The series will also mark the first time Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad hosts international cricket in 17 years, with all three ODIs between the sides set to take place there

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Sep-2025The Gaddafi Stadium is set to host its first Test match in over three years – and the first since it was rebuilt ahead of the Champions Trophy earlier this year. It will be the venue for the first of two Test matches when South Africa visit Pakistan for an all-format series next month.That game, starting on October 12, will kick off the series, South Africa’s first in a World Test Championship campaign since they became champions in June this year. It will be the first series of the next two-year Test cycle for both teams. The second game will take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which also underwent some renovation work over the past year.The series will also mark the first time Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad hosts international cricket in 17 years, with all three ODIs between the sides set to take place there. Faisalabad was initially a venue for two T20Is against Bangladesh in May, but amid a reschedule due to an India-Pakistan border tension, the games in Faisalabad were scrapped.South Africa became the World Test Champions in June this year•ICC/Getty Images

The series also features three T20Is which precede the ODIs, with the first in Rawalpindi and the next two in Lahore.Lahore’s return as a Test venue is notable, with this being just the second Test at the Gaddafi since Test cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019. In the years since, Pindi, Karachi and latterly Multan became favoured venues for red-ball games, primarily because smog in the winter months affects Lahore more than the other cities, and restricted the window for Test cricket in the city. The one game it hosted was in March 2022 against Australia at the back end of the cricket season in the country.It will also be the first red-ball series against South Africa with full crowd involvement since the return of international cricket to Pakistan. The sides played a two-match series in 2021 behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”We are looking forward to welcome South Africa for the opening series of our ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign,” PCB COO Sumair Ahmed said. “Starting the new cycle against the current Test champions will provide quality cricket for our players and fans.”The ODIs begin on 28 October, with the final T20I on 8 November in Faisalabad.

South Africa tour to Pakistan schedule

October 12-16 – First Test, Lahore
October 20-24 – Second Test, Rawalpindi
October 28 – First T20I, Rawalpindi
October 31 – Second T20I, Lahore
November 1 -Third T20I, Lahore
November 4 – First ODI, Faisalabad
November 6 – Second ODI, Faisalabad
November 8 – Third ODI, Faisalabad

The upcoming women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka will feature an all-female line-up of match officials. On Thursday, the ICC announced the panel of four match referees and 14 umpires, featuring women from nine countries for the tournament that runs from September 30 to November 2.The match referees are Trudy Anderson (New Zealand), Shandre Fritz (South Africa), GS Lakshmi (India) and Michell Pereira (Sri Lanka).The on-field and TV umpires are Sue Redfern (England), Claire Polosak and Eloise Sheridan (Australia), Candace la Borde and Jacqueline Williams (West Indies), Kim Cotton (New Zealand), Sarah Dambanevana (Zimbabwe), Shathira Jakir Jesy (Bangladesh), Kerrin Klaaste and Lauren Agenbag (South Africa), N Janani, Vrinda Rathi and Gayathri Venugopalan (India) and Nimali Perera (Sri Lanka).Related

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Among them, Polosak, Williams and Redfern will be appearing in their third women’s ODI World Cups, while Agenbag and Cotton will be at their second.Three recent events – the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the two most recent women’s T20 World Cups – also featured all-female panels of match officials.

Panel of match officials

Match referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michelle Pereira
Umpires: Lauren Agenbag, Candace la Borde, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Shathira Jakir Jesy, Kerrin Klaaste, Janani N, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Gayathri Venugopalan, Jacquline Williams

“This marks a defining moment in the journey of women’s cricket, one that we hope will pave the way for many more trailblazing stories across all facets of the sport,” ICC president Jay Shah said in a statement. “The inclusion of an all-women panel of match officials is not only a major milestone but also a powerful reflection of the ICC’s unwavering commitment to advancing gender equity across cricket.”This development goes beyond symbolic value. It is about visibility, opportunity, and the creation of meaningful role models who can inspire future generations. By highlighting excellence in officiating on the global stage, we aim to spark aspiration and reinforce that leadership and impact in cricket know no gender.”We are honoured to recognise a new chapter in the growth of the women’s game. We believe the influence of this initiative will resonate far beyond this tournament, motivating more women worldwide to pursue officiating careers and helping redefine what’s possible within the game.”The 13th women’s ODI World Cup begins with hosts India and Sri Lanka facing off on September 30. Defending champions Australia will take on New Zealand on October 1. Each team will play the other seven teams once with the top four moving into the semi-finals.The matches will be played in Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, Navi Mumbai and Colombo with the final scheduled for November 2.

