Former Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen has dropped a stinging verdict on Matthijs de Ligt, claiming the Dutch centre-half looks too "heavy". Meulensteen, who worked under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, believes De Ligt must urgently rediscover his sharpness if he is to cement himself as the defensive rock United so desperately need.

• Ex-United coach questions De Ligt’s weight
• 'Critical' season for Dutch defender
• Amorim favouring De Ligt for now

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  So far this season, De Ligt has been the preferred man to marshal the centre of United’s three-man defence, flanked by Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw. That reshuffle has left long-serving defender Harry Maguire warming the bench, with the England international omitted from the starting XI in both the 1-0 loss to Arsenal and the 1-1 draw at Fulham.

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  De Ligt has shown moments of assurance, but Meulensteen believes the towering defender still has another gear to find. Against Fulham, his lapse in concentration played a part in Emile Smith Rowe’s leveller, costing United what would have been their first win of the campaign.

• WHAT MEULENSTEEN SAID

  Speaking candidly to Meulensteen said: "De Ligt's form is a concern because consistent performances and leadership are not guaranteed week in, week out. He had a significant number of injuries last year and wasn't always a first-choice player for Rubem Amorim.

  “When he first emerged at Ajax, he was a strong athlete, but I believe he has become a little too heavy over time, which hasn't always benefited his game, despite his naturally strong build. This will be a critical season for him."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Meulensteen insists stability in defence is vital if United are to rebuild their reputation under Amorim, and that requires more than just physicality.

  "They have so many central defenders to choose from. Consistency is key, especially in the backline to create stability," he said. "Players need to understand each other's movements and react accordingly. Injuries sometimes necessitate chopping and changing, this is definitely a critical season for him. He [De Ligt] is only 26, I thought he was older given all the clubs he's played for. You'd expect him to be the next consistent centre-back for the next four years, easily. We'll see what happens."

Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Fenerbahce after the Turkish club failed to qualify for the Champions League league phase.

Fenerbahce knocked out by BenficaMourinho relieved of his dutiesHave only played two league gamesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Fenerbahce have confirmed that Mourinho has been sacked after the club were eliminated from the Champions League at the play-off stage. The Turkish club lost 1-0 on aggregate to Benfica, and their board have taken swift and decisive action. 

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Mourinho has been linked with a stunning return to England, where he won the Premier League three times with Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest have been touted as an option to secure his services. Now that he is back on the job market, clubs are likely to be linked with a highly experienced tactician. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Mourinho oversaw a second-placed finish for Fenerbahce last season, but they ended the campaign without a trophy. His last piece of silverware was the Conference League, winning the tournament with Roma in 2022. 

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

Mourinho may be minded to head back to England, but it will depend on the offers he is made. It is unclear if Forest will launch a move for him but speculation is only likely to intensify now he has left Turkiye. 

Transfer fees are getting ridiculous nowadays, but you can still negotiate your way to a bargain in the market

Alexander Isak for £125 million. Florian Wirtz for £117m. Benjamin Sesko for £73m. Nick Woltemade for £69m. Bryan Mbeumo for £65m. Eberechi Eze for £60m. You get the idea – big money gets you big players.

That's the way the world's going. You generally have to open your wallet to find quality stars – but that's not the only way to get yourself a good deal. There's still room for a bargain here and there. Just because you have lots of cash doesn't mean you necessarily need to blow it all at one.

GOAL has ranked the 10 best value-for-money deals of the 2025 summer window, paying our dues to the teams who squeezed every penny in transfer talks:

• AFP
  

  10Gabri Veiga (Al-Ahli to Porto, £12m)

  If you cast your mind back to the 2023 summer transfer window, there was a certain Spanish playmaker who dominated the gossip columns. Fresh off a breakout season with Celta Vigo during which he scored 11 goals and provided four assists, Gabri Veiga was expected to join one of Europe's big boys. Barcelona and Chelsea were among the clubs tipped with an interest, which is why it was such a surprise when he opted to move to Saudi side Al-Ahli instead.

