Tag Futebol

Despite being cruelly denied a first title in 24 years when for so long it seemed like the Premier League trophy was destined to be heading for Anfield, last season was still a roaring success for Liverpool.

The Reds’ only requirement was to qualify for the Champions League – which they managed with three games to spare – and while missing out on a majestic return to their perch was a crushing disappointment given how close they had come to being crowned champions, Liverpool could still look forward to a long-awaited return to Europe’s elite club competition after five years in the wilderness.

Of course, Reds fans had every reason to be excited. The club prides itself on its European pedigree, and for the vast majority of supporters, memories of Istanbul – where they won their fifth European title in 2005 – are still joyously fresh.

Since the golden years of the 1970s and 1980s, Liverpool have had an obsession with the competition. The domestic title has proved elusive for nearly a quarter of a century, which means that the definition of success for the Reds is dependent entirely on whether or not they are in Europe.

In the period between 2009 and 2014 – when Liverpool were absent from the Champions League – the club won the League Cup and reached both the FA Cup final and the semi-finals of the Europa League. Not bad for a team which was going through some of its most troubling times, but the fact that the dark cloud engulfing Anfield only really dissipated last season with qualification to the Champions League – which, it must be remembered, came during an ultimately trophyless campaign for the Reds – shows that dreams of Europe on Merseyside still rule.

And yet, much has changed in the Champions League since 2009.

The days when the old Big Four of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal would consistently reach the latter stages of the tournament are over. Since its zenith in the mid-2000s, the Premier League has been in rapid decline as the Spanish La Liga and the German Bundesliga have emerged as the strongest leagues in world football in terms of quality. Chelsea are now the only English team capable of progressing far into the competition, and even then, they are still considered underdogs compared to the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

This sobering reality has hit Liverpool hard this season. Their back-to-back deafeats against Real Madrid in the group stage highlights the contrasting recent fortunes of both clubs.

Just five years ago, a relatively weak Reds side thrashed the Spanish giants 5-0 on aggregate to progess to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. In the present day, Real are the most dominant side on the planet, having won their tenth European title in May, while Liverpool are battling it out with FC Basle and Ludogorets Razgrad to even make it out of the group.

Their difficulties in Europe are also having an adverse effect on their domestic campaign as the Reds have already lost five league games, one fewer than they managed during the whole of last season. This raises a difficult question that many Liverpool fans are likely to have asked themselves already: why even bother with the Champions League?

Many attributed the Reds’ unexpected title charge last year to their lack of European football, which gave Brendan Rodgers’ side more time to rest and prepare for league matches than their rivals competing on the continent. However, now that Liverpool have qualified for Europe, they seem to have no chance of winning neither the Premier League nor the Champions League.

Surely sacrificing one for the sake of having a shot at success in the other makes sense, and given that the Champions League contains a greater amount of superior sides than the Premier League, should the latter not be a priority for the Reds?

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Liverpool may yet qualify from their group and improve on their dismal start to the season, but already it is beginning to look like a case of the grass being greener for the Anfield club. For the executives, board members, chairmen and owners of European football’s top sides, qualification to the financially lucrative Champions League will always remain a top priority. But for the fans who demand actual, tangible, trophy-shaped success above all else, it is hard to see the appeal of the competition if a select number of teams are the only one realistically capable of winning it.

The Reds have a talented, ambitious manager who may one day build a squad which is strong enough to emerge as serious competitors for Europe’s ultimate prize. However, that day is a long way off.

What do you think? Follow me on Twitter @GruffuddOwen

	David Morgan: ‘Contrary to that has been gossiped on a widespread basis, it is nothing to do with the ICL or the IPL’ © Getty Images

David Morgan, the ICC president-elect, confirmed that the decision to put Malcolm Speed on gardening leave for the last two months of his contract as CEO was as a result of a “fundamental breakdown” in the relationship between him, Ray Mali, the president, and some of the executive board and not, as widely suggested, Speed’s handling of issues relating to the ICL.Speaking at Lord’s, Morgan said that the breakdown had come about over a number of issues, and insisted that they pre-dated the executive board meeting in Dubai in March when Speed declined to attend the press conference in protest over the ICC’s decision to take no action against Zimbabwe.”It’s not been [a problem] for years but, yes, for some months,” Morgan said. “It pre-dates the March meeting but it doesn’t pre-date the death of Percy Sonn [in June 2007]. Matters take some time to come to the surface.”Zimbabwe is an issue where the president and the chief executive have disagreed, there is no doubt about that,” he said. “You know what the board decision was in relation with the KPMG report … Speed was clearly uncomfortable with that.”But he refused to specify which members of the executive were involved and how many. “I’m not prepared to reveal the names of the other board members. I’m unprepared to go into the details of the other issues, but I’m very ready to say that contrary to that has been gossiped on a widespread basis, it is nothing to do with the ICL or the IPL.”Morgan said the agreement for Speed to go had “not been imposed on him” but had followed discussion between him, Mali and Speed. “It’s a very unfortunate ending to what has been a very successful term of office,” he added.However, Morgan accepted that the image of the ICC was “not good” and it was “something we need to address”. He went on: “The ICC has achieved a huge amount in Malcolm’s time. I do not believe at all times that we govern in the optimum way, but govern we certainly do”In the statement yesterday the ICC said that David Richardson, the ICC general manager – cricket, will serve as interim CEO until Speed’s replacement, Haroon Lorgat, assumes the role at the ICC’s annual conference at the beginning of July.

