Barcelona's Lamine Yamal received the inaugural Golden Boy The Youngest trophy while Aitana Bonmati landed the Golden Woman prize on Monday night.
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Yamal wins Golden Boy The Youngest trophyYoungest player to appear on Golden Boy podium2023 Ballon d'Or winner Bonmati also honouredWHAT HAPPENED?
At the age of 16, the Barcelona wonderkid became the youngest player to feature on the podium at the Golden Boy gala. The teenager won the inaugural Golden Boy The Youngest trophy for 2023 after breaking multiple records for his club and national team Spain in this calendar year.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The Catalan giants also saw their star player Aitana Bonmati bag the Golden Woman prize. Last season, the 25-year-old won the Champions League with her club and then helped Spain to glory at the Women's World Cup 2023 before finally landing the prestigious Women's Ballon d'Or award.
Getty/GOALDID YOU KNOW?
Upon receiving the Golden Boy The Youngest prize, Yamal revealed that his next target is to win the Golden Boy award next year and emulate his boyhood hero Lionel Messi, who won it in 2005. Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham got his hands on the award for 2023 on the back of his record-breaking start to life at Santiago Bernabeu.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
After an important win over Atletico Madrid during the weekend, Xavi's Barca side will now aim to beat second-placed Girona on Sunday and close the gap on La Liga leaders and arch-rivals Real Madrid. Yamal will be in line to feature, having started seven of Barca's 15 La Liga games so far this term.
With Cristiano Ronaldo having completed his transfer to Turin from Real Madrid, Goal looks back at the most memorable deals in the Old Lady's history
Getty Images1Roberto Baggio | From Fiorentina | €9.3m | 1990
There were riots on the streets of Florence when Fiorentina fans learned that their beloved Roberto Baggio was to be sold to bitter rivals Juventus. The outrage was somewhat understandable, given that the No.10 was one of most the extravagantly gifted players Italy had ever produced.
However, the Viola decided to deal after Juventus offered a world-record fee for an iconic figure who would come to be known as 'Il Divino Codino' ('The Divine Ponytail') due to his famous hairstyle and silky skills.
Baggio fell out with coaches Giovanni Trapattoni and Marcello Lippi, and never hid his enduring love for Fiorentina ("Deep in my heart, I will always be Viola") but he proved himself a worthy heir to Michel Platini, with 78 goals in just 141 Serie A games. He won the Scudetto, Coppa Italia, and almost single-handedly took Juventus to Uefa Cup glory in 1993 which saw him win the Ballon d'Or.
AdvertisementGetty Images2Gianluigi Buffon | From Parma | €52m | 2001
At the time, €52m looked like a colossal fee for Gianluigi Buffon. Now, it is regarded as a bargain. Indeed, that the Juventus and Italy captain remains the most expensive goalkeeper in history – 16 years after his arrival from Parma – underlines just why he is rightly regarded as the greatest No.1 of all time.
Only Dino Zoff can claim to have enjoyed such a sustained period of excellence at the highest level and Buffon is even in a position to match his compatriot's remarkable feat of winning the World Cup at the age of 40, in Russia next year.
Buffon's legendary status is already secured, though, not least because he refused to join the post-Calciopoli exodus at Juventus following the club's demotion to Serie B in 2006, explaining, "In football, we talk a lot. But I firmly believe in certain moments you need to replace words with deeds."
Getty3Antonio Cabrini | From Atalanta | €0.36m | 1976
Antonio Cabrini had already played in both Serie C and Serie B, with Cremonese and Atalanta, respectively, by the time he joined Juventus in the summer of 1976 as an 18-year-old.
He had to wait until February of the following year to make his Serie A debut but he would quickly make the left-back berth his own – for the next decade.