Neymar has been branded “washed”, with fans reacting to the “sad watch” of seeing the Brazilian icon botch two attempted rainbow flicks during Santos’ surprising win over Palmeiras. Neymar is considered to have performed admirably in that fixture, but questions are being asked of whether the 33-year-old still possesses the kind of magic in his boots that once allowed him to illuminate the world stage.

• Neymar trying to drag Santos out of a relegation battle

  Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer has been back in his homeland since January, having returned to his roots on the back of seeing a lucrative contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal terminated. That deal was torn up after recovering from a knee ligament injury.

  More fitness setbacks have been endured in South America, with the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain playmaker struggling to provide inspiration in Santos’ ongoing battle to avoid relegation in 2025.

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• Watch Neymar fail with two attempted rainbow flicks

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  He did help them to a shock victory over title-chasing Palmeiras, but was unable to produce a moment of match-altering brilliance in that contest. Neymar tried his best to deliver in that department, but two flicks close to the corner flag caught the eye of onlookers for all of the wrong reasons.

  @PolymarketFC said when sharing a video of Neymar’s failed rainbow flicks: “SAD WATCH! Neymar just doesn’t have it anymore.” @Harisson_utd added “Brother is so washed”, with @TheLondonLad_ going on to say: “‘Leave the football before the football leave you.’ He Should just retire. No shame in that.”

  On a similar theme, @DRealist009 said: “Just retire already bro.” @LincolnLumbe continued that theme when posting: “He needs to quit before he tarnishes his legacy.”

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• Getty Images
  

  Does Neymar still have it? Ex-Brazil internationals offer their take

  While some fans were less than impressed with what they saw from Neymar, former Brazil international defender Luisao told Resenha da Rodada from : “Neymar played with his team-mates, unlike in the interview he gave last time, he was part of the team and that made it difficult for Palmeiras.”

  Luis Fabiano added: “Neymar understood that he needs to be more supportive of his team-mates. Everything he did against Flamengo, he did the opposite of, and he held back. When he holds back, his football shines through a bit more. It's not the Neymar we usually see, but he stands out from the Santos team; when the ball is at his feet, something good comes out of it.”

The ICC match referee is believed to have said to Pakistan that he was merely the messenger of India’s decision not to shake hands on Sunday

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2025Andy Pycroft, the ICC match referee at the centre of the controversy that nearly derailed the 2025 Asia Cup, was told only minutes before the toss of the India-Pakistan match on September 14 that the two captains were not to shake hands.At that moment, he believed he was conveying the message rather than issuing instructions. Pycroft was subsequently the subject of a complaint made by the PCB, which accused him of breaching ICC codes as well as the spirit of cricket, and demanded his removal from the tournament.Details have begun to emerge of the frenzied nature of events between the two Pakistan games on September 14 and 17. The controversy was sparked, according to an official, “four minutes before the toss” in Sunday’s game between India and Pakistan. As Pycroft walked on to the field, he was told by the ACC venue manager that the BCCI had communicated – with the Indian government’s approval – that there would be no handshake between the captains Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha.Related