Trevor Bayliss has expressed his interest in a move to Sri Lanka © Getty Images

Trevor Bayliss will be interviewed by Sri Lanka next week as a potential replacement for Tom Moody as the country’s head coach. Bayliss is competing with at least one other Australian, Terry Oliver, who is in charge of the Queensland team and has already met with Sri Lankan officials.Bayliss, the coach of New South Wales since 2004-05, told The Sydney Morning Herald he was due to be interviewed in Colombo on June 14. The paper reported Bayliss was likely to take the role if it was offered, although he recently rejected overtures from Bangladesh and Australia’s Centre of Excellence.”It’s a job with an international team, and one of the better international teams, so you’d be nuts not to hear them out,” Bayliss said. “And if something was offered, you’d be silly to knock it back. I spoke to Tom [Moody] about a week ago just to find out what I can expect in the interview. So now it’s just a case of going over and seeing what they have to say.”Bayliss played 58 games as a middle-order batsman for New South Wales during the 1980s and ’90s. He was the state’s Second XI mentor before taking over from Steve Rixon in the senior job. He guided the Blues to the Pura Cup title in his first season at the helm.Dave Gilbert, the chief executive of Cricket New South Wales, said the state would have no problems with Bayliss leaving to take on an international position. “We won’t be standing in the way of Trevor,” Gilbert told the paper. “If he wants to prove himself on the international stage, we will stand aside.”We don’t want to lose him, but we realise he is very ambitious, and in the long term he wants to coach Australia. Coaching another international side would be a big step towards that goal. Just look at the way it catapulted Tom Moody to the upper echelons of world cricket.”

Scorecard

Scott Newman is imperious on his way to an unbeaten 65 on the first day © Jenny Thompson

Rain and bad light were the only things that could stop Surrey’s openers today. Scott Newman and Jon Batty moved their side to 126 without loss when inclement weather put paid to proceedings; bottom-placed Worcestershire were delighted to go off.Newman, the man they nickname Ronaldo, showed skills every bit as silky as the footballer en route to a chanceless fifty. More than once did the left-handed Newman open his shoulders and dispatch the wayward stuff, not to mention the better stuff, too. He particularly favoured the offside and was brutal around the coverpoint area. He and Batty strolled steadily at three an over.The battle of the Battys was bossed by the batsman, Jon, who refused to succumb to any of the tantalizing stuff offered by Gareth as Worcestershire searched in vain for the sniff of a chance. Batty and Kabir Ali put the most pressure on the batsmen when they were bowling in tandem, shortly before lunch, yet all they could elicit was the odd edge which fell short – there were sniffs, but no chances.Just after the resumption Vikram Solanki turned to Zaheer Khan and Matt Mason, but again to no avail. Then rain had the final say – and, with more bad weather due to follow, this could be Worcestershire’s hope of their first draw this season.In fact, across the country it was much the same story – a good day for batsmen and good weather for ducks.In the other second division match, Michael di Venuto was well in sight of his 34th first-class hundred when rain put paid to proceedings for the day at Derby. Steve Stubbings was on course for his fifty, he had made 38 of an unbeaten opening stand of 130 as Derbyshire bossed proceedings against Leicestershire.In division one, Durham‘s Jimmy Maher was the only faller in the 37.5 overs that were possible at Trent Bridge. Paul Franks claimed the wicket for Notts, caught by Jason Gallian after Maher had made 33 in a solid opening stand of 62. His partner was John Lewis, who reached 36 not out before play was called off, with Durham 88 for 1.
Headingley was the only venue where at least two full sessions of play were possible. Lancashire piled up 417 for 9 on what is the second day of their match, before making a tea-time declaration against Yorkshire – which proved the end of the day as stumps were called early. Stuart Law joined Mal Loye as Lancashire’s second centurion, romping to 101 from 144 balls. His knock included 17 fours. Loye added 25 to his overnight score before falling for 138, Tim Bresnan’s third victim.

