
Birmingham City loan midfielderKrystian Bielik.
Krystian Bielik had another off night against Coventry and hindered his team defensively.
The 25-year-old was dispossessed twice, leading to opposition counterattacks, while he also lost 57% of his ground duels and 60% of his aerial duels, and committed two fouls. Nevertheless, given Birmingham's lack of depth in the middle of the park, the Poland international will maintain his spot in the team.
8 CM – Jordan James
Wales international Jordan James.
Jordan James has been making waves with the Midlands since making his debut two seasons ago. At the age of 19, he is already a Wales international and should be one of the first names on Rooney's teamsheet. Former manager Lee Bowyer once claimed that James can "be as good as he wants to be".
However, over the course of this season, James has been in the starting lineup just six times. If Rooney wants consistency from the young man, he'll need to start offering him some more regular appearances in the first eleven.
9 RM – Ivan Sunjic
Ivan Sunjic is a central midfield player but certainly has the legs to operate in the wide areas. The inclusion of the Croatian could offer Rooney some tactical flexibility.
The new boss has preferred to use a 4-4-2 out of possession, with two flat banks of four. However, when Birmingham have the ball, Sunjic can tuck inside, with Stansfield getting forward on the left to create a 4-3-3 which could offer a little more stability defensively and offensively for the Blues.
As a result, Sunjic would be replacing Koji Miyoshi in the starting lineup. After the defeat to Coventry City on Friday, Birmingham Live handed the Japanese playmaker a 5/10 match rating, describing his display as 'one of his worst of the season.
Miyoshi was replaced in the 70th minute and could find himself on the bench tonight.
10 ST – Lukas Jutkiewicz
Lukas Jutkiewicz was one of Birmingham's better players against Coventry. The experienced striker won more duels than any other player during the game and managed to get into three different goalscoring positions despite not tucking his chances away.
The 34-year-old is also the club's captain so it's likely that Rooney will keep him in the starting lineup once more.
The Hobart Hurricanes opening pair have combined to devastating effect in this year’s BBL with a differing styles causing no end of problems for the bowlers
Melinda Farrell in Hobart13-Feb-2019
Matthew Wade and D’Arcy Short celebrate the 10-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers•Getty Images
Matthew Wade struggles to explain it and he can’t quite remember where it started, this strange compulsion. He thinks it was around five or six years ago, when he was batting with John Hastings, trying to save a game for Victoria. For a while, leading up to that game, he’d developed a superstition: at the end of each over, he’d walk along the opposite side of the pitch to his batting partner and then cross over in the middle to meet and chat. It felt unbalanced if they walked down the same side, as if the pitch were a see-saw that needed even weighting.After batting for a long period of time, Hastings walked down the same side of the pitch. He got out next ball; that cemented it for Wade. He laughs as he talks about it, aware that it’s a superstition that others may not comprehend.”I did it for a few years without anyone really noticing while I was batting,” Wade said, speaking ahead of Hobart Hurricane’s semi-final against Melbourne Stars. “But then I had to start communicating it to a few people and I don’t know where it’s come from. I don’t know how to get out of it but I just keep doing it and it’s not too hard for the other player. Like I kind of just tell him to walk on one side and I’ll do my thing and then come to him. I don’t know where it started. It’s like I feel like we’re off balance if we’re on the same side, it’s weird.”D’Arcy Short doesn’t understand it but he’s more than happy to accommodate his opening partner and for good reason. The pair have blown away many bowling attacks in this year’s BBL and not only do they top the individual runs tally – Short with 602 and Wade with 590 – they have added more than 800 runs together as a pair. But while their combination has been a cornerstone of the Hurricanes’ success, both players insist there is nothing complicated about the way they combine.ALSO READ: Maxwell-inspired Stars seek to stop prolific Hurricanes top order”It just depends on how we feel in the middle,” said Short. “We’ll walk out there with a plan of sticking to what we know and if things change then we talk to each other. If we want to attack one bowler we’ll say that’s the person we’re going for and we’ll wing and see how we go out in the middle.”Wade believes they are intuitively aware of which player is more likely to go big at any time and, from