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Highs of early summer feel distant, but England captain focussed on process not result

Vithushan Ehantharajah19-Aug-2022Well, they did tell you.Managing director Rob Key warned everyone to “buckle up and get read for the ride” before the Test summer got going. And after the highs of four wins on the bounce, here was the dip. A first defeat for the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum axis.The first victory of that sequence came here at Lord’s against New Zealand. A successful chase of 277 didn’t just capture the imagination of England’s dejected Test fans, but also a dressing room full of players demoralised after a bruising winter. In the days after its conclusion, Stokes spoke of making “positive more positive”, with a word of caution that a negative would be just around the corner. It took a couple of months to come but when it did, it was concentrated into just six sessions.After chasing down 378 against India with seven wickets to spare, Stokes declared his side were attempting to “rewrite how Test cricket is being played, in England especially”. In their very next outing, they have recorded their first innings defeat at Lord’s since 2003. Against South Africa once again, no less.Yet even with forewarning, even knowing this England men’s Test side are fully aware of the risks of their uncapped attacking approach, even for those who fully bought into the engagement and fun this group have instilled into the longest format, this was a chastening thud back down to earth. And as the sun shone for the rest of what was supposed to be the final session of day three – and with the prospect of no weekend cricket in a completed Lord’s Test for the first time since records began – the doubts over this new way of being were pushing through a surface that they had never been far from in the first place.It is important at this juncture to add a little perspective. Were you not entertained royally by four consecutive fourth-day chases? If so, here’s the trade-off from a team that wants to believe in the impossible, but might – just occasionally – find that impossible wins. And, really, was this any worse than the consecutive defeats last year against India at Ahmedabad ( the first in two days, the second in three or the Ashes-losing hammering at the MCG on Boxing Day? At least this time they had a plan, even if it resulted in losing 20 wickets in 82.4 overs.Jonny Bairstow has been integral to England’s success this summer, but had a quiet Test•AFP/Getty ImagesStokes’ post-match press conference was as predictable as it was necessary. He pointed out that any suggestion from him or the coaching staff that they should have gone about things differently – even if there were times during remarkable spells from Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje when they perhaps should have done – was not the way to go. “We’re heading into mixed messages if I say anything different. Everyone’s so aligned in the dressing-room, from the management to the players, about how we operate.”Friday’s effort with the bat was certainly not as grim as Wednesday’s, even if we can lump them in as, broadly, one and the same. Though the conditions on day one were far more testing than the clear skies and bright sunshine on day three, the second innings carried all the associated pitfalls of playing without considering consequence. The mantra instilled is to be unafraid of expressing yourself. Perhaps even to bat like no one is watching. And if you had tickets for Saturday and Sunday, you won’t.Zak Crawley registered another failure of 13, Matthew Potts’ absurd heave down the ground (bowled by Marco Jansen) when Stokes was looking comfortable at the other end was ignorant, and Stokes’ picking out of the one fielder on the leg side moments later was an uncharacteristic in-game misjudgement. But otherwise, South Africa’s attack – notably the two ninety-plus demons – could assume more of the credit.”It’s not something I’m going to be throwing our toys out of the pram over,” said Stokes. “The message for me and Baz upstairs will be, did we commit to everything the way we committed to the first four Tests of the summer? If everyone can say, yes, 100%, we just didn’t execute, then things are good. We’ll move on to the next Test match, and go out there and try and win.”Related

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Dean Elgar's quiet achievers lay another marker for resurgent South Africa

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England blown away in three days as Anrich Nortje fires up South Africa