Indeed, Cabrini was as talented as he was handsome – he was known as 'Bell'Antonio' ('Beautiful Antonio') and 'Findanzato d'Italia' ('Italy's Boyfriend') because of his good looks – and, alongside Dino Zoff, Gaetano Scirea and Claudio Gentile, he became a key cog in one of the greatest backlines the Italian game has ever seen, the foundation on which Juve's domestic dominance and Italy's 1982 World Cup triumph were built.
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Getty Images4John Charles | From Leeds | €74k | 1957
Quite simply, John Charles is the greatest British player ever to play overseas. He was more than a great footballer, he was an ambassador, a paragon of virtue who retains a mythical status within the Italian game.
The Welshman arrived in Turin during a lean spell for Juventus but he formed a legendary attacking triumvirate with Omar Sivori and Giampiero Boniperti ('il Trio Magico') that fired the Old Lady to three Serie A titles in four seasons.
Sanchez questions James' character
Injuries eventually took their toll on Charles but nothing would dim the legendary status of 'Il Buon Gigante' ('The Gentle Giant'), who was never even booked during his time in Italy.
When he passed away in 2004, both Juventus and his other former Italian side, Roma, held a minute's silence in his honour.
For the second time in a week, the Blues have pinched a midfielder from under Liverpool's noses and the Belgian is an inspired signing.
The transfer window delivers agony and ecstasy in equal measure. Well, unless you're Liverpool fans apparently. The Reds faithful have experienced nothing but pain this week – and it's all Chelsea's fault.
First, the Blues beat Jurgen Klopp and Co to Moises Caicedo, with the Ecuadorian arriving at Stamford Bridge from Brighton in a £115 million ($147m) deal on Monday. Not to worry, the back-up plan was still there: Romeo Lavia. Or so they thought…
Once again, Chelsea were waiting in the wings, and after the player verbally agreed to join, the Blues hammered out a £58m ($74m) agreement with Southampton. It may seem like a lot of money for a player who's made just 29 Premier League appearances during his fledgling career, but the west London's club decision to take a chance on Lavia has the potential to pay off massively.
The Belgian has already dropped hints that he could develop into the complete defensive midfielder, one that could end up becoming Chelsea's lynchpin for years to come…
Getty ImagesThe story so far
Born in January 2004, Lavia started his career at Anderlecht before being snapped up by Manchester City's world-leading academy aged 16 in 2020. A host of other Premier League clubs had been interested at the time, but the Cityzens' pull proved too enticing.
Lavia's decision proved to be an inspired one as he soon started turning heads at the club. Operating in a defensive midfield role – he'd previously been a centre-back – the Belgian was part of the City development side that romped to the Premier League 2 title in 2021 and 2022. He was rewarded with a pair of first-team appearances in cup competitions during the 2021-22 campaign.
Summer 2022 would spell the end of Lavia's promising career at the Etihad, however. Along with Juan Larios, Samuel Edozie and Gavin Bazunu, he was part of the mass exodus of City's young guns to Southampton.
This was Lavia's chance to craft his own Premier League legacy. And while things did not go entirely to plan, he grasped the opportunity to shine with both hands.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesYoung but experienced
Southampton's approach in the transfer market was bold and it soon became clear that not all of the youngsters they'd recruited were equipped for the rigours of Premier League football. Lavia, though, took to his new responsibilities like a duck to water, barely missing a game when he was fit throughout the entire season.
His near ever-presence is made all the more impressive when you consider the player he was tasked with replacing: Oriol Romeu. Jibes have been aimed at Barcelona since their decision to sign him this summer, but Romeu has nearly 200 Premier League appearances to his name and rarely put a foot wrong when he pulled on a Saints' shirt.
Even while carrying this extra pressure, Lavia looked completely uninhibited during his early Southampton career, expressing himself while providing his side with a much-needed layer of defensive protection.
Speak to any regular St Mary's goer and they would not point the finger at Lavia for the club's untimely relegation. Even with James Ward-Prowse netting nine goals from midfield, the starlet still earned the Daily Echo's Player of the Season gong. The official award was skipped by the club for obvious reasons.