Darren Lehmann: ‘I’m 33 and I’m not getting younger’ © Getty Images

Not so long ago, it wasn’t unusual to find international cricketers still playing as they neared 40, and in several instances well into their forties. Less than a decade ago, Graham Gooch was still England’s No. 1 opener at the age of 41, and last month Alec Stewart played his last match as England’s first-choice keeper at 40.But top-flight cricket is increasingly seen as a young man’s game – well, at least it is by selectors. Whereas the early thirties used to be viewed as being near a player’s peak (often later for spin bowlers), now they are almost on the scrapheap when they turn 30.Against that backdrop, Darren Lehmann admitted to reporters that he feared that by missing the second Test against Zimbabwe and the forthcoming one-day series in India because of an Achilles tendon injury, he might be considered too old to persevere with by the selectors. Lehmann is 33.He had hoped to play in the Test – he admitted that he was not up to the demands of a one-day match – before an MRI scan revealed that he had a tear in the tendon that he risked rupturing were he to put any stress on it. “As the doctor said, if it did rupture that is probably it,” Lehmann shrugged. “No play again.” He now faces six weeks in a plastic boot and an enforced lay-off until the end of November.It is perhaps ironic for a man with no reputation as a keep-fit fanatic that Lehmann’s injury came not on the cricket field but on the running track. “I just had too much exercise for my frame,” he admitted. “I should’ve stayed how I was for the last 15 years instead of doing the right thing for a change.” The pressure to maintain fitness increases with each birthday.Lehmann’s form of late has been excellent, with three centuries in his last six Tests, but he is aware that the vultures are circling in the form of talented – and crucially younger – batsmen. Martin Love, who was dropped recently following the return of Damien Martyn, is 29 and highly rated. Michael Clarke is 22 and ever more highly regarded. Lehmann is a worried man. “Yeah, you would be, too,” he said. “I’m 33 and I’m not getting younger.”All Lehmann can do is hobble round and wait. If one of his replacements plays well, then it will be increasingly hard for him to force his way back into the side, especially when the team contains Steve Waugh, another geriatric who is subjected to endless questions about his age and appetite for the game as if anyone over 35 had no right to be walking, let alone playing sport.”Obviously things had been going really well over the last two years and now it’s back to square one,” Lehmann said. The reality is that it could be worse than just being back to square one.

Among those few fans who give a toss, all eyes will be on the toss when Australia play Zimbabwe in Harare this evening. If Australia bat first no record looks safe; if they bowl it should make for swift and excruciating viewing.Much will depend on the zest of Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting. On the eve of his team’s departure for Zimbabwe 12 days ago, he made ruthlessness his motto. “One thing I’ll stress to the players,” he said back then, “is that we’re there to play the best cricket we possibly can. If that means the games are over pretty quickly then so be it.”Since then, the two scheduled Tests have been abandoned – due to fears of a mismatch, not a miscarriage of justice – and the Australians have appeared increasingly queasy about playing against what amounts to a fourth-string Zimbabwe XI. Ponting, in particular, has softened his take-no-prisoners stance, suggesting that slaughtering minnows is not such wonderful sport after all and that teams such as Zimbabwe should be rubbed out of mainstream international cricket. Several players are reportedly irritated that the three one-dayers were not scrapped too.”The ICC has drawn a line between Test cricket and one-day cricket to maintain the value of Test cricket,” said Tim May, chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association. “The players’ association does not see or agree with the ICC view.”Still, from disagreement may well come dismantlement, disdain, disaster. Should Australia bat first and heed Ponting’s instructions to play their best possible cricket, the worst possible carnage seems inevitable. Highest team total in a one-day international is up for grabs; Sri Lanka’s 5 for 398 against Kenya in 1995-96 is the present record, while Australia’s personal best is the 2 for 359 they helter-skeltered against India in the last World Cup final.And Zimbabwe’s weakest link, despite the fact they were skedaddled for 35 against Sri Lanka on this same ground one month ago, would seem to be their attack. In five matches they dismissed only 22 Sri Lankan batsmen. For the Australian series they have brought in two 19-year-old quicks: Waddington Mwayenga, who has one previous ODI (figures 9-0-74-0) to his name, and the left-armer Ed Rainsford, who has none. Both were left out of today’s game and a largely unchanged side retained.The chances of Australia becoming the first side to crack the 400-run barrier do not seem altogether remote. Manage that and the heftiest ever victory margin – currently the 256 runs by which Ponting’s men knocked off Namibia in the last World Cup – looks a formality.The one great unknown is how quickly the Australians can click into top gear after nearly two weeks of fishing, trekking around game parks and watching TV. But as Adam Gilchrist joked in his newspaper column this morning: “To be honest, the boys shouldn’t find the adjustment too hard as it feels as if white balls are about all we’ve seen this trip – golf balls.”Australia plan to rotate all 14 players during the three matches. They will name their first-up XI just before the start of today’s game.For those interested, Fox Sports 2 will broadcast the wreckage live from 5.20pm (AEST). For everyone else, as they say in the trade, please look away now.