There will be no debrief, as such. Both changing rooms were a hub of socialising well after the broadcast cameras had been turned off and the public sent on their way to find train-less routes home. Both were full of conversation and beer for those partaking. The difference between them, beyond the South African flag draped across the away balcony, was one group savouring an occasion that will live long among them and the other working to leave it where it was. Just as it’s too early to celebrate, it’s too early to panic.The next few days ahead of the second Test at Emirates Old Trafford, which begins on Thursday, will be full of positive reinforcement for the hosts. Part of sticking around in the home changing room here would have been to shed what they need to shed, to head to Manchester at the start of next week with nothing left to dwell on.”I just like to ride a wave of whatever comes,” Stokes added, when asked how much he will focus on what has been this week. “I’m really trying to hit home that I don’t want this team to dive too much into the results of games. If you play good or bad cricket, that’s going to determine the result. If you fixate too much on the result, you get ahead of yourselves. Did we go out there and really believe what we know worked for us?”You’ve played the game in the past,” he said of the message he will relay to his team. “You have to live in the moment and ride the wave, whether that be of success or failure. We’ve got two games left. If we hold on to this for too long, and carry baggage into the next game, we’re already one step behind South Africa. I want us to be a team where we’re one step ahead.”We can’t be great every day. This week was just off for us. But we’re not going to hold on to it for too long and carry any baggage to Manchester.”It was befitting of the last three months that Stokes maintained a philosophical air after the last three days. Because so much of how this started out was based on players grasping a concept at odds with the proud, constricting traditions of Test cricket they were forged from. Now, after one defeat in five, is not the time to be steering away from that.How the world outside that changing room reacts will be its own point of discussion. Stokes insisted in the lead-up to this series that the public had been won over by the style of play rather than the results. “We would have got their support even if we hadn’t won,” he said on the eve of the match, “which is a very rare thing to do as a sporting team.”If they had lost those three Tests to New Zealand, and that one against India, Stokes mused he “wouldn’t be sitting here changing the way I ask the lads to play”. However, it would only be natural for those same lads to go into their shells, especially if the hypothetical sequence of results was as galling as this one has been. Even after one real loss here, second-guessing is no great crime.England have been consistent from the outset that this mindset-dominant approach is far from foolproof. They told their fans, the media, the rest of the world. Even you. Especially you. Whether you’re a believer or a hater, they told you so you could deal with it.Now it has failed for the first time, the onus is back on the team. Therein lies the biggest challenge for Stokes and McCullum so far – ensuring the individuals that matter most in this movement are still undoubting believers when they attempt to make amends by playing exactly the same way next week.

Also, why is Smith batting like Narine? Key questions from the Knight Riders vs Royals match answered