  After two seasons in the Middle East, Veiga, who is still only 23, is back in Europe after signing for Portuguese giants Porto at a snip £12m – just over £20m less that what Al-Ahli paid to Celta. With Benfica and Sporting CP dominating Liga Portugal in recent years, he's the sort of player who could help the Dragons become the dominant force in the country again.

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  9Rayan Cherki (Lyon to Manchester City, £32m)

  Sure, Rayan Cherki has endured a mixed start to his Manchester City career, but let's not judge him too quickly in that direction. After all, he's the sort of flair player that will take some time adjusting to the Premier League once he returns to full fitness in the coming months.

  Manchester City's rebuild saw them stump up an initial £32m to sign the French wizard from Lyon as they look to replace the genius of Kevin De Bruyne with a few players rather than like-for-like. The 22-year-old brings with him an ingenuity that has been missing in their recent plight, and his ability to strike a ball on either foot only adds to his unpredictable dribbling.

  There are few Premier League players who can match Cherki when it comes to technical ability. Now, it's about whether he and Pep Guardiola can put his skill to good use.

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  8Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia to Arsenal, £12m)

  Alright, so we just said we shouldn't overreact to a few games into a new season, but holding your own away at Liverpool in place of William Saliba is a hard ask of any centre-back, let alone one who's only 21. That's enough of a reason to think that Cristhian Mosquera represents fantastic value for money.

  Amid Valencia's financial woes, Arsenal were able to muscle their way to the front of the queue and sign the versatile defender for an initial £12m. In this market, it's conceivable to make a significant profit on that even if performances don't live up to the hype.

  Regardless, Mosquera was solid in La Liga last season and with his profile, it's easy to see him further adapting to the rigours of the Premier League too. Whatever you say about Arsenal and their defensive nature nowadays, you have to give it to them that they know what they're doing.

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  7Pervis Estupinan (Brighton to AC Milan, £17m)

  It wasn't too long ago that Pervis Estupinan was in the conversation for one of the Premier League's best left-backs. Such is the value in Brighton's trading model that they decided to move him on for young blood this summer.

  The lucky team on the other end of the deal were AC Milan, who decided to accept an offer from Saudi outfit Al-Hilal for Theo Hernandez. In need of a top-quality replacement, they found Estupinan up for sale and were able to acquire him for £17m, immediately coming in as a standout left-back in Serie A.

  For the first time, the Rossoneri have an Ecuadorian in their ranks, and if he can replicate his performances from the Amex Stadium at San Siro, then he will easily win over the Rossoneri faithful.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Bahia é o grande campeão do Campeonato Baiano de 2023. Após o empate no jogo de ida contra o Jacuipense por 1 a 1, neste domingo o Tricolor venceu por 3 a 0 e faturou o troféu estadual pela 50ª vez em sua história. Everaldo, Cauly e Jacaré marcaram os gols.

Agora, o Bahia tem compromisso apenas no dia 12 de abril, pela Copa do Brasil. O Bahia enfrentará o Volta Redonda. Os horários serão confirmados pela CBF. Enquanto isso, a Jacuipense se prepara para o Brasileirão Série D, prevista para iniciar em maio.

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Confira a tabela do Campeonato Baiano!

Na primeira etapa, os times entraram em campo para o tudo ou nada, mas foram muito equilibrados. O Tricolor pressionou mais, ao mesmo tempo em que os visitante seguraram o ímpeto do adversário.

A melhor chance do Bahia foi com Cauly, que acertou a trave. Jacaré e Chávez também tiveram boas oportunidades, mas desperdiçaram. A Jacuipense pouco ofereceu perigo ao gol de Marcos Felipe.

Na segunda etapa, o Bahia foi mais efetivo nas jogadas e conseguiu abrir o marcador. Aos 21, Everaldo recebeu de Chávez na pequena área e só teve o trabalho de empurrar para o fundo do gol.

