On Saturday lunchtime, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had a big decision to make. Play Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze in the number 10 position?

Well, the Spaniard chose his club captain Odegaard. It was a successive start for the Norwegian who is now back from injury and ready to make an impact.

What that meant was that the Gunners’ November Player of the Month was selected on the left flank.

It wasn’t a decision that went well for Eze. The scorer of that famous hat-trick in the north London derby just a few weeks ago, his influence from the left, rather than in a central area, was severely lacking.

It was Eze who switched off at the back post for Matty Cash’s opener and despite having a goal ruled out for offside, he was anonymous in the final third.

The summer signing was subsequently withdrawn at the half time interval having registered just 13 touches of the ball and amassed just seven passes.

Why Arsenal must pick Eze over Odegaard in the number 10 role

Before Emiliano Buendia’s late winner at Villa Park on Saturday, TNT Sports’ Martin Keown had named Martin Odegaard as the player of the match.

The club captain drifted in and out of the game, but left the field with three key passes and three shots to his name. He also ensured Bukayo Saka looked like a constant threat in the game. Indeed, in the words of the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, he noted that “it can’t be a coincidence that Saka has been so dangerous today, on the day he is reunited with Odegaard,” suggesting that as a pairing, they remain one of Arsenal’s “great weapons.”

That they may well be, but the skipper arguably held Arteta’s team back. While Eze has looked like such a big goal threat over the last few weeks, a dynamic and silky player who can produce a moment of magic out of nowhere, Odegaard was sluggish and timid in possession.

His biggest problem is that unlike Eze, he takes too many touches and he’s slow in possession. The 26-year-old is one of the best midfielders in the world on his day. He’s supremely creative but Arsenal’s summer recruit from Crystal Palace has taken them to the next level in recent weeks.

Odegaard & Eze vs Villa

Stat

Odegaard

Eze

Mins played

90

45

Touches

80

13

Key passes

3

0

Shots

3

0

Successful dribbles

1/4

1/1

Duels won

3/10

2/5

Possession lost

15x

3x

Stats via Sofascore.

It was surely no coincidence that two of their finest wins of 2025, the victories against Spurs and Bayern, came with Eze in the team over Odegaard.

It feels incredibly unlikely that Arteta will drop the latter but he must explore what this team could be like without their captain.

That said, Eze isn’t the only threat to Odegaard’s long-term future at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's next Odegaard and Eze

Eze’s arrival has coincided with a lack of game time for Ethan Nwaneri. Last season he was compared to Lionel Messi by Joe Cole and described as “the most exciting footballer in England.” How times change.

While the 18-year-old is still up there as one of the finest young talents in the country, scoring nine goals last term, regular senior football has eluded him in 2025/26. He has played just 165 minutes of Premier League football this term and only 20 minutes since the start of November.

Nwaneri will no doubt come good but he will also have to rival the great Max Dowman for a place in the team over the forthcoming years. Odegaard, beware.

The two exciting teenagers are not the only threats to Odegaard’s long-term future, however. Enter Holger Quintero.

At the end of last week, Arsenal announced the signings of a set of twins, Holger and Edwin Quintero from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle.

They have become one of the finest exponents of young talent in world football in recent years. Part of their alumni include Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie and PSG’s brute of a central defender William Pacho.

Well, the Quintero twins look like the next cabs of the rank and while they will not be seen in Arsenal colours until they turn 18, the 16-year-old’s have signed an agreement to join the club, something that was announced last Thursday.

Edwin is a left-footed right winger and, alongside Dowman, has been labelled as a “10/10 talent” by scout Jacek Kulig. As for his brother, Holger, he is an attacking midfielder by trade and an exciting one at that.

Described as a “top talent” by Como scout Felix Johnston, he possesses a glittering array of skills, outlined by Kulig.

The scout notes that he has “superb close control, flair and creativity” while hailing the youngster’s “low centre of gravity and excellent agility, acceleration and coordination.”

Close control and creativity are two areas in which Odegaard also thrives in but it’s arguably that lack of acceleration and ability to carry the ball forward with pace that holds him back. That’s where Quintero could trump him in the years to come.

Further described as a young kid with “elite dribbling skills with futsal-like ball control”, there is a reason Arsenal have decided to invest in these two young attacking sensations.

To predict they could become world beaters might be a stretch at this stage, but there is huge excitement about them both. As Kulig put it, Holger is “one of the most exciting U17s in South America.”

Watch out, Odegaard, it might not only be Dowman coming for your place.

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Liam Scott made 53 to go with his five wickets while Ben Manenti finished 49 not out as South Australia won by three wickets in a tight fourth innings chase

AAP12-Nov-2025Australia’s incumbent Test allrounder Beau Webster has taken eight wickets, including Travis Head twice and Alex Carey once, but it wasn’t enough for Tasmania as Liam Scott and Ben Manenti guided South Australia to their first win of the Sheffield Shield season in Hobart.Needing to manufacture the highest innings of a bowler-dominated match, the reigning champions recovered from 88 for 5 to chase down the target of 217.Cult hero Manenti was one of the heroes, scoring an unbeaten 49 from No.8. Manenti also took the crucial wickets of Beau Webster, Tim Ward and Brad Hope in Tasmania’s second innings to help bowl the Tigers out for 184. He put on a crucial 71-run stand with player of the match Scott to steer the visitors out of trouble.Related