Sidharth Monga30-Sep-2020Was there was a case for batting first?The Kolkata Knight Riders’ result against the Rajasthan Royals makes it nine wins out of 12 games for teams batting first so far at IPL 2020. And yet, only once has a team won the toss and batted first.The Royals were the latest victims of this trend after they chose to chase in Dubai, where all six matches have been won by teams batting first. Two of these were ties and won in the Super Over, but still the evidence has been overwhelming. Besides, in the case of teams such as the Royals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad – who rely almost unhealthily on their top three – it makes sense to not expose the middle order to a tense chase.However, sides have respected the dew and long-term data much more than the early trends in this tournament. How long before teams stop trying to correct the trend and instead look at the reasons why teams batting first are winning? In the case of Abu Dhabi, it is because there has been some seam under lights. In Dubai, the pitch has slowed down. Sharjah has been freakishly good for batting, so let’s not even bring it into this particular discussion.What did Archer do differently against KKR?In the first two games, Jofra Archer rocked up and bowled a lot of legcutters and knuckle balls even with the new ball. In four overs bowled inside the powerplay in the last two games, in Sharjah, he bowled an over worth of slower balls. That includes the first ball he bowled last game, which was duly smacked for four.In Dubai, he had only one change of pace inside the powerplay: from fast to faster, hustling Shubman Gill and Sunil Narine, conceding just one run in the over. The TV commentators loved it because they had been clamouring for him to bowl fast and set the tone. Now his choice of pace could be batsman-specific or ground-specific, but the numbers do tell a tale.ESPNcricinfo LtdOverall too, he has bowled 20 slower balls this IPL for 36 runs and no wicket. Otherwise, he has gone at 6.23 an over and averaged 18.Why was Russell promoted?Walking in at the end of the 10th over, this was the third-earliest Andre Russell had batted for KKR. In all T20 cricket, he had walked in sooner only on eight occasions. While David Hussey, the Knight Riders’ mentor, has spoken about Russell potentially scoring a double-century if he comes in early, that seems more like a cute quote than genuine intent.The one big reason for his promotion against the Royals could be Eoin Morgan’s match-up against his fellow England bowler Jofra Archer: eight balls, three runs, two wickets. And Archer had three overs left at that point, so it was pretty certain Archer would be brought on right away if Morgan had walked out.Archer bowled anyway, getting the wickets of Gill and Dinesh Karthik. Morgan eventually got to face seven balls from Archer, scoring nine off them. However, he did correct another match-up: against another bowler he usually captains, Tom Curran. Before this game, Morgan had hit only one boundary off 23 Curran deliveries in T20 cricket. In this game he took 22 off 12.Did the Russell promotion work, though? Well, Russell scored 24 off 14, and Morgan 34 off 23. You couldn’t say it was a failure, you couldn’t say it was a roaring success.Why is Smith batting like Narine?If you have noticed, Steven Smith has been swinging for the fences in the powerplay this IPL. There are many reasons. He is obliged to do so once he chooses to open, because his usual style doesn’t work at the top. Then there is a higher chance of getting away with shanks because the field is in. That happened with James Neesham in the last game: in the powerplay he managed to chip slower balls over the infield, but once the powerplay was over, he holed out to the same bowler.There is another strategy that seems to be at work here: Smith goes hammer and tongs, and Jos Buttler, a more complete T20 batsman, looks to bat through.Is that a successful strategy, though? Or is Smith better off playing Yashasvi Jaiswal or Manan Vohra at the top and taking on the responsibility of batting at the difficult No. 4 position? Robin Uthappa is anyway having an ordinary IPL so far. Buckle up for a debate that is only likely to get more intense as the Royals play more games on bigger grounds.Why did Cummins bowl three overs inside the powerplay?After being used as a death specialist, unsuccessfully, in the first game, Pat Cummins has bowled three overs in the powerplay in two straight games. In this game, he did so despite Sunil Narine enjoying a good match-up against the Royals’ top three. Overall, in his career, Cummins has bowled close to 10 balls inside powerplays on an average. His phase-wise break-up over the last three years has been similar.In the last game, the Knight Riders changed their strategy to one where they go all out in the powerplay to take wickets through Cummins. Figures of 3-0-11-1 and 3-0-13-1 would suggest the move has worked. There has been one early wicket, plus that sort of economy rate results in wickets for others too.However, it remains to be seen if this was a strategy specific to two teams – the Sunrisers and the Royals – who have no middle order to rave about. Against them, it is, on most occasions, a case of getting early wickets and killing the game. How will the Knight Riders use Cummins against deeper batting line-ups?Also props to Dinesh Karthik for staying aggressive and persisting with Shivam Mavi in the seventh over – an over usually used as a cheap over for a spinner – and taking that extra wicket to seal the deal.Why did Kuldeep Yadav start bowling in the 16th over?

KKR are one of the teams I believe have cracked their 11. If no injuries this is the team they need to carry through the tournament. Lot of different bowling options for the captain and can use based on conditions. https://t.co/9pHcOqcSK8

— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) September 30, 2020

Because Knight Riders didn’t need him. Plan A worked superbly, and they could show off the depth in their bowling attack. Three frontline spinners, three frontline quicks, with Andre Russell and Nitish Rana waiting if needed in a contingency. That gives you the luxury to not over-expose a variety of bowler who is rare to face. Thus Knight Riders used Kuldeep’s left-arm wristspin only against the tail.

The Yankees have once again ended a season without winning a World Series as they had their year come to an end Wednesday night with a 5-2 loss at home to the Blue Jays in Game 4 of their American League Division Series.

The Yankees now enter the offseason with questions about the future of their manager, Aaron Boone, and questions about what roster moves they can make in order to try to win their first title since way back in 2009.

Yankees great Derek Jeter was on Fox's postgame show and during his breakdown of yet another disappointing finish for the franchise he spoke about what the roughest thing was for Yankees fans to stomach after falling short of a championship again.

"What's tough is for the Yankee fans, this is the second year in a row they've watched another team celebrate on their home field and you can feel the frustration," the Hall of Famer said.

Jeter also had a very honest statement about this year's Yankees team.

"Aaron [Boone] said it. They got beat. They got beat," Jeter said. "Last year you could sit back and talk about the World Series and Game 5 and that the Yankees beat themselves in that particular game. In this series the Toronto Blue Jays proved they are a better team. From top to bottom they are a better team."

Here are Jeter's full comments:

It will be interesting to see what the Yankees do moving forward and how different the team will look next season.