Não demorou muito para que os mandantes ampliassem. Aos 23, Everaldo e Cauly tabelaram. A bola sobrou para o camisa 8, que chutou cruzado e rasteiro, da entrada da área. A bola foi no cantinho e morreu no fundo das redes.No fim, Jacaré deu números finais ao confronto ao marcar de pênalti.

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal, who has been compared to Lionel Messi, has been told what he must do in order to hit “dizzy heights”.

Made senior Blaugrana bow at the age of 15Signed lucrative contract & taken No.10 shirtAdvised on how to fulfil exciting potentialFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The teen sensation has been likened to Argentine GOAT Messi since stepping out of the same La Masia academy system in Catalunya as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. Many are tipping him to go on and land Golden Balls of his own.

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Positive progress is being made down that path, with Yamal already winning La Liga and European Championship titles. He has signed a lucrative contract after turning 18 and inherited the No.10 shirt at Barca that Messi once wore with such distinction.

DID YOU KNOW?

Yamal’s every move, on and off the field, is now being dissected in minute detail. He is having to learn quickly how to handle that attention while avoiding the kind of distractions that could knock the most promising of careers off course.

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GettyWHAT DE LA FUENTE SAID

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has told FIFA’s of Yamal’s exciting potential: “He’s earned it all through his own hard work and commitment. At the tender age of 16, the teenage sensation was already ripping it up for the senior national team. We need to give credit where credit’s due. A 16, 17, or 18-year-old player is under constant scrutiny and pressure from the media. He has to work his socks off to meet people’s expectations of him, as well as set an example both on and off the pitch and keep developing.

“He still needs our support because he’s very young. He is very mature for his age, but he still needs to develop his game and mature further. It’s all part of the process. Here, you never stop improving and developing your game. That’s why we need to be there to support him.”

De la Fuente added: “He’s an exceptional player, with bags of natural ability and extraordinary talent. He’s completely switched on, and I think it’s important to point out that he knows that without hard work and commitment, he won’t achieve the dizzy heights many people have tipped him to reach.

“The harder you work, the better you become. He works tirelessly. He puts the graft in every day to keep improving. We need to support him in his development, but he’s a clever player and latches on to things very quickly, just like the very best.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras busca conquistar mais um título do Campeonato Paulista neste domingo (09), diante do Água Santa, às 16h, no Allianz Parque. Em processo de reestruturação desde 2015, com a chegada da Crefisa, o clube é o único entre os quatro grandes de São Paulo que chegou às últimas dez semifinais do Paulistão.

> Palmeiras x Água Santa: onde assistir, prováveis times e desfalques da grande final do Paulistão

Antes do patrocínio máster, o Verdão passava por uma seca de títulos estaduais: o último havia sido em 2008. Em um momento delicado, o Palmeiras viu a chegada da Crefisa se tornar uma verdadeira mudança de chave para a ascensão do clube alviverde.

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Nos últimos dez anos, o Palmeiras foi campeão de duas edições do Paulistão (2020 e 2022), foi vice em três (2015, 2018 e 2021) e parou nas semis em quatro (2014, 2016, 2017 e 2019). Agora, o Verdão pode chegar ao seu terceiro título no período, ou ficar na segunda colocação do estadual pela terceira vez.

Caso a equipe comandada pelo técnico Abel Ferreira se consagre campeã diante do Água Santa neste domingo (09), conquistando o bicampeonato do Paulistão, irá igualar os três títulos estaduais do Corinthians na ‘década’, porém somando mais participações nas etapas decisivas da competição.

> Guia Palmeiras: veja análise dos adversários, onde assistir e tudo sobre o Verdão na Libertadores

Na ida, no último domingo (02), o Verdão foi derrotado por 2 a 1 pelo time de Diadema, na Arena Barueri. Logo, o Palmeiras precisa vencer por um gol de diferença, para levar a disputa para os pênaltis, ou por dois, para se consagrar bicampeão estadual evitando as penalidades. O Água Santa tem a vantagem do empate.