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PCB officials argued that Pycroft should have alerted the ICC about this unusual request; Pycroft is believed to have said he did not have time to do so. With enough time, he would have consulted the ICC. Instead, moments before the toss, he told Agha of the situation in the belief he was avoiding a potentially embarrassing public moment if Agha went to shake hands with Suryakumar only to be snubbed.Pycroft’s decision has not been seen by the ICC at any point as a breach of any code of conduct but as an action he was authorised to take in his remit as a match official deputed to manage the game.The issue came to a head on Wednesday with uncertainty swirling around Pakistan’s must-win game against UAE and the PCB threatening to pull out of the tournament if Pycroft, who was rostered for the game, wasn’t reassigned. The match eventually went ahead after an hour’s delay following a hastily arranged, clear-the-air meeting between Pycroft and the Pakistan team hierarchy.The PCB subsequently claimed in a statement that Pycroft had “apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team”, though sources familiar with the situation maintain it was not an apology, but an “expression of regret over the misunderstanding and miscommunication” around the incident.PCB vs ICCThe PCB had sent an official complaint to the ICC’s general manager of cricket Wasim Khan between Sunday night and Monday morning after Pakistan’s defeat to India. In it, the board spelt out the sequence of events before the toss and accused Pycroft of misconduct, saying it was alarmed “to note that an ICC-appointed and supposedly neutral match referee opted to indulge in conduct which clearly violates the spirit of cricket and MCC laws”.The PCB said Pycroft “failed to discharge his responsibility to ensure that respect was extended and maintained amongst the captains as well as between the two competing sides, and to create a positive atmosphere by his conduct and encourage the captains and participating teams to do likewise”. It called for his immediate withdrawal from the Asia Cup.In its first response on September 15, the ICC told the PCB it had “carefully investigated” the complaint, but “concluded” there was “no case to answer on the part of Mr Pycroft” and he was “not at fault” in any way. In its review, the ICC had spoken to Pycroft, the other match and tournament officials, and the tournament director Andrew Russell.Pakistan captain Salman Agha and team manager Naved Akram Cheema had met with Andy Pycroft before the game against UAE•AFP/Getty ImagesThe ICC explained that Pycroft’s communication to Agha not to shake hands was “following clear direction” from the ACC venue manager. Having received the message at such “short notice”, Pycroft, the ICC said, had dealt with the situation professionally. “In acting as he did, the match referee was committed to preserving the sanctity of the toss and avoiding any potential embarrassment that might have arisen.”The ICC said the match referee’s role was not to “regulate any team- or tournament-specific protocol that has been agreed outside of the area of play” and that the “real issue” was the handshake not taking place, which was a “matter” to be addressed and resolved by the tournament organiser and “those who took the actual decision”.The ICC’s email to the PCB also stated that changing match officials at the “request or insistence” of a participating country would set an “extremely dangerous and unfortunate precedent”.The PCB then expressed “disappointment” at the ICC’s decision to absolve Pycroft, pointing to “glaring discrepancies”. The board said the ICC had failed to seek out “complete evidence/version of events” from witnesses that had “actually seen” what it described as Pycroft’s “offensive conduct”. The PCB said the ICC had not spoken to Agha or the team management during its probe, which it called a “one-sided process”.The PCB questioned how a match referee could be only a “messenger” and convey directives that violated the spirit of cricket. Pycroft, the PCB said, should have offered an “unequivocal refusal” when he was asked to tell Agha not to shake hands with Suryakumar. In a separate email on Wednesday, the ICC said the PCB had every opportunity to “provide any supporting documentation or evidence” to back their case against Pycroft, but none had been received.The events before the delayed startDuring this back and forth with the ICC, the PCB raised the prospect of withdrawing from the Asia Cup, saying the Pakistan government had advised it to do so if Pycroft was not removed.The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is the country’s interior minister, a senior figure in the government.A tense stalemate ensued, with the Pakistan team training on Tuesday evening ahead of their game against UAE but cancelling the pre-match press conference. On Wednesday, after a flurry of emails in the morning, a video call was arranged early afternoon Dubai time between senior ICC officials, their counterparts from the PCB and the Emirates Cricket Board. The ICC offered the PCB an opportunity to talk through its case and arguments but both sides stood their ground: the PCB continued to call for Pycroft’s removal, the ICC insisted he hadn’t breached any rules.PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi gave the Pakistan team clearance to continue their Asia Cup campaign•Associated PressAround 4pm Dubai time, two hours before the scheduled toss, another video call was arranged between the same people. It again began with both sides unrelenting. Around this time, the Pakistan players were told to remain at the hotel and not go to the ground, having originally been scheduled to leave at 4.30pm. This was the first time the world outside discovered how serious the situation was. With time running out, it was on this call that Wasim Khan and ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta are believed to have suggested a meeting between Pycroft and the Pakistan team. PCB officials, keen on the idea, took it to Naqvi, who was consulting with former board heads Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja on the matter. He agreed, the ICC was told, and the Pakistan team left for the stadium at 5.40pm Dubai time.Miscommunication and misunderstandingThe players arrived at Dubai International Stadium half an hour before the rescheduled toss at 7pm local time, and Pycroft immediately met with Agha, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson and team manager Naved Akram Cheema in a room with Wasim Khan also present. Pycroft is believed to have begun the conversation by asking the Pakistan participants about their precise grievances. In response, he explained to them why he acted the way he did, that he was merely the messenger rather than the man responsible for the no-handshake directive.He expressed regret for the “miscommunication and misunderstanding” around the situation and, in particular, for Agha to find himself in such a situation moments before a big game. It was here that Pycroft explained his worry that not telling Agha and letting him go to shake hands with Suryakumar would have been more problematic.Soon after the meeting, the PCB released a statement claiming Pycroft had apologised. The ICC is believed to have been unhappy about it and the idea of a response “clarifying” the situation was discussed, though it isn’t certain whether one will be made. The PCB also released a short video of the meeting despite concerns raised during the meeting about such a video being recorded. It was eventually allowed on the condition that no audio be recorded.The PCB also said the ICC had “expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred during the September 14 match”. The prospects of that remain slim, not least because it isn’t clear what the inquiry would focus on, given the ICC has repeatedly asserted to the PCB that there was no misconduct on Pycroft’s part.