As for right now, it has to be a rough day for the team's fans because so much is expected from this club every season, which means every playoff exit stings even more. Especially when they have to see another team celebrating on their home field.

The U.S. men's national team has learned their World Cup group as Mauricio Pochettino's side was paired with Paraguay, Australia and a yet-to-be-determined European foe to start next summer's tournament. The USMNT's fourth opponent will be either Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo, who will face off in March's playoff.

Getty ImagesGroup stage opponents: Austrailia, Paraguay and TBD

The U.S. were handed a fortunate draw with their Pot 2 team as they were matched up with a familiar opponent: Australia, who are ranked 26th in the world. That matchup comes on the heels of an October friendly that saw the U.S. defeat Australia, 2-1, at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

From Pot 3, the U.S. were given another familiar opponent: Paraguay, the 39th-ranked team. Like Australia, the U.S. played Paraguay in the fall, defeating the South American side, 2-1, in Philadelphia.

And then finally, from Pot 4, after navigating some conditions, the USMNT were finally paired with one of the winners of the European Playoff C: Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo. 

AdvertisementAFP Must-watch TV: Australia

The USMNT's battle with Australia will be a fun one, largely because will no doubt show up. With the game being played in Seattle, Australia's fans should have a presence, as the West Coast is easier to travel to. 

There's also some added juice from the fall, when the U.S. saw star Christian Pulisic injured after a series of hard fouls from Australia in their friendly match in Colorado. 

Getty Images SportDangerous matchup: Paraguay

The game against Paraguay will be dangerous – and, if last month’s clash is any indication, perhaps quite literally. The two teams squared up just before the final whistle after a tense match, and you wouldn’t expect anything less once the World Cup starts.

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Getty Images SportKey opposition player: Arda Guler or Miguel Almiron

This will surely depend on who gets in as that Pot 4 team. Should Turkey qualify, the U.S. would face off with their world-class young stars: Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz. Should Turkey not advance, the main man to stop would be Paraguay's Miguel Almiron, a familiar face for fans of Major League Soccer as he stars for Atlanta United. 

Alastair Cook has urged England to keep faith with Ollie Pope at No. 3 for the Ashes, rather than taking a “gamble” on Jacob Bethell.England’s first-choice top seven has been unchanged for over a year, but Bethell’s emergence in New Zealand last November when Jamie Smith was on paternity leave put significant pressure on Pope’s position at No. 3. Pope responded with hundreds against Zimbabwe and India at the start of the 2025 summer, but only made one half-century in his next eight innings.Bethell made 6 and 5 in his only Test appearance of the summer, deputising for the injured Ben Stokes at The Oval, but scored half-centuries in each of his first three Tests last year. He will have the chance to push his case in six white-ball fixtures against New Zealand from Saturday, but Cook believes that sticking with Pope for the Ashes should be an “easy” decision.Related

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• Pat Cummins might miss the first Test after being abducted by aliens

“I would bat Ollie Pope at No. 3,” Cook said on Tuesday, at the launch of TNT Sports’ Ashes coverage. “I think it’s quite an easy decision on this, actually. You’ve got someone who’s been part of this build-up for three or four years, he’s captained the side, he’s played some extraordinary innings for England and he’s a hundred-maker.”If you get rid of him now, I think that changes the whole dynamic of what they’ve built up over the last year, how settled they’ll feel for that top seven… If it doesn’t work out, do you then move back to somebody you just got rid of, confidence-wise? I think it’s easy to go the other way, and I think that would be the sensible thing.”Cook, who was player of the series when England last won the Ashes in Australia 15 years ago, described Bethell as an “incredibly talented player” but said that it would be a “big, big gamble” to pick him primarily on his performances against the white ball: “They’ve invested so much in people like Pope and Crawley that it’d be such a strange thing to change it now.”Brendon McCullum’s decision to replace Pope as vice-captain with Harry Brook has furthered the sense that England might move away from him. Rob Key, England’s managing director, denied last month that it formed part of an “elaborate scheme” to drop Pope, but said that a final decision would only be taken in the days leading up to the first Test in Perth on November 21.Jacob Bethell is waiting in the wings•Getty Images