South Africa allrounder Dwaine Pretorius has retired from international cricket with immediate effect. “I am shifting my focus to T20 and other shorter formats for the rest of my career,” he said.Pretorius played 30 T20Is, 27 ODIs and three Tests and took 77 wickets across formats. He also featured in two World Cups and holds the record for the best bowling figures for South Africa in T20Is (5 for 17 against Pakistan). He ends with a T20I batting strike rate of 164 and is one of 16 players to have a national CSA contract for 2022-23 that runs till March.”Being a free agent will help me achieve the goal of being the best short format player I can be,” his statement from CSA read. “By doing this, I will be able to have a better balance in my career and family life.”He is currently much sought after in franchise leagues with gigs in the IPL (Chennai Super Kings), the Hundred (Welsh Fire), the CPL and with Durban Super Giants in the SA20 where he was picked up for Rand 4.1 million (USD 240,000 approx.).Pretorius was South Africa’s first-choice allrounder leading up to the T20 World Cup in 2022 but fractured his thumb before the tournament. He has since lost some ground to Marco Jansen for that role in the white-ball set-up. At the 2021 T20 World Cup, he shone as a death-overs specialist and finished the tournament with nine wickets overall and the best strike rate of 9.7 (minimum five overs).CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe said that Pretorius’ quality will “no doubt” be missed. “He has always represented the badge with the utmost pride, determination and commitment, leaving everything on the field every time he pulled on the Proteas shirt,” he said. “His all-round ability added to his value as a player and his quality will no doubt be missed.”Pretorius made his mark as a late-blooming allrounder and swapped pace for precision early on due to knee injuries. He made his South Africa debut in an ODI against Ireland in 2016 and got his first fifty in his second innings. But by 2019, he had almost given up on internationals and was set to take a Kolpak deal with Nottinghamshire. However, a change in CSA administration and the introduction of Graeme Smith as director of cricket convinced Pretorius to take a national contract and he made his Test debut later in 2019.”A special mention goes to Faf Du Plessis, who brought me back after being let go from the international side the first time and who backed me and helped me become a better player; thank you,” he said. Pretorius also thanked Hardus Viljoen, Chris Morris, Nicky van den Bergh, Rassie van Der Dussen, Stephen Cook, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje, Neil McKenzie and his coaches across the ranks.”Growing up, my only goal in life was to play for the Proteas,” he said. “I didn’t know how it was going to happen, but God gave me talent and a serious will to succeed. The rest was in his hands.”I leave the Proteas team knowing that every time I stepped onto the field, I gave everything I had in me. From playing with broken toes, fingers and torn muscles, to carrying drinks, team meetings and helping other players wherever I could. It has been a blast. Thank you to all the fans for your support and love – you made it extra special.”For the next eight months, at the very least, Pretorius is expected to have a busy cricket calendar. SA20 start on Tuesday and runs till February 11, the IPL is set to run from March-end May-end or early June and then the Hundred begins in August. South Africa, meanwhile, host England, West Indies, Netherlands and Australia before the ODI World Cup in October.

Jaydev Unadkat returns as Saurashtra target their second title in three seasons

Shashank Kishore15-Feb-2023

Big pictureBengal won their first Ranji Trophy title nearly a decade before independence, in 1938-39. It then took them over 50 years to get their hands on the trophy again, in 1989-90, a game remembered for 17-year-old Sourav Ganguly making his Ranji debut replacing older brother Snehasish in the final.The team has reached three more finals since, without being able to finish the job. On Thursday, they will play the final again, hoping to avoid the mistakes they made in 2019-20, against the same opponents, Saurashtra, in their last appearance in the title round.The big difference is that, like in that 1989-90 final, they will be playing the final at their beloved Eden Gardens, where they are usually a formidable team.Related