Getty ImagesCoolness personified
So, what is it that makes Lavia such an exciting talent? Perhaps the most impressive string to his bow is his staggering composure. Despite his tender years, Lavia is capable of making everything look so effortless.
Even when he is under intense pressure, the clarity of his thought does not diminish. As pointed out recently, Lavia was pressured more times than any other Southampton player last season (18.8 pressures per 90 minutes), but he still managed to register a higher pass completion rate (86.2%) than any of his team-mates.
Delve into the stats a little deeper and Lavia's unflappable nature is even more evident. While being pressured last season, he averaged a pass completion rate of 79%. These numbers are comparable with what Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Thiago Alcantara achieved, two of the best-established deep-lying midfielders in the Premier League.
The term 'press-resistant' has become a bit of a tactical buzzword recently – but it describes Lavia perfectly. He is equipped with a potent arsenal of body feints, dummies and tricks that make him extremely difficult to dispossess.
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Getty ImagesLavia's party trick
Last season, he also established a 'signature move' of sorts. During build-up, Southampton's centre-backs would split, with Bazunu often starting proceedings by rolling the ball to Lavia. If someone was bold enough to try and nick it off him, he would simply scan his surroundings, drop his shoulder and leave his marker floundering.
It's something he worked on obsessively during his time with then-City coach and now Leicester boss Enzo Maresca, as he revealed in an interview with GOALback in 2021. "I really enjoy recovering the ball and pass through the lines," he said. "Enzo's helped me a lot with that, always being on the half-turn so I can see the game going forward, so it’s not a problem now. I know that I’ve got my qualities, but if I do something wrong they help me."
Finding a defensive midfielder with this appetite for retaining possession has been one of the key conundrums for England's top sides recently; this is why Rodri and Declan Rice cost so much. However, stick Lavia in the right environment and there's no reason why he can't match or surpass the pair, both of whom of among the best players in their role in world football.
An all-you-need-to-know guide on how to watch WWE on US TV
Editors' pick
Peacock
Peacock is the live streaming home of WWE. Offers access to WWE Network content, RAW and PPV events.
DVR capabilities: No
Simultaneous streams: 3
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$5.99
Get PeacockBest flexibility
Sling TV
Combine Sling Blue with a $7.99 Hulu subscription for all your WWE needs.
DVR capabilities: 50 – 200 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 3
Free trial: No
Monthly from
$40
Get Sling TVComprehensive coverage
fuboTV
fuboTV offers comprehensive sports coverage, including access to NBC and FOX.
DVR capabilities: 250 – 1000 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 10
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$74.99
Get fuboTVBest TV provider
DirecTV
DirecTV's Entertainment Package offers access to both the USA Network and FOX.
DVR capabilities: Unlimited
Simultaneous streams: 20
Free trial: 5 days
Monthly from
$64.99
Get DirecTVComplete WWE coverage
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers complete WWE coverage. Standard Hulu subscription offers WWE Main Event.
DVR capabilities: Unlimited
Simultaneous streams: 2
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$7.99
Get HuluEditors' pick
Peacock
Peacock is the live streaming home of WWE. Offers access to WWE Network content, RAW and PPV events.
DVR capabilities: No
Simultaneous streams: 3
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$5.99
Get PeacockBest flexibility
Sling TV
Combine Sling Blue with a $7.99 Hulu subscription for all your WWE needs.
DVR capabilities: 50 – 200 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 3
Free trial: No
Monthly from
$40
Get Sling TVComprehensive coverage
fuboTV
fuboTV offers comprehensive sports coverage, including access to NBC and FOX.
DVR capabilities: 250 – 1000 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 10
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$74.99
Get fuboTVBest TV provider
DirecTV
DirecTV's Entertainment Package offers access to both the USA Network and FOX.
DVR capabilities: Unlimited
Simultaneous streams: 20
Free trial: 5 days
Monthly from
$64.99
Get DirecTVComplete WWE coverage
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers complete WWE coverage. Standard Hulu subscription offers WWE Main Event.