Cook believes that the change in vice-captaincy will liberate Pope, rather than damaging his confidence or his standing in the England dressing-room. “I think that will just take the pressure off Ollie Pope,” he said. “I’m sure it will have hurt him, because any time you get taken off a leadership [position], it wouldn’t be ideal. But I don’t think it undermines him.”He also believes that Australia will be wary of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley’s opening partnership, and their ability to score at an unusually quick tempo. “Australia will be so respectful of Crawley and Duckett, and what they can do to impact the game,” Cook said.”Crawley is a different opening batter to what history says you need: a guy who is very inconsistent and averages 30 but, on his day, plays an innings which I don’t think anyone else in the world can play at the top of the order… Against bowling which suits him – he prefers the ball coming on at a good pace on good, true wickets – he is a real danger for Australia.”It has to line up well…. He’s not like this consistent machine who scores runs, but they’re definitely fearful of that, without a shadow of a doubt. Because an hour of Duckett and Crawley playing well, or an hour and a half on that first morning, England will build huge momentum and it starts the series well.”Watch live exclusive coverage of The Ashes on TNT Sports and discovery+.

MatériaMais Notícias

Flamengo e Amazonas se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (1), pela ida da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil. A bola vai rolar a partir das 21h30 (de Brasília), no Maracanã, no Rio de Janeiro, com transmissão do SporTV e Premiere.

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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
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🗓️ Data e horário: quarta-feira, 1 de maio de 2024, às 21h30 (de Brasília);
📍 Local: Maracanã, no Rio de Janeiro (RJ);
📺 Onde assistir: SporTV e Premiere;
🟨 Árbitro: Emerson Ricardo de Almeida Andrade
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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

FLAMENGO (Técnico: Tite)
Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira e Viña; Allan, Gerson e De la Cruz; Lorran, Bruno Henrique e Pedro.

AMAZONAS (Técnico: Adílson Baptista)
Edson Mardden; Patric, Diogo Silva, Alvariño e Fabiano; Xavier, Judá e Matheusinho; Sassá, Matheus Serafim e William Barbio.

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Former Al-Nassr forward Anderson Talisca has branded Cristiano Ronaldo "the best in history" while opening up on his experience of sharing a dressing room with the Portuguese legend. Talisca and Ronaldo played together at Al-Nassr for two years before the Brazilian attacker left for Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce in January.

Talisca and Ronaldo's partnership at Al-Nassr

Talisca started his career in his homeland at Bahia before moving to Portugal, where he spent four years with Benfica. In between, he had played in Turkey briefly on loan at Besiktas. In 2018, he joined Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande. After three years in China, Talisca moved to Saudi Arabia and signed for Al-Nassr.

He quickly became a talisman for Al-Nassr, but had to give up the spotlight when Ronaldo arrived on a free transfer in January 2023. Al-Nassr also brought in Sadio Mane in the subsequent summer transfer window. Talisca formed one third of a stellar attacking trio at Al-Nassr alongside Ronaldo and Mane and won the Arab Club Championship in 2023.

Talisca decided to head back to Turkey at the start of the year to work under Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce, but looks back on his time playing with Ronaldo fondly.

AdvertisementAFPRonaldo branded 'best in history'

Speaking to , Talisca said of his relationship with Ronaldo: "It was an incredible two years. When he arrived, I had already been there for two years. I spent four years at the club, an incredible story. Playing with him was surreal, it was a dream for me. For me, he is the best in history.

"We trained together and did incredible things. Working with him, for me, as an athlete and as a human being, was about maximising the athlete's potential, being more professional, caring more about himself. It was incredible."

Ronaldo facing suspension

Ronaldo is currently taking a break from club duties at Al-Nassr, but did not enjoy a happy return to the Portugal national team. He was sent off during Portugal’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin last Thursday for elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea. FIFA rules state a three-match suspension be used as punishment in the event of a straight red card. Ronaldo thusly sat out Portugal's final qualifying encounter against Armenia, which they won 9-0 to book a place at the World Cup. Ronaldo is also in danger of sitting out Portugal's first two games at the tournament, but the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is preparing a formal plea to FIFA, hoping to bring the suspension down to a single game – according to . 

Their argument primarily hinges on three pillars. The first centres on the atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium, which the federation describes as "hostile".  They argue that it was influenced by Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson’s provocative comments on the eve of the match. Ahead of the game, he suggested Ronaldo had "controlled the referee" during Portugal’s 1-0 win in the reverse fixture last month.