Danny Röhl has made an encouraging start to life as Rangers manager, but there is still plenty of work to do.

Last Sunday’s 3-0 drubbing of Dundee makes it three Premiership victories out of three for the German, likely to maintain that perfect record when bottom-of-the-table Livingston visit Ibrox after the international break.

However, the Gers remain rock bottom of the Europa League table without a point to their name, beaten by both Sturm Graz and Roma under Röhl, while also dumped out of the League Cup in the semi-finals by Celtic, albeit Thelo Aasgaard’s red card at Hampden did not help their cause.

So, having inherited a complete mess, Röhl is still figuring out which plays he can rely on as well as who he wants to build around for the future.

Jack Butland, James Tavernier, John Souttar and Nicolas Raskin have quickly established themselves as key figures, with the new manager showing faith in expensive new striker Youssef Chermiti too.

However, other players are not seeing as much game time as they may have anticipated, so is one summer signing in danger of becoming the club’s latest Óscar Cortés?

Óscar Cortés: Rangers transfer bust

One of Rangers’ 14 summer signings, officially at least, Cortés was one, albeit he’d been with the club since 1 February 2024 on loan.

Despite making little impact in Glasgow, the Colombian’s move from Lens was made permanent for £4.5m, due to a pre-agreed obligation to buy.

At the time of his arrival, Rangers supporters were very excited, considering Cortés had starred at the 2023 U20 World Cup, scoring four goals and registering two assists for Colombia, awarded the tournament’s Bronze Ball.

Scout António Mango thereby labelled him an “insane talent”, while the Rangers Journal forecast that he would “provide pace, power and… goal contributions” to Rangers’ forward line, which certainly has not been the case thus far.

In just 21 appearances to date, 764 minutes, he has scored only one goal for the Gers, missing 58 matches entirely, the majority of which have been due to injury.

Thus, he was sent out on loan to Sporting Gijón on deadline day, but is yet to do very much in the Segunda División either, as his market value continues to diminish at a rapid rate.

So now, which current Rangers forward could follow a similar path if he continues to be under-utilised by Röhl?

Rangers star becoming Cortés repeat

They say that first impressions are the most important, and Oliver Antman certainly made a good one at Rangers.

The Finnish forward joined from Go Ahead Eagles for a reported fee of £3.5m, thrown straight into Champions League qualifying action.