Bengal look to end Ranji jinx and kick off next era in one go at Eden Gardens

Ranji Trophy 2022-23 final to have 'full version' of DRS

Pradipta Pramanik's five-for takes Bengal to Ranji Trophy final

Vasavada holds nerve to haul Saurashtra into final

Jaydev Unadkat available to lead Saurashtra in Ranji Trophy final

This young but experienced Bengal side, with the likes of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Sudip Kumar Gharami and Akash Deep, have a similar opportunity now. The man leading them, Manoj Tiwary, knows what it is like to come out second-best, having played each of the last three finals Bengal lost. Having already announced this could be his last season, should they win, Tiwary has an opportunity to firmly establish a lasting legacy in Bengal cricket.Saurashtra have a rich cricketing history, too, but entering the Ranji Trophy final is something they have only been able to consistently achieve over the past decade. This will be their fifth final since 2012-13.In 2019-20, they beat Bengal on a flat Rajkot pitch after taking the first-innings lead. It was fitting that Jaydev Unadkat, their captain who toiled on surfaces many described as roads, lifted the trophy after ending the season with a record-topping 67 wickets.Saurashtra don’t have the talent pool of Mumbai or the club structures of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It’s a team that has often had to make use of limited resources in the best possible way. It also explains why they are a close-knit unit and why everyone takes great pride in playing for the team. A title win here will seal their status as the best first-class team in the country currently.Current form Saurashtra: WWLLW
Bengal: WWLWWSaurashtra celebrated a hard-fought win against Karnataka in the semi-finals•PTI

Players to watch: Anustup Majumdar and Chetan SakariyaAnustup Majumdar began playing first-class cricket in 2004, but it took him nearly 15 years to establish himself in the Bengal XI. At 38, he may be on his last lap, but he continues to be the team’s crisis man with the bat. Three years ago, his back-to-the-wall century in the semi-final against Karnataka took Bengal into their first final since 2006-07. Here, he is again on the cusp of something special, having contributed all season with the bat.When Unadkat has been away on national duty, Chetan Sakariya has taken on the role of leading the Saurashtra attack. He troubled Karnataka’s top-order on a surface with a hint of moisture in Bengaluru in the semi-final, but it was his contribution with the bat in the second innings – a cameo of 24 – that helped them overcome big jitters and seal a tense victory. Sakariya’s improved fitness and pace has lent a new dimension to a solid attack.Team news and Possible XIsBengal have already announced their XI for the final. There is no place for Karan Lal, with Sumanta Gupta set to make his first-class debut as Abhimanyu’s partner at the top, and Akash Ghatak, the quick bowler who made his debut this season, replacing left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik, who has 18 wickets from four games this season, including a five-for in the semi-final against Madhya Pradesh. Ghatak’s entry makes it a four-man pace attack for Bengal.Bengal 1 Abhimanyu Easwaran, 2 Sumanta Gupta, 3 Sudip Kumar Gharami, 4 Anustup Majumdar, 5 Manoj Tiwary (capt), 6 Shahbaz Ahmed, 7 Abishek Porel (wk), 8 Akash Ghatak, 9 Akash Deep, 10 Mukesh Kumar, 11 Ishan PorelSaurashtra will welcome back Unadkat, who missed the quarter-finals and the semi-finals because he was part of India’s Test squad, but has now been released for the final. Unadkat’s return means that left-arm spinner Parth Bhut, who led Saurashtra’s sensational turnaround against Punjab, could miss out.Saurashtra: 1 Harvik Desai, 2 Snell Patel, 3 Vishwaraj Jadeja/Jay Gohil, 4 Sheldon Jackson, 5 Arpit Vasavada, 6 Chirag Jani, 7 Prerak Mankad, 8 Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, 9 Jaydev Unadkat, 10 Chetan Sakariya, 11 Yuvrajsinh DodiyaPitch and conditionsFast bowling is Bengal’s strength and their key quicks – Mukesh, Akash Deep and Porel – are all in good form. Not surprisingly, the Eden Gardens curators have prepared a greenish-looking surface. It’s extremely different to the pitch Saurashtra prepared in Rajkot when the two sides met in the final of the 2019-20 season.Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Manoj Tiwary have a chat during a Bengal training session•Cricket Association of Bengal

