After a washed-out day and a long delay, CSK won a thriller off the final ball against Gujarat Titans to spark off celebrations in the early hours of Tuesday

Alagappan Muthu29-May-20231:57

Manjrekar: Dhoni had his eyes closed for the final ball

At 1:35am on the third day of a T20 match, Chennai Super Kings emerged as the new IPL champions, winning their fifth title to draw level with Mumbai Indians.Ravindra Jadeja pierced the silence built by tens of thousands of people when he hit the final two balls of an incredible, chaotic, unbelievable chase for boundaries. One straight in front of him. The other behind.An equation of 171 off 15 overs reduced to 13 off one. Mohit Sharma made it even tougher – 10 off two balls. CSK hadn’t hit a boundary in 13 balls. They had, however, lost two wickets. One of them was MS Dhoni, for a duck.That was looking like it might be his last act on a cricket field. He will be 42 soon. He said preparing for the IPL at his age was taking a “heavy toll”. When he came in, Ahmedabad broke the sound barrier. When he left, the crowd was bereft.But, an hour and a half later, they looked on, having suffered through the rain, braving difficult journeys to and from the ground, as their hero walked up onto the podium and picked up his fifth IPL trophy. In a rare show of emotion, once the winning runs were hit, Dhoni wrapped his arms around Jadeja and lifted him clean off the ground. That’s how much it meant to him. It even convinced him to keep playing for another year.None of this would have been possible though without the impact of Ambati Rayudu. He tweeted that this would be his final IPL match. When he walked out, ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster suggested CSK only had a 35% chance of victory. He lashed Mohit for 6, 4 and 6 and with those three hits, his team became overwhelming favourites – 93%.Ravindra Jadeja finished the job for CSK with a six and a four on the last two balls•AFP/Getty Images

The highlightsThe IPL final began on May 28. Not a ball was bowled because of rain. Then it shifted to May 29. Two-hundred and ten balls took six hours to be bowled because of another weather intervention.B Sai Sudharsan made the final the spectacle it was. The 21-year old Chennai boy took it to his hometown franchise, scoring 96 runs off 47 balls. Mohit made it last the distance. He came back from the Rayudu assault to pick up two wickets in two balls.Later, facing some of the greatest pressure a player can be under – bowling the last over with an IPL final on his shoulders – he nailed three perfect off-stump yorkers that were simply unhittable.Super Kings had been propped up by yet another strong opening partnership from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway. But once the field spread – after four overs – they found the going tougher. Especially against Noor Ahmad. The 18-year old left arm wristspinner did not concede a single boundary in a spell of 3-0-17-2. His Afghanistan team-mate though was battered around.Rashid Khan was about to finish his spell well. The first four balls of his last over went for just three runs. The rest went for 12. Shivam Dube got the tossed up balls he wanted and he smashed them both for sixes.CSK needed to go 6, 6, 6, 4, 6 between the 12th and the 13th overs just to get ahead in this game. They were trailing until that five-ball sequence. Imagine being the Titans right now. Those five balls – and then the last two – ended up deciding their fate.Ambati Rayudu joined Rohit Sharma as the only men to win six IPL titles•BCCI

They finally roar for Jadeja At the end of the league stage, Jadeja had a strike rate of 149.47 between overs 15 and 20. That is the lowest of the 14 finishers who have faced at least 75 balls in this phase. His closest competitor for a place in the Indian team in T20 cricket – Axar Patel – was up at 175.55.To make matters worse, every time he fell, he was greeted to the sound of the crowd roaring as one for the incoming batter. Dhoni. It got to the point where he rounded on the fans, in jest of course, and, in response, the next time he walked out to the middle, the Chepauk DJ played a song called , which in Tamil translates to ‘will you forgive me?’Jadeja faced only six balls in the final. He was at the crease for only 13. There were no boundaries hit for the duration of his stay … until the penultimate ball. A yorker that fell only inches short from Mohit was launched down the ground, and then the last ball, another attempted yorker that became a low full toss, was flicked to the left of short fine.Chennai would have roared as one. This time for Jadeja.The blinder from RayuduCSK needed 72 from 36. Eleven balls, two fours and a wicket later, they needed 54 from 25 and that’s what Rayudu walked into. He has played 204 matches in his IPL career, which began in 2010. This season he’s had to play a reduced role. He was CSK’s Impact Player at the start. None of his innings lasted more than 17 balls. Yet he kept telling his team-mates in the dressing room that he would win the final for them. Deepak Chahar made a point of saying that by cutting across Rayudu himself when he was doing an interview with the host broadcaster.The second six he hit was especially stunning. Off an into-the-wicket slower ball that was designed to rob the batter of his balance, Rayudu kept his, and smashed it over extra cover. As far as cameos go, this 19 off 8 will remain long in memory.B Sai Sudharsan hit six sixes in his 47-ball 96•BCCI