Less than 24 hours after landing in Glasgow, Antman put in a man of the match performance as Rangers demolished Viktoria Plzeň 3-0, providing two assists and playing a starring role in, by some distance, the club’s best performance of the ill-fated Russell Martin era.

Considering the forward’s performances in the Netherlands last season, his signature was viewed as a major coup, as the table below documents.

Oliver Antman Eredivisie stats 24/25

Stats

Antman

Eredivisie rank

Goals

6

38th

Assists

15

1st

Expected assists

9.1

1st

Big chances created

16

1st

Shots

54

22nd

Key passes

50

10th

Big chances missed

11

7th

Goal-creating actions

19

4th

Progressive carries

96

10th

Stats via FBref & SofaScore

As the table documents, Antman was one of the most creative players in the Eredivisie last season, racking up 15 assists as well as ranking first for expected assists and big chances created.

This is made all the more impressive by the fact he was not playing for one of the Netherlands’ traditional powerhouses, his Go Ahead Eagles team ending up seventh, albeit they did win the KNVB Beker for the very first time, defeating AZ Alkmaar on penalties, with Antman starting the final victory at De Kuip.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout was certainly impressed, labelling him “creative” while, upon his arrival, sporting director Kevin Thelwell described him as an “exciting talent” who boasts “great technical ability”.

However, following that promising start to life at Rangers, Antman has not lived up to expectations, registering just a solitary assist since his blistering debut, yet to score for his new club.

Furthermore, since starting Röhl’s first match as manager against Brann, Antman has been an unused substitute on three occasions, coming off the bench against Celtic and Dundee, but making very little impact.

In the German’s 3-4-3 formation too, there is one fewer attacking position up for grabs, very much currently behind Chermiti, Danilo, Djeidi Gassama, Mikey Moore, all of whom have scored in recent matches, and others in the pecking order.

Antman is clearly a quality player, he’s already shown glimpses of this in a Rangers jersey, and unlike Cortés, availability is not a huge barrier to him featuring in matches.

Nevertheless, the Finn is seemingly currently not in Röhl’s plans, so a January loan is very much not out of the question, and he is in danger of becoming the latest big-money signing to disappear out of Ibrox without a trace.

Related Ferguson 2.0: Rangers' "best player" is now more important than Tavernier

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Posts ByBen Gray Nov 14, 2025

If the best Tests are supposed to thrill you to your core, here was one that could chill you to your extremities

Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Feb-2025Roughly halfway through the morning session on day four in Galle, an offbreak was allowed to pitch on a good length and hit a wicket. There were 13 Test cricketers, two on-field umpires, and thousands more attending at the ground. For those couple of seconds, every single one of them were just watching as a 160-gram ball bounced once and clattered into a 71-centimetre stake.Ordinarily, this should not happen in a Test match. Someone is charged with thrusting a wooden bat or poking a pad-covered leg in the ball’s path.But the man who was in charge of that just watched it happen, like the rest of us. Dimuth Karunaratne , playing his 189th Test innings, often one of the best players of spin in his team, Sri Lanka’s most-prolific opener, and a batter expected to shield the less-experienced players, had a perfectly good wooden bat and pad-covered leg. He didn’t use either.Related