Stats that matter Only twice in the Ranji Trophy have teams had three batters scoring 800-plus runs in a season: Hyderabad (1999-00) and Mumbai (2012-13). Bengal could be the third as Majumdar (790), Gharami (789) and Abhimanyu (782) are all within touching distance. Arpit Vasavada’s 826 runs this season is the third-most for Saurashtra in a Ranji season, behind Cheteshwar Pujara’s 906 in 2008-09 and Sheldon Jackson’s 853 in 2018-19. He has an opportunity to surpass them both in the final. Bengal have conceded 300-plus just once this season, against Himachal while defending 472.Quotes”The Ranji Trophy is a marathon. To make it for two finals in three seasons is a measure of our self-belief and winning mindset. We dream of winning titles regularly across formats. And we’ve backed it up with solid plans and work over half-a-decade.”
“I want my boys to stay grounded as we haven’t yet won the big prize.”

Smriti Mandhana, Beth Mooney, Sophie Ecclestone and Renuka Singh figure in both women’s white-ball XIs for the year gone by

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2023The annual ICC teams for 2022 are out, in five categories: men’s Tests, ODIs and T20Is, and women’s ODIs and T20Is. Some of the usual suspects, the cream of the crop in each format, are there, of course, but there are a few names in each XI that might make you want to turn to the ESPNcricinfo stats pages for a quick double-check.Test XI: Ben Stokes to lead four AustraliansMen’s Test XI: Usman Khawaja, Kraigg Brathwaite, Marnus Labuschagne, Babar Azam, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (capt), Rishabh Pant (wk), Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Lyon, James Anderson.It was the year of Bazball, and it’s no surprise that Ben Stokes will captain the team, even if it has four Australians – Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon – in it. That’s to be expected, after all, Australia are on top of the World Test Championship table.Second on that table are India, but after a year in which they played just seven Tests, only Rishabh Pant finds a place in the XI.Stokes’ team-mates Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson figure in the line-up, which also includes one player each from West Indies (Kraigg Brathwaite), Pakistan (Babar Azam) and South Africa (Kagiso Rabada).Babar Azam named captain of men’s ODI XIMen’s ODI XI: Babar Azam (capt), Travis Head, Shai Hope, Shreyas Iyer, Tom Latham (wk), Sikandar Raza, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Siraj, Trent Boult, Adam Zampa.Babar is as lonely in the men’s ODI XI where, again, he is the only one from Pakistan. But he will lead the side, which has two Indians in Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Siraj.It’s a solid-looking side, with Bangladesh represented by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza rewarded for a remarkable year in both white-ball formats. That aside, there are two players each from Australia (Travis Head and Adam Zampa), New Zealand (Tom Latham and Trent Boult), and West Indies (Shai Hope and Alzarri Joseph).But 2022 was a T20 World Cup year, unlike 2023, an ODI World Cup year where the teams will be playing a lot more 50-overs cricket. So we might have a better idea about the ODI worth of the best players in the world around this time next year.Virat Kohli among three Indians in men’s T20I XIMen’s T20I XI: Jos Buttler (capt, wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Glenn Phillips, Sikandar Raza, Hardik Pandya, Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga, Haris Rauf, Josh Little.Raza is in this XI too, as are Josh Little from Ireland and Wanindu Hasaranga from Sri Lanka, all big performers through the year and especially at the T20 World Cup.England won that tournament. Jos Buttler led them there and will lead the team here. Sam Curran was the performer of the tournament for England, and is here too. India are well represented by Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, perhaps the most talked-about player in the format last year. And, to round things off, there are Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf from Pakistan and Glenn Phillips from New Zealand.Alyssa Healy and Smriti Mandhana to open in women’s ODI XIWomen’s ODI XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Smriti Mandhana, Laura Wolvaardt, Nat Sciver, Beth Mooney, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Amelia Kerr, Sophie Ecclestone, Ayabonga Khaka, Renuka Singh, Shabnim Ismail.If the men played a T20 World Cup in 2022, the women played their ODI World Cup. Australia won. Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney, two of their best batters in the competition, made this XI. The team they beat in the final, England, also have two representatives – Nat Sciver and Sophie Ecclestone, the bowler of the year, arguably.India, who failed to make the final four, actually have three star performers here: Smriti Mandhana, in a mouth-watering opening combination with Healy, Harmanpreet Kaur, also the captain, and Renuka Singh, the swing bowler who had such an impressive year.The best represented team is, incidentally, South Africa, with Laura Wolvaardt, Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail. And there can’t be a world XI without Amelia Kerr, who rounds off the 11.Sophie Devine to lead power-packed women’s T20I XIWomen’s T20I XI: Smriti Mandhana, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine (capt), Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Nida Dar, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Inoka Ranaweera, Renuka Singh.If Mandhana is marked to open with Healy in ODIs, she had Mooney for company in T20Is, where Renuka features as well, along with two other Indians: Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh, the young wicketkeeper who is currently playing in the Under-19 World Cup.Mooney aside, the T20I XI has two other Australians, Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath, another player who made rapid strides in 2022 across formats.The captain of the side, however, is neither Australian nor Indian, but Sophie Devine, the New Zealand allrounder. Two other Asians complete the XI: Nida Dar of Pakistan and Inoka Ranaweera of Sri Lanka.