DVR capabilities: Unlimited
Simultaneous streams: 2
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$7.99
Get HuluEditors' pick
Peacock
Peacock is the live streaming home of WWE. Offers access to WWE Network content, RAW and PPV events.
DVR capabilities: No
Simultaneous streams: 3
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$5.99
Get PeacockBest flexibility
Sling TV
Combine Sling Blue with a $7.99 Hulu subscription for all your WWE needs.
DVR capabilities: 50 – 200 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 3
Free trial: No
Monthly from
$40
Get Sling TVComprehensive coverage
fuboTV
fuboTV offers comprehensive sports coverage, including access to NBC and FOX.
DVR capabilities: 250 – 1000 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 10
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$74.99
Get fuboTVBest TV provider
DirecTV
DirecTV's Entertainment Package offers access to both the USA Network and FOX.
DVR capabilities: Unlimited
Simultaneous streams: 20
Free trial: 5 days
Monthly from
$64.99
Get DirecTVComplete WWE coverage
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers complete WWE coverage. Standard Hulu subscription offers WWE Main Event.
DVR capabilities: Unlimited
Simultaneous streams: 2
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$7.99
Get Hulu
There are few things on the planet that can fill out arenas and sell PPV television quite like WWE. For generations its thrilled fans, making superstars out of Hulk Hogan, the Undertaker, Stone Cold, John Cena, just to name a few. And it's as popular as it's ever been.
It's event television like nothing else, but these days there are multiple broadcasters showing the various events, with wrestling available to watch and live stream daily. So, whether you're looking to watch an elimination chamber, WrestleMania or Monday night Raw, here's all you need to know about watching WWE…
Which channels have the rights to WWE wrestling?
Currently, there are four broadcasters in the USA with rights to WWE shows, meaning you have to ensure you have the right networks to get your full fix of the shows. The two big weekly shows, Raw and SmackDown are both broadcast live on Mondays and Fridays respectively, with Monday night Raw live on USA Network and SmackDown on Fox Sports.
However, SmackDown will be moving to the USA Network in October 2024 when the current deal with Fox expires. That will see NBCUniversal Television have a bit of a monopoly on the WWE with Peacock also the home of the premium live events such as the Royal Rumble and SummerSlam.
For those wanting to enjoy the NXT roster, essentially the next generation of stars, WWE Main Event, is also broadcast weekly, shown each Thursday night on Hulu. You'll find some great bouts here, with the North American title often going on the line as names like Dominik Mysterio and Dragon Lee go head-to-head.
Best TV packages to watch WWE in 2024
With different events on various channels, there are several ways of getting all the different events across the week, so whether you're wanting to cheer on Becky Lynch in the ring, watch the next Roman Reigns bout, or any of your other favourite stars, you've got the right live stream to watch WWE.
Among the best packages to watch WWE currently are:
PeacockGetty Images / GOALGet Peacock
Peacock is NBC's streaming service and offers a huge range of content from reality TV to Premier League soccer, NFL and more. It's, of course, a place where you can also stream WWE, with the ability to watch the USA Network and the PPV events, where many of the big belts are on the line. At present, it would leave you without SmackDown on Fox, but that would change when it returns to the USA Network in October 2024.
Peacock is priced at $5.99 per month for a version with ads in the on-demand content, or $11.99 per month without that. Alternatively, you can make a saving with a yearly subscription, priced at $59.99 or $119.99. Live premium events are PPV and require a one-off fee to watch.
It's available on a range of devices, from streaming on your television to your smartphone or tablet.
RELATED:How to watch live sports on Peacock: stream live soccer, wrestling, golf, and more
Watch the WWE on PeacockSign up todayAdvertisement
Sling TVGOAL / variousGet Peacock
Sling TV offers a relatively reasonably priced option, priced at $40 per month. However, this will give you both NBC and Fox Sports. For this you need the Blue package, which also comes with the USA Network, giving you access to both of the main weekly events in the WWE.