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South Australia were winless from their first three games of the season, losing two and drawing the other. The result came against stiff opposition, with Australia’s incumbent Test No.6 Beau Webster starring with the ball to ensure he remains in contention to keep his spot.After claiming 5 for 50 in the first innings, Webster backed it up with 3 for 73 in the losing cause.Two of his victims were Travis Head and Alex Carey, his Australian teammates. Head edged Webster to slips on 15 from a ripping off-cutter, continuing his disappointing run of form leading into the Ashes.Since smashing a blazing ODI century against South Africa in August, his highest score has been 31 in 11 innings.Although Webster got the better of his Test teammates, he was taken apart by Manenti and Scott, with his wickets coming at more than six runs an over.Manenti was thrilled with the win.”We’ve been pretty successful down here the last couple of years. It’s a place we love to come and play at,” he said. “Probably rode the game a bit, it was a tricky wicket early.”We needed it. We’ve been close the last couple of weeks, playing some really good cricket, we’ve just lost patches.”South Australia will return to Adelaide Oval for their next match against Western Australia, starting on November 22.

Quinton de Kock scored the first hundred since his international comeback, and 22nd overall, as South Africa drew level in the ODI series against Pakistan. Tony de Zorzi and de Kock shared a 153-run second-wicket stand, which followed de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ 81-run opening partnership. They only lost two wickets, as de Kock completed the chase of 270 with 59 balls to spare, in Matthew Breetzke’s company.South Africa batted with fluency and flair, both of which were absent from the Pakistan line-up after they chose to bat first. Though half-centuries from Saim Ayub and Salman Agha set Pakistan up well, their strike rates of 80.30 and 65.09 meant the going was slow throughout their innings. Mohammad Nawaz’s career-best run-a-ball 59 eventually took them over 250 – to 269.Nawaz’s individual achievement was one of three in the first half of the match. South Africa’s left-arm seamer Nandre Burger and legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter, who both sat out the first game, bagged career-best figures of 4 for 46 and 3 for 55 respectively. They were well supported by disciplined efforts from Corbin Bosch, Donovan Ferreira and Bjorn Fortuin, who all conceded at under six runs an over.While Pakistan made batting look tough, South Africa found the flow with their left-handed opening pair of Pretorius and de Kock. Pretorius enjoyed the bulk of the strike in the first four overs and hit three fours off Naseem Shah in the second, before de Kock hit his first shot of intent. He punched a short, wide Afridi ball through the covers for four. Pretorius should have been out in the next over, but Naseen spilled a return chance and Pretorius made Pakistan pay.Tony de Zorzi ensured South Africa’s smooth passage in the chase•Getty Images

Pretorious went after Shaheen Shah Afridi, and then Mohammed Wasim, and appeared unstoppable before he flayed at a wide Wasim delivery and nicked off. De Kock was on 32 off 31 balls himself when he lost his opening partner, and rebuilt quietly with de Zorzi.The pair scored 35 runs off the next seven overs and de Kock got his fifty with a six off Ashraf, before de Zorzi was finally ready to take on Afridi. He sent a short ball through midwicket and a full one through deep backward square, but his full range on the legside was on display when he took on Mohammad Nawaz. He reverse-swept, slogged over mid-wicket and then reached for a wide one to send it over long-off. In total, de Zorzi took 27 runs off 13 balls he faced from Nawaz, and also reached fifty off him.De Kock helped himself to runs off Afridi, then entered the 80s with a six over cover off Agha. He was on 98 when Afridi reviewed an lbw shout off Wasim. However, the delivery pitched outside leg and de Kock reached his century two balls later. The ball after that, Afridi reviewed again; once more, it had pitched outside leg.Pakistan used eight bowling options as they tried to break through, and Faheem eventually did. De Zorzi was caught off a leading edge by Ayub at point. De Kock – who finished unbeaten on 123* – and stand-in captain Matthew Breetzke ensured it was too late for Pakistan to defend their score, which could have been much less after they were reduced to 22 for 3 in the fifth over.Nandre Burger’s four tied down Pakistan’s batters•AFP via Getty Images

Earlier in the day, Burger struck with this third ball when Fakhar Zaman gloved an attempted pull to de Kock. Bosch had Babar Azam given out lbw off with his second delivery, but Babar reviewed. Ball-tracking showed the ball was bouncing over the stumps. All the same, South Africa did not have to wait too long to dismiss Pakistan’s talisman. In this third over, Burger squared up Babar, and he edged to Ferreira at first slip. Four balls later, Mohammed Rizwan fetched a Burger ball from fifth stump and chopped it onto his leg stump. At the other end, Bosch’s opening spell read: 4-0-8-0.The change bowlers Fortuin and Ferreira kept things quiet and limited the boundaries. By the 20th over, Pakistan had collectively hit just six fours before Ayub scored the innings’ first six, off Fortuin. Ayub also got to his second ODI 50 off Fortuin.Breetzke then made an inspired bowling change, which ended Ayub’s innings: he brought Bosch back as the halfway stage approached halfway stage, Ayub drove the ball back at Bosch with some force, and Bosch took a good low catch in his follow-through to pick up his first.At the time, Agha was on 34 off 62 balls, and showed no signs of speeding up. So, it fell to his partners to up the ante. Hussain Talat attempted to flick Peter over the legside, but the ball only found a leading edge, giving Peter a return catch and leaving Pakistan at 131 for 5 after 30 overs.Mohammad Nawaz added plenty of runs at the death•Getty Images