The forgotten heroSudharsan arrived on the back of a stumping that Dhoni pulled off in 0.1 seconds to get rid of Shubman Gill. He was 10 off 12 with no boundaries after 11 overs. He was the man that had to retire out in Qualifier 2 so Titans could get a better ball-striker in. But even that night, they let Sudharsan bat till the start of the 20th over and only then pulled him out. They trust this guy. They trust all their guys. That’s their whole thing.Sudharsan seems to understand his limitations. And that gives him his power. He can’t hit sixes like Tim David or Suryakumar Yadav. Even the ones he manages to hit look like they take a lot out of him. That bat goes as high as it can in the back-lift and comes thundering down. He holds nothing back because he knows he can’t afford to.Defensive bowling is all about protecting one side of the pitch. Usually, the leg side. That’s why most teams station more men in the deep there. It’s instinct to slog the ball in T20s.But Sudharsan is different. He is a really good off-side player. On Monday, he found six of his eight fours there. Two of them were slaps in the face of CSK’s plans. In the 17th over, with mid-off and cover up and Tushar Deshpande trying to tuck him up on middle and leg, Sudharsan made room and flat-batted two beautiful boundaries where he knew he didn’t need power. Just placement.This was part of a three-over period in which he scored all of the Titans’ boundaries – three sixes and five fours. When a batter pillages runs both sides of the wicket, the opposition unravels.No CSK bowler was spared. Not even Matheesha Pathirana. He had gone entire games – 9 of 14 – without giving away as many runs as he did on Monday to just one player. Sudharsan whacked the Sri Lankan sensation for 34 in 14 balls.

خرجت أنباء خلال الساعات القليلة الماضية حول رغبة نادي نيوم الصاعد حديثًا إلى الدوري السعودي في التعاقد مع مهاجم وهداف النادي الأهلي، وسام أبو علي، في الميركاتو الصيفي الحالي.

ويمتد عقد وسام أبو علي حتى يونيو 2028 مع الأهلي، ونجح اللاعب الفلسطيني في إثبات نفسه سريعًا، وسجل في الموسم الماضي 19 هدفًا في 34 مباراة بجميع المسابقات.

ويُعد أبو علي من أبرز الأسماء الهجومية في الدوري المصري، ما جعله محط أنظار عدة أندية خارجية سواء في السعودية، الإمارات، قطر وأيضًا في بعض الأندية الأوروبية.

اقرأ أيضًا | أحمد سليمان: زيزو لم يقدم شيئًا في كأس العالم للأندية.. والأهلي عاد بـ صفر

   View this post on Instagram   

A post shared by Wessam Abou Ali (@wessamabouali)

ونفى مصدر مسؤول داخل نادي نيوم، في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات، الأنباء التي ترددت مؤخرًا بشأن وجود مفاوضات مع وسام أبو علي.

وقال المصدر، الذي فضل عدم الكشف عن اسمه: “لا نخطط للتعاقد مع وسام أبو علي في الميركاتو الصيفي الحالي، وكل ما قيل عن تقديم عرض بقيمة 12 مليون دولار مع نسبة بيع مستقبلي تصل إلى 30% غير صحيح تمامًا”.

وكانت بعض التقارير قد أشارت إلى اهتمام نيوم بالتعاقد مع وسام أبو علي، في ظل تألقه اللافت منذ انضمامه إلى صفوف الأهلي قادمًا من سيريس السويدي في يناير 2024، لكن المصدر شدد على أن إدارة النادي تركّز حاليًا على أهداف أخرى في السوق.

MatériaMais Notícias

A estreia do técnico Roberto Fernandes no comando do CSA irá acontecer na próxima quinta-feira (18), oportunidade em que o Marujo recebe o CSA, às 20h (de Brasília), pela Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro.

RelacionadasPalmeirasZé Rafael celebra 200 jogos no Palmeiras e coloca ‘pressão’ em jogo contra o Flamengo: ‘É para embalar’Palmeiras16/08/2022ListasCeará procura Luxemburgo: veja opções de técnicos brasileiros livres no mercadoListas16/08/2022FortalezaGanhando espaço desde chegada no Fortaleza, Lucas Sasha avalia embate contra o FluminenseFortaleza16/08/2022

>Lista com dez jogadores de peso que ainda estão sem clube

Existia uma dúvida sobre a viabilidade do treinador por conta de suspensão aplicada contra ele no início de agosto, por parte da5ª Comissão Disciplinar do Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva (STJD), por conta de ação quando ele ainda dirigia o Náutico.

Todavia, o próprio clube do Mutange tratou de informar que foi bem sucedido na obtenção de efeito suspensivo da pena que previa o cumprimento de dois confrontos de suspensão.

Na oportunidade, Roberto foi expulso da partida onde o time pernambucano empatou em 1 a 1 com o Tombense, em 26 de junho, por conta de xingamentos​ ao árbitro de Mato Grosso Leonardo Willers Lorenzatto. O mesmo registrou em súmula a situação que rendeu julgamento e punição de duas partidas de suspensão ao treinador.