The Sling Blue package comes with a total of 40 channels that you can watch, giving you much more than Peacock, while you can also add Sling Orange, which features 32 channels for an additional $15 per month. It's a non-contract subscription, meaning you can cancel at any time.
Alongside WWE, you'll be able to watch a stack of live sports, from boxing to MMA, soccer to NFL, NBA and beyond.
RELATED:How to watch live sports on Sling TV: soccer live stream and more
Watch WWE on NBC and Fox Sports with SlingSign up today
fuboTVGet fuboTV
Streaming service fuboTV is one of the premier packages for sports fans, but it does come at a cost. It features all the channels you need to watch WWE Raw and SmackDown, with around 170 channels in total.
It's a package if you're big television fans, and big sports fans. The Pro package, which is the most basic, is priced at $74.99 per month on a rolling contract basis. This comes with a huge amount of sports channels, where you can watch sport from around the world, as well as WWE action.
There are bigger packages too. The Elite subscription provides over 200 channels at $84.99, but you don't necessarily need that if you're only interested in streaming WWE.
RELATED:How to watch live sports on Fubo TV: soccer live stream and more
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DirecTVGet DirecTV
DirecTV offers a similar deal to FuboTV, with a large number of networks in their most basic package. The Entertainment package is priced at $64.99 per month, and it will provide you with the USA Network and Fox Sports, so you can enjoy WWE Raw and SmackDown. However, you will need a separate Peacock account to purchase PPV events, which are exclusive to the streaming platform.
That said, with the hundreds of channels you get with the package, it is well worth purchasing, particularly for sports fans, so you want be able to just see Judgment Day taking to the ring, but also other superstars like Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland bashing goals in for fun too.
Other packages are available with DirecTV, which will bring you even more channels, with both the Ultimate and Premier packages priced at $109.99 and $154.99 per month. All DirecTV packages are based on a 24-month contract.
RELATED:How to watch live sports on DirecTV: soccer, basketball, football live stream and more
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Hakim Ziyech's agent has denied saying that the winger has asked to leave Galatasaray amid reports claiming his loan from Chelsea will be cut short.
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Ziyech struggling in TurkeyCould head back to London in JanuaryAgent labelled exit statement as fake newsWHAT HAPPENED?
According to Turkish outletNTV Spor, Galatasaray are looking to end Ziyech's loan deal in January. The 30-year-old has endured an "ineffective" spell in the Super Lig since he moved on loan to Istanbul from Stamford Bridge in the summer. He has featured in just nine matches so far this season, which has given rise to speculation that his time in Turkey might be over, despite his contract expiring in the summer.
AdvertisementWHAT GEORGE GARDI SAID
Amid the uncertainty, Ziyech's representative George Gardi was alleged to have said in a statement: "Hakim Ziyech's Galatasaray adventure started well, but it did not continue well. We conveyed to Galatasaray that we wanted to leave. Galatasaray will not cause us any difficulties."
However, Gardi set the record straight on his Instagram story, labelling the statement "fake news".
"I never made ay statement on Ziyech and I don't know this person who wrote using my name," he wrote.
InstagramTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Ziyech's future remains uncertain as Mauricio Pochettino might not find a place for him at Chelsea given his options in attack and the squad's bloated nature. For now, Ziyech will shift his focus to international duty with the Morocco national team. He has received a call-up to Walid Regragui's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations and will have his sights set on a deep run at the prestigious international tournament.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Ziyech has just four goals and two assists to his name in all competitions for Galatasaray. The team management reportedly do not deem his efforts to be enough to keep him on board until the summer, and are looking to get him off their books before the January window slams shut.
Mathys Tel's agent has hinted the teenager could leave Bayern Munich in the summer amid interest from Manchester United.