Agha made his way to fifty off 83 balls, and then began showing signs of urgency. He also slog-swept Fortuin for four, but it was Mohammad Nawaz who danced down the track to hit the left-arm spinner for six, and then repeated the feat against Bosch. Agha tried to join in, but Bosch had the final say when he bowled him with an inswinging yorker.Faheem Ashraf took 12 of the 13 runs off Bosch’s penultimate over, but was caught at deep mid-wicket when he tried to slog a Burger slower-ball bouncer. Peter got another return catch when Afridi top-edged him while trying to go big.After that, it was all Nawaz. He reached his fifty with six off the first ball of the final over, hit another 10 runs, and then gave Peter his third caught and bowled. This final dismissal was the best of the lot, as he had to judge a high chance. Though Naseem finished the innings with a six, Pakistan did not have nearly enough.Saturday’s third ODI, also in Faisalabad, will decide the series and end South Africa’s all-format tour of Pakistan.

After a dismal defeat against ten men last Monday, Manchester United bounced back with a 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Devils were behind at half-time after a Jean-Philippe Mateta penalty, but two goals from set pieces were enough to ensure they would take all three points back to Manchester.

Both goals were impressive finishes from United. First, the lesser-spotted Joshua Zirkzee got himself on the scoresheet with a fantastic finish.

He controlled a Bruno Fernandes free-kick on his chest before superbly volleying low and hard into the back of the net.

That was the strike which drew United level, and the goal which won them the game, from Mason Mount, was just as good. The Red Devils’ number 7 walked onto a Fernandes layoff from yet another free-kick, driving his effort through the Palace wall and into Dean Henderson’s goal.

Despite the result and an energetic second half showing, it was far from a perfect afternoon for United. Ruben Amorim’s side could only muster an expected goals tally of 1.25 xG, and just 0.26 xG in the second half. It was an important win, but there is still a lot to improve on.

Indeed, it was a tough day at the office for some United players, including young defender Leny Yoro.

Leny Yoro's day to forget vs Palace

Young French defender Yoro did not have the best outing at Selhurst Park on Sunday lunchtime. It was his foul on Mateta, a challenge late from behind his countryman, which led to Palace’s penalty and Oliver Glasner’s side taking the lead.

Indeed, there were bright moments against the South Londoners for the former Lille star, who has struggled to find his best form for the majority of this season. He made a crucial block in the first half to prevent Palace from scoring, an important moment in the game.

Yet, it was still not the day Yoro would have hoped for. His foul on Mateta, which was ultimately quite a clumsy challenge, and the fact that he won just three duels from the six he contested, meant Amorim took him off for Noussair Mazraoui after Zirkzee’s goal.

Despite what is a tough moment for Yoro, the United squad is rallying around him. Mount was one of the players quick to support his teammate at full-time, something that football presenter Dylan Penketh said he was “glad to see” after the final whistle.

It was a disappointing day for Yoro, but he was not the only United player who struggled.

Not just Yoro: Man Utd star struggles vs Palace

Coming up against Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada was always going to be tough for United’s pivot at Selhurst Park, and Casemiro was a player who felt the brunt of that.

The Brazilian was said to be “haunted by Adam Wharton” according to journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

Indeed, it was not an easy day against the Eagles’ energetic midfield pivot, especially in the first half. The Brazilian had 65 touches in total across the game, losing the ball 11 times and creating one chance. He also won just seven of his 15 duels.

The United number 18 received a 5/10 rating from the Manchester Evening News journalist Steven Railston. He said Casemiro did improve throughout the game, although he described his start to the game at Selhurst Park as “shaky.”

After a tougher game for Casemiro, and the fact that he is one yellow card away from suspension, it will be interesting to see if he keeps his place in the side ahead of United’s next game. Next up, they have a clash with West Ham United on Thursday at Old Trafford.

It is also a game where United are likely to have the lion’s share of possession. Perhaps Amoirm opts to bring Kobbie Mainoo into their midfield, a man who is better on the ball and more capable of retaining possession and sustaining attacks.

On top of that, the Brazilian played 90 minutes at Selhurst Park. With the game as soon as Thursday and a hectic December coming up, it would not be a surprise to see him rotated out of the side to help aid his recovery.

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The left hander was marked out from a young age as a player of huge talent, which brought with it pressure and expectation

Cameron Ponsonby31-Oct-2025Rachin Ravindra loves cricket.”You know CricHQ?” Ravindra asks, confirming his audience is on the same cricket tragic path that he is. “The scoring website thing. We’d get a game up from back in the day, let’s say Tendulkar, Desert Storm in Sharjah. And you’d have to get 106 or whatever, not out, to win the game.”For hours at any one time, Ravindra and friends would play out full-blown ODI run-chases or Test classics in the indoor nets at Lower Hutt in Wellington. Cones were put down to mark fielders, crash pads were lined up for men under the lid and if Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were batting at Eden Gardens, spin mats were put down as well.”That was the most fun I’ve ever had training,” Ravindra reminisces.Related