The Somerset Cricket Board in conjunction with Somerset Active Sports have issued an invitation to all young cricketers, both boys and girls, between the ages of nine and fourteen years old to go along and take part in one of their coaching courses.The courses that last for ten weeks have just got underway and are taking place at centres right across the county.An open invitation to all says: "If you’re keen on cricket, thanks to Sport England Active Sports and the Stroud and West Building Society West Of England Premier League, you can be part of a comprehensive cricket coaching programme designed to give young cricketers like yourself the chance to be best you can beright up to junior county level."Somerset Cricket Board Development Officer Andrew Moulding told me: "These courses are proving to be very popular with both boys and girls. We are hoping that once the young cricketers have completed their ten week course that they will go along and join a local club and take part in one of the junior competitions that we run across the county."The course are being held at Bridgwater, Burnham on Sea, Chard, Glastonbury, Langport, Minehead, Shepton Mallet, Taunton,Wells and Yeovil, and cost £20 for the ten sessions. Any young cricketer who wants to find out more about the scheme should contact Mr Moulding on 01823 352266.

ECB Premier Division 1BAT Sports 156-3 (37.1 overs) (Carson 53 n.o.) v Havant
Match abandoned as a drawBurridge 198-7 (21pts) (Hawkins 51, Jackson 41, Francis 39, Wheatley 2-34)
Liphook & Ripsley (rain reduced target 155 off 28) 102-9 (6pts) (Jansen 25, Wright 21, Godwin 4-29, Ancell 3-22)
Burridge won by 57 runsSouth Wilts 82-8 (36 overs)(Caines 21 n.o., Woodhouse 21, Warren 3-18) v Bournemouth
Match abandoned as a drawMatches postponed: Bashley (Rydal) v Hungerford, Calmore Sports v AndoverPremier Division 2OT & Romsey 172-7 (22pts) (Smith 49, Rapley 25, K Trodd 22, Ball 3-39, Mariner 3-48)
Sparsholt 81 (5pts) (target 124 off 25) (Richings 35, Ord 6-33, Wood 4-18)
Old Tauntonians & Romsey won by 48 runsMatches postponed: Easton and Martyr Worthy v Lymington, Portsmouth v Cove, Trojans v Old Basing, U.S.Portsmouth v HambledonPremier Division 3All matches postponed
Flamingo v Bashley (Rydal) II, Havant II v New Milton, Hursley Park v Portsmouth II, Leckford v Alton, Lymington II v Winchester K.S., Paultons v Hook and Newnham Basics, Rowledge v Gosport Borough, St.Cross Symondians v U.S.Portsmouth II, Waterlooville v Purbrook

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is very quickly learning about the intense pressure that comes with managing the Scottish Premiership giants after losing his first four matches.

The Hoops board, however, have put their support behind the new head coach, despite an unprecedentedly poor start to his reign, and are not looking to sack him already.

Nancy is the first manager in Celtic’s history to lose his first four games as a manager, just as he was the first manager to lose his first three games in charge, but he has the support of those above him.

Why Celtic should consider sacking Wilfried Nancy

If the Hoops do not produce a positive result against Aberdeen at Parkhead on Sunday, the Scottish giants should seriously consider ending his time at the club already.

His attempts to implement a 3-4-2-1 system have been dismal, as evidenced by the results, and the second half against Dundee United could be used as evidence for why it is not a formation that suits Celtic’s domestic standing.

The system worked early on when Dundee United pressed high, providing the wing-backs with space in behind to stretch the game, and they created chances, including the goal scored by Daizen Maeda, as a result of that.

However, when Jim Goodwin tightened his defence up and United dropped into a low-block, especially after they went 2-1 up, Celtic found it hard to break them down and create chances.

In a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, you can push both full-backs on and create overloads centrally and out wide to break down a low block, moving them side to side, but that is not as easy in a 3-4-2-1 because of the back three. Instead of having two centre-backs distributing the ball to break down that block, Celtic had Liam Scales, Auston Trusty, and Anthony Ralston passing to each other across the halfway line.