Tel linked with Manchester UnitedAgent discusses current situationRefuses to rule out summer exitWHAT HAPPENED?
United are reportedly in talks with Tel over a potential move to Old Trafford. The teenager is thought to be frustrated by his playing time at the Allianz Arena and could be tempted to seek a move away. Tel is yet to start in the Bundesliga this season, with his 17 appearances all coming off the bench for Thomas Tuchel's side.
AdvertisementWHAT MATHYS TEL'S AGENT SAID
Gadiri Camara told : "Mathys loves the club, the fans, he wants to be important and win all the trophies here with a strong team. Sometimes you just need to feel like you're on the same path. We'll see very soon, but I'm confident. But if not, we have to consider all options because Mathys knows that he is valuable and will be a top player."
(C)GettyImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Tel may struggle to break into the first team as he is behind Harry Kane and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the pecking order. Choupo-Moting is expected to depart at the end of the campaign but the Bavarian giants have been linked with a move for a striker and are reportedly keen on Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR TEL?
Tel will be hoping to take advantage of any first-team opportunities he receives between now and the end of the campaign in a bid to force his way into the starting XI. It remains to be seen if he will stay at the club past the end of the season, but he does have a contract with Bayern until 2027 and so may not come cheap if he does decide he wants a new challenge.
England have added Adil Rashid and Mark Wood to their squad for the ODI against Ireland next Friday
ESPNcricinfo staff01-May-2015England have added Adil Rashid and Mark Wood to their squad for the ODI against Ireland next Friday. Both were members of England’s Test party in West Indies and the move was expected after neither made the XI for the Barbados Test, which began on Friday.An 11-man line-up had been announced on Tuesday, with James Taylor as captain, but England had indicated the number would increase after selection for the third Test was finalised.Rashid and Wood will join Jonny Bairstow in flying home early from the Caribbean to join up with the squad for Dublin. The inclusion of Wood, who has yet to be capped in any format, means there could be as many as seven ODI debutants against Ireland.Rashid played the last of his 10 limited-overs internationals in 2009, while Bairstow, who has been designated wicketkeeper, has not played a one-day match for England since 2012. Both are more experienced than the majority of the squad, which includes young talent such as Sam Billings, David Willey and James Vince.England squad to play Ireland: James Taylor (capt), Zafar Ansari, Jonathan Bairstow (wk), Sam Billings, Tim Bresnan, Steven Finn, Lewis Gregory, Alex Hales, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood
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It’s time to get down to the serious business
Before the first World Cup held in an Arabic country kicks off, we’ve taken an in-depth look at every home and away shirt in the tournament to come up with a decisive winner for our replica Jules Rimet trophy wearing a Nigeria 2018 kit.
First up, group stages A-D, and it’s bad news for the USA, we’re afraid…
To see how South Korea, Portugal and Brazil rank in the kit tournament so far, head to The 2022 World Cup of kits part two: Groups E-H.
Group A
QatarNikeShop the Qatar kits at Nike
Home: 6/10
Host nation Qatar keeps things fairly simple for its first-ever World Cup home kit. The majority of the shirt arrives in maroon, the same colour as the country’s crest and the majority of its flag. The only detailing is a white pattern around each sleeve, a nod to a similar design that runs across the flag. It’s a solid, if unspectacular, way to begin the World Cup.
Away: 7/10
The away shirt pushes the boat out a little further. Contrasting the maroon, it arrives in an off-white – taken from the other section of the flag – and is finished with an overlapping gold and beige geometric pattern. The pattern helps to elevate the design into something more interesting and is inspired by the Qatari coastline and the national tradition of pearl diving.
Total: 13/20Advertisement
EcuadorMarathonShop the Ecuador kits at Subside Sports
Home: 5/10
Once you get past the novelty of seeing a Marathon-designed kit at the actual World Cup finals, the averageness of Ecuador’s home shirt becomes clear. The bright yellow base is strong, and works well with the navy accenting, but overall it fails to inspire much belief that Ecuador will match their best-ever performance, when they made it to the Round of 16 in 2006.