Rossoneri set to continue their groundbreaking tradition of having first-team players wear their mothers' maiden names on their match jerseys

• Players will display their maternal surnames on their kits
• San Siro screens and LED displays to feature special Mother's Day graphics
• Initiative supports fundraising campaign for teenage mothers through Fondazione Milan

• AC Milan
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  AC Milan announced the return of their innovative Mother's Day celebration where players from the men's first team will wear jerseys displaying their mothers' surnames rather than their own during the Serie A match against Bologna on Friday, May 9th. The maternal surnames will feature prominently throughout the matchday experience, appearing in the official lineup announcements, on San Siro's giant screens, and in announcements read by the stadium presenter. AC Milan were the first Italian club to do this initiative last season.

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• WHAT AC MILAN SAID

  The initiative will see Fondazione Milan support 70 teenage mothers via a fundraising campaign.

  “Fondazione Milan will support around 70 teenage mothers through a fundraising campaign in aid of a parenting support programme run at the Spazio Indifesa Hub in the Gallaratese district of Milan. Managed by Terre des Hommes and opened in 2021 with the support of the Foundation, the Hub provides vital services to young mothers in need,” reads the statement posted by AC Milan.

  “A portion of the proceeds from the auction of match-worn shirts and Mascot experiences – generously provided by ComAve, AC Milan’s Global Partner and Shopping Experience Platform Partner – will go towards the fundraiser. Purchases of items from the Club’s new Women’s Collection made in physical and online stores between Friday, May 9, and Sunday, May 11, as well as tickets to the Mondo Milan Museum during the AC Milan vs Bologna matchday, will also contribute to the cause through a share of the proceeds. Some children from the Spazio Indifesa programme will also have the unique opportunity to walk onto the pitch with the players ahead of Friday’s match.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The jersey tradition brings attention to the Constitutional Court ruling no. 131 of 2022, which declared the automatic assignment of only the father's surname to newborns discriminatory, giving Italian parents equal opportunities in naming their children. Despite this legislative change, public awareness has remained low across Italy. By utilizing the massive platform of Serie A football, Milan are leveraging sport's cultural influence to highlight an important advancement in gender equality.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  The Mother's Day celebration will commence with the Serie A match against Bologna on Friday and continue throughout the weekend. Special invitations to watch from the VIP Lounge will be reserved for mother-and-child Rossoneri pairs, while children from the Spazio Indifesa program will have the unique opportunity to walk onto the pitch with players before kickoff.