Secondly, the FPF are planning to highlight the physical grappling between O’Shea and Ronaldo leading up to the red card, arguing the striker reacted instinctively after being physically provoked repeatedly inside the box. Finally, they will present Ronaldo’s impeccable disciplinary record at international level. The legendary forward had gone 225 matches without a single red card, which the FPF thinks is compelling evidence that Thursday’s incident was an isolated one and had no malicious intent. 

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GettyRonaldo's purple patch for Al-Nassr

After failing to win a major trophy in the first two and a half years at the club, Ronaldo is determined to get his hands on some silverware this term. Accordingly, the club have signed star players like Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman to bolster the attack and provide Ronaldo with more service. The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star has himself got off to a flying start as he has scored 10 goals in 11 matches across all competitions.

He will be back in action for Al-Nassr this Sunday as they take on Al-Khaleej in an important Saudi Pro League clash.

The team want to get accustomed to conditions at a venue where they play two big games

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Aug-20253:47

Chopra: India would want to go a step further in the home World Cup

India Women will launch their World Cup preparation with a skill-based week-long conditioning camp in Visakhapatnam starting August 25.The venue for the camp is strategic, given only Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Sneh Rana among the squad members have the experience of having played at the ACA-VDCA Stadium previously, in 2014.India are slated to play two big matches in Visakhapatnam: against South Africa (October 9) and Australia (October 12).India’s lack of experience at certain venues, like Visakhapatnam, Guwahati and Indore, has been a big talking point in the lead-up to their campaign.Navi Mumbai’s inclusion as Bengaluru’s replacement is seen as a welcome step, given the players’ familiarity with the venue, having played there regularly over the past three-four years in front of packed houses, both in international cricket as well in the Women’s Premier League.Originally scheduled to take place entirely in Bengaluru, the training sessions had to be relocated after the Karnataka State Cricket Association failed to secure police clearance for hosting matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.All members of the World Cup squad, along with the reserves and the India A team selected for warm-up fixtures, are expected to participate.The camp will culminate with two intra-squad day-night practice matches, before the team flies out to New Chandigarh for the ODI series against Australia starting September 16.After the Australia series, the Indian team will arrive in Bengaluru to play two World Cup warm-ups, against England (September 25) and New Zealand (September 27) before flying out to Guwahati for their opening fixture against Sri Lanka on September 30.

Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Napoli are monitoring Hellas Verona forward Giovane following his impressive start to life in Serie A. The 21-year-old Brazilian, who joined on a free transfer last summer, has quickly become one of the league’s most exciting young attackers and Verona could now demand up to €30 million for his signature.

Giovane’s breakthrough sparks European interest

Hellas Verona forward Giovane, formerly of Corinthians, has become one of Serie A’s breakout names this season and his progress has not gone unnoticed across Europe. According to , scouts from Dortmund and Milan were in attendance at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium last weekend to watch the 21-year-old, who scored a superb goal in Verona’s 2-1 defeat to Inter. His confident display has positioned him as a potential target for several elite clubs ahead of the January 2026 transfer window.

Verona are said to value the Brazilian at around €30m (£25m/$33m), a remarkable rise given that he arrived from Corinthians on a free transfer just four months ago. Napoli and Inter have also joined the race, with all four clubs keen to secure a deal before his price climbs further.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportA modern wide forward with pace and flair

Giovane has adapted seamlessly to the demands of Italian football, combining technical flair with tireless off-ball movement. He is naturally a wide attacker, capable of playing on either flank or partnering a traditional striker in a two-man system, an attribute that appeals to managers seeking tactical flexibility.

Across 12 appearances this season, he has registered three assists and one goal, while ranking first among Serie A forwards in successful take-ons (14). Though not yet a prolific finisher, his ability to create chances, stretch defences and beat markers one-on-one makes him a coveted modern attacking option.

Observers in Italy suggest his standout trait is consistency, a rarity for young imports in Serie A’s tactically demanding environment. His work rate and resilience have impressed Verona’s coaching staff, who believe he has the temperament to thrive at a bigger club.