When one of those did move forward to help the attack, it meant that the Hoops were relying on central defender Liam Scales’ crossing ability to find an equaliser, which did not work out.

With Nancy’s system seemingly being unsuited to what Celtic need domestically, it may already be time to end his reign to appoint Kjetil Knutsen instead.

Why Celtic should appoint Kjetil Knutsen

The Bodo/Glimt boss was reportedly one of the frontrunners to replace Brendan Rodgers before the job eventually went to Nancy, and they should revisit that interest if they decide to part ways with the Frenchman.

Knutsen, who favours a 4-3-3 formation (Transfermarkt), just finished second in the Eliteserien with Bodo/Glimt, missing out by just one point in the 2025 campaign.

Whilst missing out on a title may not scream ‘perfect Celtic manager’, the Norwegian head coach’s overall career with Bodo/Glimt shows that he has the coaching nous to be an excellent appointment.

Nancy had only won the MLS Cup once in his managerial career, which came in 2023 with Columbus Crew, who had previously won the title in 2020 and 2008 under different managers, per Transfermarkt.

Knutsen, however, took over a Bodo/Glimt side that had never been champions of Norway and has won four Eliteserien titles in his time in charge of the club.

Season

Knutsen (Eliteserien)

Nancy (MLS)

2025

2nd

7th

2024

1st

2nd

2023

1st

3rd (MLS Cup winners)

2022

2nd

2nd

2021

1st

10th

2020

1st

N/A

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Norwegian boss has been far more successful in domestic football as a manager, with a club, in Bodo/Glimt, that had less success than Columbus Crew had before their respective managers took over.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Knutsen, whose former captain Bodo/Glimt Ulrik Saltnes described his playing style as “kamikaze”, also plays attacking football with a 4-3-3 system, as his team scored 85 goals in 30 league games in 2025, per Sofascore.

He could also be an upgrade on Nancy because of his experience in Europe. The Bodo/Glimt tactician reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last season and qualified for the league phase of the Champions League this term, something Celtic failed to do under Rodgers.

Whereas Nancy’s only match in European football to date was the 3-0 loss to Roma in his second match in charge of the Scottish giants last week.

Related Celtic now making enquiries for new manager in the hours since Lawwell exit

Nancy’s disastrous start became even worse in midweek.

Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham

Therefore, Knutsen could come in as an immediate upgrade on the current Celtic boss because of his style, playing a four-defender system that is better suited to breaking down low blocks, his history of winning league titles, and his experience in Europe.

	Shane Watson: the new Flintoff? (file photo) © Getty Images

Hero to zero: A huge cheer greets Rahul Dravid before he faced hisfirst ball. It turned out to be the only delivery he faced too, as hismiscued pull went straight to deep square leg. His international record inBangalore is a wretched one, and there’s been no reversal of fortune inthe IPL either.No pulling power: The Bangalore boys were on the pull as eagerly asbachelors on a Friday night, and most of them met the same fate -dejection. Dravid was followed by Jacques Kallis and Ross Taylor inperishing to the cross-bat swish across the line. No, those pristinecheerleaders weren’t impressed either.Six or out?: In backyard games, six-and-out is a popular form ofdismissal, and the source of much argument. There was a similar situation atthe Chinnaswamy Stadium after Virat Kohli walloped a delivery fromSiddharth Trivedi to deep midwicket. His Under-19 team-mate, RavindraJadeja, made ground to his left before a big leap, grab and acrobaticroll near the boundary. Though he made the catch his handjust brushed the plastic that covered the rope. After all that effort, it was a six.Praveen the spoiler: Shane Warne had immaculate figures of 2-1-2-1at one stage, but a streaky straight six and a huge biff over midwicketruined them somewhat. But for Praveen’s big hitting, the RoyalChallengers’ embarrassment would have been as acute as it was on theopening day.Home leggie turns it on: After missing the first two games, AnilKumble finally played his first IPL game. A huge roar went up when Dravidgave him the ball after the seventh over, and though Shane Watson clubbedhis first two balls for four, what followed was typical Kumble. Accurateand persistent, he was the only consolation in another poor effort fromthe home side.Is Manpower the new Flintoff?: In Kuala Lampur 18 months ago,Matthew Hayden jokingly suggested that Watson could be part of Manpower.It appears though that the man himself as loftier ambitions. “I’d love tobe the next Flintoff,” he said before his last injury crisis and a superbunbeaten 61 to follow a tidy spell of 2 for 20 was a good way to reinforcehis status as the IPL’s bargain of the season ($125,000).