Away: 8/10
The away kit is a different story, though. The dark navy base is covered with a lighter blue pattern, apparently a nod to the Incan civilisation who once resided in Ecuador. The design is improved with the use of metallic silver for the accenting, and the very-subtle Ecuadorian flag appearing halfway round each sleeve.
Total: 13/20
SenegalPUMAShop the Senegal kits at Puma
Home: 6/10
Senegal have a checkered World Cup history, reaching the quarter finals in 2002 and being eliminated due to fair play in 2018. Their 2002 home kit remains one of the all-time best, and this year fails to hit the lofty heights set 20 years ago. The stand-out feature of the white is the huge chevron across the chest, displaying the colours of the Senegalese flag.
Away: 4/10
PUMA have a history for following a template too closely – just think about those 2020/21 third kits – and this year’s World Cup away kits follow a similar formula. For Senegal, that means a green shirt with a darker central stripe, so far so good, is finished by a box featuring SEN on the front.
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NetherlandsNikeShop the Netherlands kits at Nike
Home: 8/10
The Netherlands have an unfair advantage, with their traditional bright orange being one of the world’s best kit colours. This year, they’ve adorned it with an abstract pattern in a lighter Laser Orange. The two-tone result brings to mind some of the great kits from the Netherlands archive, which they hope will inspire the team to their first-ever World Cup triumph.
Away: 6/10
The away kit is a much safer affair, sticking to the Nike template seen across Europe this season. The base of the shirt is listed as Deep Royal and is finished with black sections around the neck. The stand-out feature, though, is the use of Habanero Red for a hit of colour around each sleeve. It just about manages to save the kit from being plain boring.
Actors, athletes and other celebrities have flocked to MLS in recent years as soccer in the United States grows its reach
What do David Beckham, Matthew McConaughey and Ciara have in common? Aside from superfans around the world and bank accounts with far more digits than the average person, the celebrities are also MLS investors.
There's a growing number of celebrities putting their money behind the league, an indication that it is in a far healthier place than it once was.
GOAL takes a look at who owns every MLS club below.
Kevin C. CoxAtlanta United
One of the biggest commercial success stories of MLS expansion, Atlanta United have routinely led in attendance as co-inhabitants of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Their principal owner is Arthur Blank, who co-founded Home Depot and also owns the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.
Primary owner: Arthur Blank
AdvertisementGoalAustin FC
Austin FC were initially set to be villains as MLS planned to relocate the regionally beloved Columbus Crew to Texas, however an agreement was reached to keep the Crew in Ohio and create Austin FC as a separate expansion entity.
They are still in the early days of writing their MLS story, but the presence of actor Matthew McConaughey as a minority owner has raised their profile.
McConaughey goes to matches and is an active participant in the club from a marketing standpoint.
Primary owner: Two Oak Ventures
Celebrity investors: Matthew McConaughey
Getty ImagesCharlotte FC
Like Atlanta United, Charlotte FC's ownership model is all about carrying a stake in an entire sports ecosystem rather than a single team.
Charlotte FC's owner, David Tepper, also owns the Carolina Panthers, and the franchises currently play at the same venue (Bank of America Stadium).
Primary owner: David Tepper
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Chicago Fire
The Chicago Fire have endured disastrous attendance figures and on-field play in recent times, having made the postseason just once over the past decade while struggling to get approval to build a stadium of their own.
So, Joe Mansueto still has a big job ahead of him after acquiring a majority stake in the Fire in 2018. The founder of financial services company Morningstar will continue to push for a better home than the aging Soldier Field, shared with the NFL's Chicago Bears, by either getting approval for a new venue (a path so far unsuccessful) or by renovating Soldier Field if the Bears move out.