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What he did instead is wave this ball from Todd Murphy through to his off stump, like a zookeeper letting a lion through the enclosure gate to maul the pre-schoolers that have just arrived on their field trip. Karunaratne was the seventh batter to fall on a morning in which Sri Lanka were trying to save a Test. And still another batter would be out before lunch – Dinesh Chandimal falling for 31 to Nathan Lyon, the second time in the same session Chandimal was out to Lyon. Chandimal, by the way, was Sri Lanka’s best batter and highest run-scorer in the game.If the best Tests are supposed to thrill you to your core, here was one that could chill you to your extremities. Pulses remained unraced. Nails were left unchewed. Neck hairs stayed flaccid and pathetic against your skin. At no point could Australia ever seriously fear they might lose this match. At no point were they tested substantially. There really isn’t a session you can point to, where you might make a case that Sri Lanka won it.Josh Inglis, on debut, hit a hundred. Matthew Kuhnemann, in his first bowling innings in Sri Lanka, took a five-wicket haul. Usman Khawaja made his highest Test score, making 232 off 352 balls. “He looked at ease the entire time,” captain Steven Smith, who was in a 266-run partnership with Khawaja, said of the opener.”On debut, I thought he was outstanding,” Smith said of Inglis, who made 102 in the only Test innings he’s played.”I think a lot of credit has got to go to the surgeon,” Smith said about the doctor who fixed Kuhnemann’s busted thumb, to get him ready for this Test. This was so massive a victory for Australia, even medical personnel not on tour were getting a piece of it.It felt like at times in this Test, an Australia batter could wander over to a rock on the Galle shoreline and find a Test hundred underneath it. It felt like if an Australia spinner bumped into a coconut tree, three dismissed Sri Lanka batters would fall out and then sulk mopily back to the dressing room.Sri Lanka, by the way, are a team that could possibly have made the World Test Championship final, as recently as December. Occasionally, they have had moments of competence, and even inspiration. In their last series in Sri Lanka, they beat New Zealand 2-0 just before New Zealand went to India and won 3-0.But when you hit 654 for 6 declared in the first innings, you have plenty of options in a Test. And your captain can describe the rest of your Test with the enthusiasm with which a child describes a theme park ride.Australia recorded their biggest Test win•Robert Cianflone/Getty Images”It’s a lot of fun when you’ve got 650 on the board,” Smith said. “You can kind of set some funky fields, and try and force a batter error as much as possible. And, you know, not be worried about getting hit for any boundaries.”Exactly. In fact, Smith might be understating it. Sometimes, you get so far ahead in a Test, your entire XI could not turn up for a day, and you still win.No one blows a first-innings lead of 489, and it’s difficult to really convey how far apart these teams were. Australia went to the UAE to prepare for this series. They set the practice pitches in Dubai to “dusty” and their batters practiced the shots they were expecting to have to play in Sri Lanka, while their bowlers worked out their lengths.Sri Lanka played like they had trained to give up wickets and let runs flow. In the first session, they dropped two catches, and failed to review an lbw they’d overturned. But with the bat, Sri Lanka were especially inept.There should have been people who stopped Australia from dominating a Test at Galle, and imposing on Sri Lanka the biggest of the Test defeats they have ever suffered in their 42-year Test history.Ordinarily, this would not happen. But the people in charge were just watching, like the rest of us.

Conor Gallagher arrived at Atletico Madrid as one of the club’s most expensive midfield signings, a high-energy Premier League standout expected to thrive under Diego Simeone. But a year later, the England international has opened up about his frustration over limited minutes, his fading World Cup hopes, and growing links to a January move to Manchester United, admitting he is “not satisfied” with his current situation.

Gallagher's promising move now shadowed by uncertainty

When Atletico secured Gallagher from Chelsea in the summer of 2024, it felt like the beginning of a long and productive chapter for both player and club. Gallagher had just come off several standout seasons in England, rising through Chelsea’s academy, shining during his loan spell at Crystal Palace, and completing 136 Premier League appearances filled with intensity, pressing, and late bursts into the box. His €40 million (£35m/$46m) transfer fee reflected not only his reputation but also Atletico’s confidence that he could become a central figure in Simeone’s midfield.

He wasted no time making an impression in Spain. Gallagher became the first Englishman in 101 years to score for Atletico, immediately displaying the tenacity, forward drive, and tireless work rate that had earned him admiration in England. His early performances suggested he was tailor-made for Simeone’s relentless style, often finishing matches completely exhausted after covering ground in every phase of play.

Yet as the season progressed, the momentum stalled. Gallagher’s role became inconsistent, and minutes gradually slipped away. By early 2025, he had logged only 339 league minutes and completed just one full match since September. With established figures like Koke, Pablo Barrios, and Alex Baena fitting Simeone’s tactical structure more precisely, Gallagher found himself more frequently rotated, often used for energy rather than entrusted with a regular starting place. What began as a career-defining move slowly transformed into a frustrating waiting game.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGallagher breaks his silence: "I'm not satisfied"

The growing speculation about his future eventually reached Gallagher, who chose to address it openly. In recent weeks, he has been strongly linked with United, who are considering him as a January reinforcement should he become available. His honesty regarding his current role made clear that he is wrestling with mixed emotions.