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Ravindra grew up around cricket. At home, his dad, a handy club player, would have cricket on the telly, the radio, the PlayStation and up on YouTube. While at school, Ravindra was part of an XI that won the National Championships when he was in Year 11. Ben Sears, his now international team-mate, was his opening partner, while Otago batter Troy Johnson was his captain at No. 3.”His first 1XI game at school was as a 13-year-old,” Johnson remembers. “He told me all the bowlers were too slow and that’s why he was early on every shot.”He’s probably not the most talented player in the history of the game, but he works way, way harder than anyone I’ve ever seen.”From the age of seven, Ravindra had a training schedule synced with his calendar. He’d be up before his dad and would drag him to the indoor nets at Lower Hutt before school, as well as after.Ravindra’s game was built on imitation. Watching highlights, he’d see a shot he liked and ask his dad to clip it. Over time, Ravindra had a DVD of supercut, super highlights featuring Kumar Sangakkara cover drives, Matthew Hayden pick-ups over midwicket, Ricky Ponting pull shots and Brian Lara cut shots.”Then I’d go to the nets and practice,” Ravindra explains. “20 good ones exactly like Sangakkara did.”Two Tendulkar straight drives made the cut as well. “That little punchy thing he did,” Ravindra recalls. “I tried that heaps. But he also hit a full follow-through one as well.”Speaking to ESPNcricinfo back in 2018, his father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, concluded, “I tried to get my daughter into cricket and she didn’t. With Rachin, I didn’t try, and he did.”The 2023 ODI World Cup is where Rachin Ravindra really went global•AFP/Getty ImagesFor Ravindra, the prodigy tag has been attached to him for as long as he can remember. That school debut at 13, becoming the leading wicket taker in the school’s history by the time he was 15, the youngest member of the New Zealand Under-19 squad at 16. His first-class debut came for New Zealand A as a 19-year-old. Life for any professional athlete-to-be is unusual. Life for a prodigy is unique. And in truth, bizarre. Being told you will be the best at something before you’ve even…”Achieved that much?”, says Ravindra, cutting off the question. “I know exactly what you mean. It’s interesting. From a youngish age you sort of get labelled as whatever. But for me it comes down to why I play. Obviously, I love playing cricket because the fans get to watch me and I find that amazing.”But at the end of the day, it’s because I enjoy it. I want to get better at it. So it’s almost irrelevant about me trying to prove my ability to other people. I love playing for a team. I’m playing and I’m trying to win games for that team. So that, for me, drives me.”Ravindra’s first crack at international cricket was a failure. On the biggest stage, it was the first time he had rolled the dice and landed on a snake rather than a ladder. In six T20Is he averaged nine and in three Test matches he averaged 15 facing India and Bangladesh.

I was just thinking, this…is…ridiculous. It’s the moments you dream of as a kid. I guess I’m lucky my name’s closeRachin Ravindra on hearing his name chanted during the 2023 World Cup