there, strike rotation is key. That kind of unspoken awareness was central to one of their best performances of the season, when the Hurricanes secured a ten-wicket victory over Adelaide Strikers at Adelaide Oval. Chasing 155, Wade piled on an unbeaten 84 off 49 going hard at the start while Short, starting more conservatively, finished with 73 runs off 52. They passed the target with 19 balls to spare.”We don’t really communicate too much, I think you just know out on the ground,” said Wade. “You can tell if he’s on. I know straight away then I’ll try and give him all that match up and vice versa. We don’t speak about it too much, if I have a night out then he gives me more strike and I think you saw that in the Adelaide partnership. That’s probably the one time that was most noticeable that D’Arcy took a back seat there for a long period of time, then towards the back end of the innings he started to feel it a bit and I got him on strike and then he went from a run-a-ball 40 to I think about 70 off 50 balls in the end and he just got going so that’s probably the greatest example of it.”Throughout our whole innings if you can just stick together your innings will just ebb and flow a little bit and the guys you want to hit will come on and off a little bit. That’s probably the thing I’ve noticed the most in the partnership.”D’Arcy Short, Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis among the table-toppers•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
A feature of both player’s batting this season has been the way they have scored largely through more classic cricket shots, rather than opportunistic slogging. And while they are both left-handed they have varied strengths and scoring zones; Short is strong on the leg side while Wade tends to play straighter.”Teams try to counter that,” said Wade. “They try to bowl wide to myself and they’ve tried to cramp D’Arcy up to give him no width so every single game you come up against another team, you’ve got them trying a strategy to get you out or make it harder for you to score runs.”The obvious knock-on effect of having such a strong opening partnership is the confidence it gives to the rest of the team. For Caleb Jewell, batting at No. 3 at the reasonably green age of 21, it provides a sense of calm.ALSO READ: Wade-Short show the bright spot for BBL batting”It’s very comforting, I guess,” he said. “It calms everyone down, just because they’ve been so consistent. It’s nice for me coming after them knowing that one of them is probably getting going so it makes it easier for everyone else.”Wade credits the Tasmania and Hurricanes batting coach, Jeff Vaughan, for the development of younger batsmen, like Jewell, in the squad and for the tweaks he has made in his own technique in facing both the red and white ball since returning to Hobart from Melbourne. Among the changes, he now plays the moving ball a little later, tries not to chase the ball in front of him and has adjusted his stance, keeping still for longer; the tweaks have paid dividends.”I obviously wasn’t down here for the period of time where it was a bit of a struggle for the batting group and I think the young players had a few scars when I got down here,” said Wade. “They just couldn’t express themselves as players and I think he’s given them an enormous amount of confidence to go out and play the way they want to play then be prepared to make mistakes along the way and learn from it, don’t be fearful of making mistake.”The young batting group to me looks mentally and technically as strong as I’ve seen down here for a long time. And then the flip side of that he’s got the best out of the older players like myself, George Bailey, Alex Doolan. He’s one of the best batting coaches I’ve worked with. I’ve worked with Greg Shippard, who in my eyes is one of the best coaches in Australia batting-wise, and Jeff is well and truly alongside him in my opinion.”Whether or not Wade and Short can take the Hurricanes to a BBL title remains to be seen, but beyond the season there is a clear desire to bat together for Australia. Their exclusion from the Australian ODI squad, in particular, over the summer has raised questions. In a World Cup year their performances in white-ball cricket will be difficult to ignore but Wade remains somewhat sceptical they can reproduce their chemistry in the green and gold.”I’d love to represent Australia again but I know how it all works,” said Wade. “I don’t know, to be honest. I’d love for us both to go. I think D’Arcy is a really good chance. The way he’s bowling as well, it’s just another layer of his game. I mean you’ve got a guy who can hit the ball like that and then can bowl probably six or eight overs in ODIs as well so I’d be surprised if D’Arcy isn’t playing. I think it’s fifty-fifty for myself. It’ll be a toss of the coin.”