“I’m not satisfied. I don’t think anyone will be if they don’t play as much as they would like, but I will continue to work very hard to, whenever I have the opportunity, help the team and hopefully more opportunities will come to be a starter,” he said in an interview with AS, acknowledging his frustration with the lack of consistent minutes.

At the same time, Gallagher rejected the idea that he is searching for a way out. He spoke with genuine appreciation for Atletico and a strong desire to succeed in Spain. “I’m very happy here. My goal is to win titles with Atleti and I want to have a bigger role in the team. And, as I said, I’m going to continue working to the maximum to play more minutes and be able to help the team.”

Gallagher remains committed, ambitious, and respectful of Simeone’s decisions, but he cannot ignore the impact his restricted playing time is having, not only on his club career but also on his international prospects.

The World Cup clock is ticking and time is running out

For Gallagher, the consequences of limited playing time extend well beyond Madrid. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, he knows that irregular minutes could jeopardise his place in England’s squad. His opportunities have already shrunk in recent international windows, and he recognises the significance of the challenge ahead.

“That’s one of my goals. I have spoken to Thomas Tuchel and he has told me what he needs from me and what I have to do to return to the team. And it seems that, right now, it’s very difficult for me to get to that point. But, as I said before, I will continue to do my best to get more minutes and, hopefully, return to the national team,” he admitted. His response underscored both his desire to represent England and his awareness of the reality he faces: national-team football requires rhythm, consistency, and trust—conditions that have been hard for him to find in Simeone’s structured system.

The competition around him at Atletico is relentless. Koke’s leadership, Baena’s creativity, and Barrios’ defensive discipline align seamlessly with Atletico’s tactical identity. Gallagher’s high-energy, box-to-box profile remains valuable, but Simeone’s preference for positional control and experience has kept him on the periphery. As links with the Red Devils grow louder, the midfielder faces a difficult crossroads. 

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Getty ImagesThe road ahead for Gallagher

Gallagher’s situation now enters a decisive period as Atletico approach January with a player who is fully committed but undeniably underused. He respects Simeone, speaks with admiration for the club, and genuinely wants to win trophies in Madrid. But ambition alone cannot replace the minutes he needs, and the coming weeks will force Atletico to confront a critical question: is Gallagher a long-term piece of the project, or is the timing right to let him pursue a more prominent role elsewhere?

From Gallagher’s perspective, his approach remains professional and patient. He has not demanded an exit and continues to push for more responsibility in training. Yet he is fully aware that his career cannot afford another prolonged period on the margins.

The next chapter will depend on how Simeone sees him fitting into a midfield. If Gallagher’s opportunities grow, he will stay and fight for his place. If not, the January window may offer a path toward the minutes he needs and the international future he continues to chase.

أعلنت إحدى الجهات الإعلامية المصرية عن حصولها على حقوق بث مباريات بطولة كأس العرب 2025، وذلك قبل انطلاق النسخة الجديدة التي تشهد مشاركة واسعة من المنتخبات العربية وتترقبها الجماهير بشغف كبير.

ويخوض منتخب مصر منافسات البطولة تحت قيادة جهاز فني يضم حلمي طولان مديرًا فنيًا، وأحمد حسن مديرًا للمنتخب، وعصام الحضري مدربًا لحراس المرمى، وذلك وفقًا لقرار اتحاد الكرة المصري بتشكيل الجهاز الفني للفراعنة في البطولة.

ويستهل منتخب مصر مشواره في كأس العرب بمواجهة الكويت في الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات، ضمن منافسات المجموعة الثالثة التي تضم أيضًا الأردن والإمارات، في مجموعة قوية ينتظر أن تشهد صراعًا كبيرًا على بطاقتي التأهل.