“You get given an opportunity at a young age, potentially in a role you’re not necessarily ready for,” he says, “And you want to impress and think this is my journey and this is how it’s supposed to go. And then it doesn’t work out and you sit back and think, ‘wow’.”Eighteen months on the sidelines followed where he returned to Wellington and averaged a good-but-not-great 37. Despite the so-so returns, Ravindra describes the time as a “eureka moment” where he learned to ride the waves of failure.”I’d been trying so hard to be this player that I’m not,” he says. “And, the classic, I’d been putting myself under too much pressure and not realising that failure teaches us so many things. And if you don’t realise that early enough you get surrounded by it and it eats you up.”Ultimately, his concluding thoughts towards cricket were the same as the rest of ours.”It sucks,” Ravindra says. “But it’s also – like – great.”Rachin Ravindra on India test series: “I think about that India tour, and every day we were like ‘oh my god, what is going on here? We can win this thing.'”•AFP/Getty ImagesIt was chance, rather than planning, that led him to the 2023 World Cup where his star rose and his reputation was made. Initially not picked in the squad, he was a late call-up after Michael Bracewell was injured. And the day before the England match, even with Kane Williamson out injured, he was not scheduled to be in the XI. Only when Lockie Ferguson pulled out late with a hamstring issue was Ravindra given the nod. Not, as had been the case so far in his career, in the middle-order, but at No. 3.”I knew I was a better player,” Ravindra recalls of whether the nerves were greater the second time around. “I had a better mindset, I’d done more research and worked on a few things I felt like I needed. I guess I was lucky that the timing worked out to be leading up to the World Cup.”123 unbeaten runs later and Ravindra’s potential was realised. That was further confirmed with another century against Australia in Dharamsala, where the Indian crowd took to him and chants of “Rachin, Rachin” echoed around the ground.”I almost did,” Ravindra laughs when asked if a tear or two rolled down his cheek. “I was just thinking, this…is…ridiculous. It’s the moments you dream of as a kid. I guess I’m lucky my name’s close.”From imitating Tendulkar as a child to having an imitation of the legend’s chant delivered to him. Disney movies would scrap such an ending for being too on the nose.It was the start of what’s become a love affair with playing on the subcontinent. Six of his eight international centuries have come either in India or Pakistan. He scored a Test hundred in Bengaluru, the hometown of his parents, during New Zealand’s miraculous whitewash of India in 2024, before putting together a prolific Champions Trophy run in 2025 to take New Zealand to the final.Rachin Ravindra alongside Kane Williamson, one of his idols•ICC/Getty Images”I’ve had special moments around the world,” Ravindra recalls of his highlights reel. “But I think the most special have been in Test cricket. I think about that India tour, and every day we were like ‘oh my god, what is going on here? We can win this thing.'”Ravindra’s reward has been to be elevated to the next level of prodigy status. That of the generational player. Michael Atherton said it a year ago, Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler said it a few weeks ago.”It’s a pinch yourself moment when people say that,” Ravindra explains. “And knowing I’ve played with Jos at Manchester Originals and seeing the way he bats. To hear that, it’s really cool.”It’s relevant that in the story of a child prodigy who’s now earning millions of dollars a year, that Ravindra is known for being, well, really nice. “One of the all-time greats,” was one message I received ahead of the interview. Multiple people spoke of how lightly he wears his reputation and international standing in the game.In an off-the-record conversation with a player a year ago, unprompted, they announced Ravindra to be one of their favourite people they’ve met in the game. But not because he was nice. That would be weird. But because he was a kind, down-to-earth person, with the edge required to make it at the top.”I was obsessed with it,” Ravindra said of his early experiences in cricket. “Obviously Dad got me into it first, but then it was ‘I want to go do this. I want to go do that.’ I’d cry when I got out in the nets.”The relationship was led by Ravindra Jnr, and facilitated by Ravindra Snr.Rachin Ravindra will be a key part of New Zealand’s batting for years to come•ICC/Getty Images”It always can be quite tough having your dad as coach,” Ravindra says. “There were some serious times where we bickered. It’s not his fault. I cared about it so much and I wanted to do well. But because of everything we did when I was young, he’s one of my best mates. And mum was also around the whole time too. She’d wake me up, have everything ready for the day.”Ravindra is the fan who made it to the top. In a modern environment where coffee and golf leave cricket a distant third in professionals’ favourite hobbies, it is refreshing to hear a player talk so openly about their love of the game compared to how often the sport seems to drive players to distraction, and sometimes bitterness, when it becomes a job.For Ravindra though, the novelty of rubbing shoulders with his heroes is yet to wear off, even if those he once counted as idols are now his peers.”I remember Michael Hussey was our batting coach at CSK,” Ravindra recalls, “and I was talking to him about his books and he was like, ‘….mate.'”
Batting with Kane Williamson remains top of the pile in his catalogue of fan-to-player experiences, with Virat Kohli giving him a bit of a spray the first time he played against him making the shortlist as well.His dad remains heavily involved in the sport, too. When Ravindra was a kid, his father created a local club known as the Hutt Hawks that played extra matches around the country and even went on annual tours to India. It is hard not to connect Ravindra’s success on the subcontinent with such early exposure to conditions in the country. The club is still going, and thriving.”They’ve got four or five teams in each age-group now,” Ravindra says with a smile. “It obviously helped me, but countless other cricketers as well. You look down the Wellington Firebirds list and even across the country, how many people have done that trip and there’s been so many.”New Zealand’s Test whitewash of India 2024. Masterminded by the Hutt Hawks – sort of. Tom Blundell was the other member of the national team who went on a tour as well.”I guess there’s no secret, right?” Ravindra concludes of his route to success. “You look at guys like Steve Smith, Kohli, Kane, Root and they hit a number of balls. It’s got to be purposeful, and you can feel like it can drag on, but that’s the thing that you pride yourself on.”Ahead of Christmas, there’s a new cricket game coming out on the PlayStation. As a child, Ravindra grew up watching his dad play Cricket ’04 in the living room. This time, he’ll be in the game himself. Sometimes the presents choose themselves.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has confirmed that an injured Spurs star won’t be back in action for a ‘long time’, with the Dane currently minus a few key first-team players.

Tottenham battle Slavia Prague in the Champions League

Spurs welcome Slavia Prague to North London tonight seeking to reignite their automatic Champions League knockout round hopes with a victory that would edge them closer to securing a coveted top-eight finish.

Frank’s side need all three points against the struggling Czech outfit to maintain momentum after Saturday’s morale-boosting 2-0 win over Brentford ended their miserable six-match winless streak.

The Lilywhites currently sit 16th in the Champions League standings with eight points from five matches, sitting just two points behind the automatic qualification places.

Saturday’s Premier League victory will give Spurs more confidence following the chaotic 5-3 defeat to PSG in their previous European outing, with Richarlison and Xavi Simons securing all three points against Frank’s former employers last weekend.

Despite their lacklustre home form overall this year, the hosts actually boast a formidable home record in European competition, remaining unbeaten in 22 consecutive European games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Spurs have won both their Champions League home matches this campaign without conceding, defeating Villarreal and FC Copenhagen.

History also favours Frank’s side, having never lost to Slavia Prague in four previous European meetings, recording three victories and one draw.

Slavia arrive in desperate circumstances, languishing in 31st with just three points from five matches and facing the genuine prospect of early elimination.

The Czech champions have endured a torrid European campaign, failing to register a single victory while remarkably going four consecutive Champions League fixtures without scoring.

Their attacking struggles represent their most significant weakness, with just two goals across the entire league phase.