From free transfer to €30m asset

The Brazilian's rapid rise is as remarkable as his journey. Released by Corinthians at the end of his contract, he joined Verona on a free in July, quickly earning a place in the starting XI. Within months, he’s gone from relative obscurity in Brazil’s youth ranks to a sought-after Serie A prospect commanding a €30m valuation.

Verona, who currently sit in the bottom-half of the table, view the player as a vital financial asset and are open to negotiations only if their price is met. The club’s directors are reportedly in no rush to sell but are aware that an offer from one of Europe’s top clubs could prove difficult to resist.

His agent is said to be awaiting formal contact as clubs begin outlining their winter transfer plans. Scouts from Milan and Dortmund have already submitted detailed reports, while Napoli are weighing up whether to act immediately or wait until summer.

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Getty ImagesWhat next for Serie A’s newest star?

Giovane’s first Serie A goal against the Nerazzurri may well serve as the launchpad for his European breakthrough. The strike reflected not only his technical quality but also his growing confidence against elite opposition.

If his current form continues, Verona could soon face a battle to retain him beyond this season. His versatility and dynamism make him an ideal complement for an established No.9 – exactly the profile Milan and Dortmund are seeking.

For now, Verona intend to keep him focused on domestic duties, but with January fast approaching, Giovane’s name will likely dominate transfer headlines once more. Whether he stays to finish the season or becomes Serie A’s next big export, one thing is certain – Europe’s elite are watching closely.

Glasgow Rangers have just under two weeks to find a new manager to lead the Ibrox giants out in their next Scottish Premiership match after the international break.

The powers that be at Ibrox made the decision to part ways with Russell Martin on Sunday night, after a fifth draw in seven league games, and it was a decision that is hard to argue against.

Five wins in 17 matches in charge of the club in all competitions was not a record that the board could stand behind and justify to provide the head coach with more time, which is why they are now in a position where they need to replace Martin.

Rangers identify Championship manager as a target

It will be interesting to see who the likes of Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell settle on, as they are reportedly keen on bringing in an English manager.

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According to the Scottish Daily Express, Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards has emerged as a contender for the job, as Rangers are considering a move for the English coach.

The former Luton and Watford tactician only joined Boro in the summer, but the Light Blues are looking at him as a potential option to replace Martin.

Scottish Daily Express does not reveal how serious their interest is in the Championship gaffer, though, and other managers have been linked with the job.

Sean Dyche, who has been out of work since being sacked by Everton in January, is reportedly interested in joining Rangers, but Edwards would be an even better appointment.

Why Rob Edwards would be better than Sean Dyche for Rangers

One potential reason not to appoint Dyche is that he has not managed a team that has been expected to compete at the top end of a league table since the 2015/16 campaign with Burnley in the Championship.

He has finished 10th or lower in eight of his last nine seasons as a manager, with seventh being the highest finish in those nine years, per Transfermarkt, which means that it may be difficult to adjust to the expectations at Ibrox.

Edwards, however, won the League Two title with Forest Green Rovers in the 2021/22 campaign, won the play-offs in the Championship with Luton Town in the 2022/23 season, and is currently second in the Championship with Middlesbrough.

The English tactician, who has played a 3-4-3 system with Boro (Transfermarkt), has won five and lost one of his first nine league matches in charge of his current club, which is in stark contrast to Martin’s dismal form for Rangers in the Premiership.

As you can see in the table above, his Middlesbrough side have been one of the standout teams, if not the standout team, from a defensive perspective in the Championship this season.

Edwards, who journalist Mark Ogden described as an “ultra-positive” manager, has shown that he can coach a solid defensive unit as part of a team that is competing at the top of the table, whilst his coaching history shows that he can win titles and improve teams, like Forest Green Rovers and Luton.

This suggests that he would be the perfect fit for what Rangers currently need after the 24 goals conceded in 17 matches under Martin, because of his ability to coach an impressive defence.

He would be an even better appointment than Dyche, as well, because he has a recent track record of competing for titles or promotion, including the current season, whilst the former Burnley boss has been a perennial survival specialist for the past decade.

Martin upgrade who's "similar to Postecoglou" in running for Rangers job

The Ibrox hierarchy are on the hunt to find an upgrade on Russell Martin at Rangers.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 7, 2025

Therefore, the Light Blues should realise their interest in Edwards by approaching Middlesbrough to discuss a potential deal for the manager, rather than moving for Dyche.