ويخوض الفراعنة اللقاء الأول أمام منتخب الكويت، ثم يلتقون الإمارات في الجولة الثانية، على أن يكون الختام بمواجهة الأردن، التي قد تلعب دورًا حاسمًا في تحديد المتأهلين إلى الدور التالي.

طالع أيضًا | “ساعدوني كثيرًا”.. حلمي طولان يشيد بثنائي منتخب مصر قبل كأس العرب القناة المجانية الناقلة لمباريات كأس العرب 2025

كشف الإعلامي إبراهيم فايق عن نقل منافسات بطولة كأس العرب بشكل حصري داخل مصر عبر شاشة MBC MASR 2، مشيرًا إلى استعداد القناة لتقديم تغطية موسعة من داخل الملاعب، مع استوديو تحليلي قوي ومشاركة نخبة من المعلقين العرب. موعد مباراة مصر والكويت في كأس العرب

تقام مباراة مصر والكويت يوم الثلاثاء الموافق 2 ديسمبر 2025، في تمام الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo divulgou, na noite deste domingo (14), o estado de saúde de Matías Viña, após choque de cabeça sofrido pelo jogador na partida contra o Atlético-GO. Segundo o clube carioca, o lateral-esquerdo não teve lesão cerebral constatada nos exames realizados.

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Viña deixou o gramado aos 30 minutos do segundo tempo, após dividida pelo alto com o zagueiro Adriano Martins. Os jogadores se chocaram de cabeça e precisaram ser substituídos imediatamente. Seguindo o novo protocolo de concussão estabelecido pela Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF), ambos foram encaminhados para o hospital.

Como não houve lesão cerebral detectada, Matías Viña foi liberado para retornar com a delegação do Flamengo para o Rio de Janeiro. O lateral-esquerdo seguirá em observação pelo Departamento Médico Rubro-Negro nos próximos dias.

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Em campo, O Flamengo venceu o Atlético-GO por 2 a 1 neste domingo (14), no Estádio Serra Dourada, na estreia dos times no Brasileirão 2024. Agora, o Rubro-Negro Carioca volta a campo na quarta-feira (17), às 21h30, diante do São Paulo, no Maracanã, pela segunda rodada da competição.

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FlamengoMatías Viña

Dodgers star Mookie Betts has been a part of some of the biggest moments baseball has to offer. A three-time World Series champion and a former MVP, Betts is no stranger to the bright lights that accompany October baseball, having been to the postseason in eight of his 11 previous seasons in MLB.

Of course, a 162-game MLB season is one of the longest gauntlets in sports. Keeping a strong mindset and finding a suitable balance between the intensity of the big moments and the calmness of life outside of the sport is something he feels is crucial to maintaining a strong mentality throughout such a marathon of a season.

Betts spoke with as part of his new "Playa Sounds" campaign with Corona, which presents a unique audio experience blending the sounds of the beach and the ballpark in order to get himself and fans into a proper headspace for postseason baseball.

Betts expressed the importance of keeping a balanced mindset throughout the long season, which he pointed out was even longer than 162 games due to spring training and the postseason. He also detailed how that mindset can change for players when the postseason swings around.

"You don't want to really treat the games that much different [from the regular season]. You don't want to add extra pressure on yourself because there's already enough. But there also is that intense feeling that you can't really explain … I think it's just the feeling that it could be over. It could be over. When you're playing throughout the season, there's always tomorrow. But when you get to the postseason, there is no tomorrow," Betts said. "It kind of depends on how you view 'there is no tomorrow.'"

Betts acknowledged that he does experience nerves during the intense moments that come with the heightened atmosphere of the postseason, but that living in those moment is something he cherishes.

"I do get a little anxiety with it, but I also do love being in the moment. … You only get so many [opportunities to be in those big moments] and I don't want to manufacture anything. I just want to live through it and create some memories in it."

Betts said that the mentality he has today is something that's been developed throughout his career. As he's gone through the experiences of a big-leaguer, it's helped him stay more level headed in key spots. And with the Dodgers set to be major players in this year's postseason, Betts will be leaning on his experience in the playoffs to help keep his mentality sharp, even if he's not performing to his standards on the year as a whole.