Despite domestic dominance — sitting five points clear atop the Czech First League following Friday’s 2-1 victory over Teplice — Jindrich Trpisovsky’s side have repeatedly failed to translate that form onto the continental stage.

Their 3-0 home defeat to Arsenal highlighted the gulf in quality when facing elite opposition, while goalless draws against Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao demonstrated defensive resilience without much threat going forward.

Frank faces several selection concerns heading into the clash, though.

Destiny Udogie is sidelined with a hamstring injury which will keep him out until January, while Randal Kolo Muani is doubtful after limping through Saturday’s victory.

Brennan Johnson is also ‘touch and go’ for the encounter, according to Frank, but one significant positive looked to have emerged from Monday’s training session.

James Maddison was spotted working on the grass for the first time since rupturing his ACL during August’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle, with Frank providing an update on the Englishman.

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Regrettably, while the £170,000-per-week playmaker sparked excitement when he was clocked in training, Frank has confirmed in quotes relayed by The Press Association, that Maddison still won’t be back for a ‘long time’.

The 29-year-old, who bagged 22 goals contributions in all competitions last term (12 goals, 11 assists), has been a sore miss for Spurs as they heavily rely on the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Simons for their creativity.

Simons’ phenomenal solo run and goal against Brentford will have done the Dutchman a world of good for his confidence following real criticism since his marquee move from Leipzig in the summer.

The pressure is on him to deliver in the ongoing absence of both Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, with Frank also remaining vague about the latter’s recovery timeline.

After Slavia, Tottenham travel to struggling Nottingham Forest on Sunday, and only a win will do there too.

Cristiano Ronaldo could, if he extends his international career beyond the 2026 World Cup, be in line for a reunion with Jose Mourinho. That is because the self-anointed ‘Special One’ is considered to be a guaranteed pick as next manager of the Portugal national team. Mourinho is currently with Benfica, with his recent struggles on the trophy-winning front being explained.

• When did Mourinho last win a major trophy?

  Mourinho is one of the most decorated coaches to have ever graced a dugout, with the Champions League crown being captured with Porto and Inter. He has also landed domestic titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.

  Memorable spells have been taken in as boss of Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid, while also spending time with Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma and Fenerbahce. Mourinho returned to his roots in September when taking over at Benfica.

  The 62-year-old has lost none of his appetite for success, but last hoisted major silverware aloft in 2022 when Roma captured the Conference League crown. The Portuguese league title is in danger of slipping out of reach this season, as Benfica sit nine points off the pace, meaning that a barren run on the silverware front could extend to four years.

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  Is Mourinho still special? Trophy toil explained

  Quizzed on whether Mourinho is as ‘special’ as he once was, former Porto midfielder Pedro Mendes – speaking to Boyle Sports, who offer the latest Football Betting – said: “Well, at the time it was different. He was one of a kind. It was really a pleasure to work under him, under his command. But football changed a lot. A lot of things changed in football. New managers, new ideas, new football approaches, new game approaches, new systems that we never heard of in the past.

  “But what I can see hasn’t changed is his presence, his speech, the way he faces the press, the way he talks to the players, the way he talks to the press regarding his players. I can see that has never changed. Recently he has struggled a little bit, but that's a sign of the times.”

• Next Portugal manager: Mourinho tipped to take the reins

  It remains to be seen how long Mourinho will remain in club management, as questions of his methods – and whether they are becoming slightly outdated – begin to mount in intensity. He is tied to a contract at Benfica through to the summer of 2027.

  Mourinho has never hidden the fact that he would like to manage Portugal at some point, with that role currently being filled by Roberto Martinez. How long the Spaniard remains in that post could be determined by performances at the 2026 World Cup.

  Mendes expects Mourinho to step in eventually, saying: “Everyone in football in Portugal believes that one day Jose Mourinho will be our national team manager. When he was out of a job, I don't know if Roberto Martinez had failed somehow, he could have jumped in straight away, but Roberto Martínez won one of the Nations League tournaments and he's doing a fantastic job now for the World Cup qualifiers.

  “Jose Mourinho just signed for Benfica a few months ago, so we need to wait on that. But I think one day he will. I think he will. I think he also has this desire.”

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  2030 World Cup: How long will Ronaldo play on for?

  Taking the reins with Portugal could see Mourinho work with Ronaldo again, with the pair having previously spent three years together at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013. CR7 is showing no sign of slowing down at 40 years of age.

  Remarkable individual standards are being maintained at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, with more Golden Boots being secured in the Middle East, while 1,000 career goals remain an obvious target for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

  Ronaldo has reached 226 caps and 143 goals for his country, over the course of a 22-year international career, and is expected to grace next summer’s World Cup. It has even been suggested that the evergreen frontman could play on to Euro 2028 and another global gathering on home soil in 2030 – which would give him the chance to work under Mourinho again.

From Colombia to the USMNT, GOAL ranks the teams most likely to make a dark horse run at the 2026 World Cup – and possibly even go all the way

Every World Cup has a dark horse. It’s the story that defines each tournament, especially at a time when surprise winners are rare. Look at the last four tournaments, and each of the champions – Argentina, France, Germany, Spain – could have easily been predicted before a ball was kicked. But who could have called Ghana's run to quarterfinal in 2010? Or Morocco's in 2022? Those runs are what make the World Cup fun.