Oman pulled off a stunning upset against a side that is known for upsetting bigger sides in global tournaments, shocking Ireland with a two-wicket win in Dharamsala
The Report by Vishal Dikshit09-Mar-2016 Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsOman celebrate their dramatic victory over Ireland in Dharamsala•International Cricket CouncilOman pulled off a stunning upset against a side that is known for upsetting stronger sides in global tournaments, shocking Ireland with a two-wicket win with two balls to spare in Dharamsala. Chasing 155 on a slow track, Oman’s fortunes swung from one extreme to the other: the openers gave them a strong start but the middle order wobbled, before an Amir Ali cameo turned things around again. They eventually sealed a historic win by taking 15 runs off a frenetic final over from Max Sorensen, who lost his lengths during a spate of full tosses that left Ireland in anguish.Oman needed 14 off the last over with three wickets in hand. The first ball from Sorenson was a shoulder-high full toss and Amir managed to steer it to the fine-leg boundary. Amir could only take a bye off the free-hit – a yorker that hit the stumps. With eight needed off five, another full toss followed – a wide one – and Ajay Lalcheta managed to edge a swipe past the keeper to the third-man boundary. Another single took it to three needed off three. The game was almost Oman’s now, but Sorensen had Amir nicking to the wicketkeeper. And then, with three needed off two balls, Sorensen bowled another high full toss that beat both batsman and keeper and raced to the boundary to set off joyous celebrations in the Oman camp.At 95 for 5, with Oman needing 61 off 30 balls, those celebrations seemed improbable before Amir cut loose. He dispatched Sorensen over the midwicket boundary and used clever shots against the experienced Tim Murtagh in the 17th over to bring the equation down to 23 from 18. Murtagh helped Oman’s cause with a no-ball and two wides in the over and Amir then finished it with three consecutive fours to tilt the balance. Kevin O’Brien kept Ireland alive by conceding only five runs in the 18th, and Oman lost two more wickets in the 19th before that dramatic finish.Oman’s openers Zeeshan Maqsood and Khawar Ali had put on a stand of 69 in 8.3 overs that kept the required run rate under eight per over. Maqsood peppered the leg side with one cracking shot after another and cashed in on loose deliveries with several swipes. He spanked three fours off Boyd Rankin in the third over and Khawar also switched gears after having faced several dot balls initially. Khawar attacked O’Brien with a consecutive four and six before he was bowled and O’Brien jolted Oman further with the wicket of Maqsood in his next over.William Porterfield then switched between Paul Stirling, Sorensen and Andy McBrine who stifled Oman with 23 boundary-less balls. McBrine made things worse for Oman by collecting two wickets in four balls in the 14th over, reducing them to 90 for 5, but that brought out Amir, who proved too dangerous for Ireland.Having opted to bat though dew was going to come into play later on, Ireland’s first few overs were filled with crunchy drives from Stirling after left-arm spinner Ajay Lalcheta started with a maiden. Stirling attacked Bilal Khan and took the score to 46 for 0 in the Powerplay as his partner Porterfield raced from 4 off 11 to 14 off 17 before the field could be spread out.Ireland were left stunned when Maqsood took a spectacular one-handed catch at extra cover, intercepting a Stirling drive and ending his innings. Ireland needed momentum to build on but could not find any because Oman brought on one spinner after another. No. 3 Gary Wilson started accelerating with two fours in the 10th over but when Porterfield tried to do the same by stepping out, he was stumped off Khawar for 29. The Ireland batsmen picked up a boundary almost every over after that but the sluggish pitch made it tough to find them more often, even off full tosses.Wilson worked hard for an innings of 38 that ended when his stumps were splattered by Munis Ansari, who also dismissed Niall O’Brien in the same over. Ansari had leaked 15 in his first over but he bowled the remaining three to not allow Ireland to get too far. He bowled yorkers, slower ones, and targeted the stumps to concede 22 runs off his last 18 balls. It was only in his last over, which leaked 12, that McBrine collected two fours to help Ireland past 150.