Yet some qualities are always needed and there are common ingredients from tournament to tournament. The first is a solid structure – the ability to keep the ball out. The second tends to be a game-changer in attack, whether it be a singular presence or a well-constructed machine to make things happen. And finally, there's the vibes, the belief, the groundswell of momentum that gathers during a World Cup run. 

It's what makes these things so difficult to predict. Yet there are some clear contenders at the 2026 World Cup. And with the draw done, GOAL ranks the six teams most likely to make a run next summer… 

Getty Images6Turkey

OK, so Turkey technically have not qualified yet. They had a rough run over the last couple of months, but should comfortably get through a playoff that includes either Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo. There's plenty of talent here, too, with Kenan Yildiz, Arda Guler, and Hakan Calhanoglu all capable of making the difference on their day. A hammering of the United States last summer showed how clinical they can be, too – even if there are question marks at striker. 

AdvertisementAFP5USMNT

What do we make of the hosts? Technically, the USMNT aren’t the only hosts, but so far, this has felt like a very U.S.-centric tournament. All of their group games are on home soil, and the ingredients are there. They have an elite manager, a clear structure, and quality across the pitch. The Christian Pulisic “world-class” debate will never end, but he remains a game-changer at almost any level. Add the usual boost of being at home, and you can’t write them off.

Getty Images4South Korea

This is hardly a flaming hot take. South Korea make noise at World Cups. It's kind of their thing. It goes back to 2002, when they were unlikely semifinalists on home soil. In between have been dramatic wins over Germany and shocking defeats of Portugal. Their team is full of quality pretty much everywhere, with Lee Kang-In, Kim Min-Jae, and, of course, Son Heung-Min leading the way. They are well coached, well drilled, and dangerous on the break. Those are all good things. 

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(C)Getty images3Japan

At No. 18 in the world, Japan are the highest-ranked Asian side in FIFA's World Rankings. But they aren't a bad football team whatsoever, either. There isn't really a weak link. Manager Hajime Moriyasu has been in charge for eight years now, and during that time has pieced together a well-drilled side that can be dangerous in attack. Take Kubo, Karou Mitoma, and Takumi Minamino are all threats in the final third. Daichi Kamada is an excellent central midfielder. Wataru Endo offers solidity. And there are plenty of options at the back, too. They could do with a little depth in the full back positions, but otherwise they're a fair bet to make a run. 

Fast bowler wants to be “mint” for first Test as he looks forward to playing at “rapid” Perth Stadium

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2025

Mark Wood says he is feeling the excitement of bowling once again, after coming through a “boring” six months of rehab following knee surgery, and is ready to be as “fresh as I can be” come the first Test of the Ashes at Optus Stadium in Perth in a fortnight’s time.Wood, England’s fastest bowler, played in four of the five Tests on England’s last Ashes tour in 2021-22, claiming 17 wickets including a career-best 6 for 37 in the final Test in Hobart.However, on that occasion, he missed out on the chance to play in Perth, traditionally the venue for the fastest pitches in Australia, because of Western Australia’s strict Covid policy. Instead, his only experience of the pace and bounce on offer came during England’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign in 2022.”It was rapid,” Wood recalled, having claimed five wickets in two wins against Australia (in a pre-tournament bilateral match) and Afghanistan. “I’m not sure my back is looking forward to it, but my bowling is definitely looking forward to it.”Related

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Wood’s ability to touch speeds in the mid-to-high 90mphs (155kph) is a central plank of England’s strategy as they seek to end a run of three deeply one-sided Ashes tours, dating back to their last win in the country in 2010-11.Asked if England had a back-up plan, if their policy of all-out pace proves to be the wrong one, Wood joked: “Don’t try as hard and bowl 130[kph]? We’ll be giving everything we’ve got. The type of bowlers that we are, I’m not quite sure that it’s in us to not give 100%. Whether it’s good enough, I don’t know, but we’ll wait and see. Australia are obviously the favourites going into the series, but I think there’s a quiet confidence within our group that we can do well here.”As Wood has shown in his previous comebacks from injury, however, he’s unlikely to hit full throttle until he’s out in the middle, with England’s warm-up fixture against England Lions looming next week as his one opportunity to test his match fitness.”I wouldn’t say I’m at 100%,” he said. “I think it’s very hard to train 100% all of the time. I’ve been off my full run-up and stuff, and I’ve been trying to just up the intensity as I go along. I’m sure in the practice game coming up, I can try and up it a little bit more again and gradually get ready for that first game.”England have attracted some criticism for their lack of meaningful warm-up games – a stark contrast from the intense preparations that went into their 2010-11 win. Wood, however, said he was unconcerned, and cited the team’s unlikely first-Test win over India in Hyderabad two winters ago as proof of what they can achieve in the series opener.Wood has been rehabbing after knee surgery•Getty Images

“The schedule is the schedule, I’m happy with what we’ve done,” he said. “In India recently, we didn’t have many games there, and we went straight into that and managed to win that first game.”We’re going to have been here, what, two or three weeks as a group. That’s a good enough build-up to that first game in my eyes. I suppose everybody’s different, and some people might want more but, for myself, I want to feel fresh going in that first game, having done a little bit, but not too much. I want to be mint for that game, and as fresh as I can be. We’ve got a good depth of bowlers, and if one misses out, he’ll be prepared for the next game.”Either way, Wood said that England’s outdoor training sessions at Lilac Hill had been a significant improvement from the “damp and cold” back home, where much of his preparation was undertaken in a heated tent on the outfield in a bid to replicate the humid conditions in Australia.”It was boring to start with, bowling by myself, but to now bowl in front of the batters, it’s exciting,” Wood said. “It’s now feeling like the start of the tour, and I’m feeling that excitement building to the first game.”When I was running on the treadmill at home, I was visualising the stadium and my run-up, and using the experience of playing here before. It certainly helped the motivation, when I was running in a cool, dark garage at home. Gearing up for being here, I’m so much more aligned to it now.”It was never just a straight trajectory,” he said, recalling the ups and downs of his return to action from knee ligament surgery. “There were some bits where I wasn’t doing as well, and then I had to build it up again. So finally, it’s nice to be outside in some nice weather, and ramping it up.”England’s arrival in Perth has already generated a glut of headlines, not least in the West Australia newspaper which described their captain, Ben Stokes, as “England’s Cocky Captain Complainer”. Wood, however, said the squad had taken the pre-series excitement in their stride.”It’s been great,” Wood said. “That’s all part of it. I haven’t taken much notice of newspapers and things, but the reception we’ve had in general from Australians has been great.”Out and about in the hotel and around Perth, everyone’s been very friendly, and everyone’s excited for the series. It’s a big build-up, and there’s obviously huge amounts of press around it which makes it more exciting. There’s a lot of English coming … back home, I walked down the street and it seemed like every man from England’s coming across. So I think the Barmy Army will be in full voice and right behind us.”

Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues have had a quiet World Cup so far. India can’t afford for it to stay that way

Vishal Dikshit10-Oct-2025India are approaching the halfway mark of their Women’s World Cup campaign and their performances have not lived up to the promise they displayed in the lead up to the tournament. They haven’t come close to playing the perfect game, and Australia await on Sunday.India’s most severe problem is that their star-studded top five has been reduced to rubble and their innings has needed a lower-order rescue in all three games. They managed to recover well enough to win their first two matches but fell short against their toughest opponents yet, South Africa.The trend in this tournament has been for most teams to lose five or six wickets by around 25 overs, but India’s struggle stands out because none of their senior trio of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues has made a half-century.When compared to the other seven teams at the World Cup, India’s top five averages 23.13, lower than all the other serious semi-finalist contenders England, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Among teams that have played at least two games, India are the only ones without a 50-plus score from their top five. It terms of run rate, India’s top five is third from the bottom.Related

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During the previous game against South Africa, Mandhana broke a 28-year record held by Belinda Clark and is on track to become the first woman to score 1000 ODI runs in a year. She has eight hundreds since the start of 2024; the most recent of those – 125 off 63 balls against Australia last month – was the second fastest in the format.In the World Cup, however, she has made only 8, 23, and 23 so far. What was hard to believe was that her scratchiest innings – against South Africa – came on the flattest pitch India have played on to date. She was beaten frequently in Visakhapatnam and struggled against the swing of Marizanne Kapp before eventually holing out against left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba.It would have been even harder to believe for the Indian camp because in their two training sessions in Visakhapatnam, Mandhana batted like she did during that century against Australia: taking apart the swing of Renuka Singh, middling aerial shots against anyone who bowled to her, and shuffling around her crease to hit anywhere she wanted to.Jemimah Rodrigues has fallen to left-arm spin in all three games•ICC/Getty ImagesMandhana’s close friend Rodrigues was not far behind before this World Cup. She scored both of her ODI centuries in 2025 and her strike rate in a year was more than a run a ball for the first time. She had found success at No. 5, a position given to her only in 2023 after she spent her early years in the top order.To be fair to Rodrigues, the first delivery she faced in her maiden ODI World Cup is a contender for the ball of the tournament: Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera used drift and turn from around the wicket to hit off stump. Rodrigues, however, fell to left-arm spin in India’s next two games, too. She was lbw to Pakistan’s Nashra Sandhu and lbw to South Africa’s Chloe Tyron, missing the sweep on both occasions. Her highest score so far is 32 off 37 against Pakistan, but she might have not even got that far had Diana Baig not overstepped when she was on 2.Harmanpreet hasn’t had a magical year so far, but she’s the sort of batter who can play a blinder out of nowhere, especially against India’s next opponents Australia. She played a cameo against Sri Lanka when India needed more, struggled for rhythm against Pakistan, and got totally stuck against South Africa, crawling to 9 off 23 before mistiming an on-the-up push to point that drew instant criticism from Anjum Chopra for getting through the shot too early against the left-arm spin of Tyron.You can bet on Harmanpreet raising her game against Australia, though, especially on the biggest stages. After her match-winning 171 not out in the 2017 World Cup semi-final, she nearly took India to the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, nearly secured a place in the 2023 T20 World Cup final, and ran them close in the 2024 T20 World Cup, too.Harmanpreet had hoped that the WPL, now three seasons old, would prepare India’s lower order to handle crunch situations better than they have in the past. The previous three games have proved that India’s Nos. 6 to 9 can dig the team out of a deep hole. The onus is now on Mandhana, Harmanpreet and Rodrigues to ensure they don’t find themselves in one, as the race to the semi-finals heats up with tough fixtures against Australia and then England.