Entretanto, depois de ser demitido do clube do Recife e contratado pelo CSA, Roberto Fernandes cumpriu o primeiro jogo da pena na goleada sofrida por 4 a 0 diante do Sport, no último sábado (13), e não precisará cumprir o segundo.

The Oval is known to assist spinners from time to time, and Ponting wants India to field both Ashwin and Jadeja, with Jadeja batting at No. 6

Ashish Pant29-May-2023

Ricky Ponting wants India to play as many X-factor players as possible if they want to have an edge over Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Like Ishan Kishan, who, Ponting feels, is a stronger bet than KS Bharat to play as the wicketkeeper-batter in the absence of Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav.Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review podcast, Ponting said his India XI at the WTC final would also include both R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, with Jadeja playing primarily as a batter at No. 6, with Suryakumar above Jadeja in the middle order.”If I was them [India], knowing the importance of this game – and you have to win this Test match – I’d be going with Ishan Kishan in this game,” Ponting said. “He provides that little bit of X-factor that you need when you might be pushing for a win in a Test match. Obviously, if Rishabh Pant is fit, he is playing, and he provides that X-factor for India. But with him not being there, and this is no blot on Bharat whatsoever, but I think Kishan just provides that little bit more X-factor, who’d do a good job with the gloves but can provide that really high-scoring run rate that is required in a one-off Test match to push for a win.Related

Jaiswal replaces Gaikwad as stand-by player for WTC final

Ponting: Australia have a 'slight advantage' at The Oval

Bumrah commences rehab after undergoing back surgery

Hazlewood included in Australia's WTC final squad

“I’d be going with as many X-factor players as I could and put some real pressure back on Australia.”Neither Kishan nor Suryakumar are Test regulars. Kishan is yet to make his Test debut, though he was in the squad for the home Test series against Australia earlier this year, while Suryakumar played his only Test in that same series, making eight runs the only time India batted in Nagpur, where they won by an innings and 132 runs on their way to a 2-1 series win.Both players, however, have decent first-class records.While Suryakumar has scored 5557 runs in 80 first class games at an average of 44.45, Kishan has 2985 in 48 matches, averaging 38.76. They have both, however, made their names mainly as explosive short-format batters.While Ponting did not elaborate on why he wanted Suryakumar to bat at No.5, he did say he was happy to see Ajinkya Rahane back in the Test fold.Rahane, India’s No. 5 until he was dropped in early 2022, had a good domestic season (2022-23) where he finished as Mumbai’s highest run-getter in the Ranji Trophy with 634 runs in seven matches at 57.63. Rahane also surprised many watchers with his aggressive stroke play as a top-order impact batter for Chennai Super Kings in the latest IPL.”Jinks (Rahane) has had an incredible IPL as well. It’s funny, isn’t it, how IPL runs can now get you picked back into a Test match squad,” Ponting said. “Jinks has been on the outer for the last couple of years in Test cricket, but everyone saw how confident he looked and how well he played in the IPL and that was enough to get him back in.”I think they will pick Jadeja and Ashwin because Jadeja can hold that No. 6 batting spot”•BCCI

“He has been there and done it before in Test cricket. It was probably a bigger hurdle for him to climb to get back into playing really good T20 cricket than it is for him to go back and play good Test cricket. His make-up is much more suited to the Test game than it is to T20 cricket. He has rediscovered some confidence and if he does get picked, I won’t be surprised to see him get runs in that Test match.”He has always been a really high-quality player and we saw him even with his leadership qualities here in Australia, in that last series to turn things around.”The 15-man India squad has three frontline spinners – all of them spin-bowling allrounders – in Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar Patel. While Axar has showed consistency across formats in recent months, Ponting expects India to opt for Ashwin and Jadeja purely because of the nature of the pitch at The Oval, where the Test will be played from June 7 to 11.”I think they will pick Jadeja and Ashwin because Jadeja can hold that No. 6 batting spot,” Ponting said. “His batting has improved that much that they can pick him as a batter now that might just bowl a few overs if required. There is no doubt that Ashwin is a more skilled and better Test bowler than what Jadeja is, but if Jadeja can hold down that batting spot and then as the game goes on, getting into the fourth and fifth day, if it does start to turn, then you have got that really high-class second spin bowling option if required.”Historically, the Oval pitch has been a very good batting wicket. It’s generally offered something for the fast bowlers on day one, not a lot. But I have also played some games there where it has turned a lot. If it starts a little bit dry, it can turn a lot.”

Things might be going wrong on the domestic front at the moment, but in the grand scheme of things, Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal during his tenure.

The former captain has taken a side that were ridiculed for being weak, easy to play through, and naive and has turned them into one of the toughest teams in the Premier League.

The North Londoners boasted the best defence in the competition last season and look likely to be the best in class again this year despite now being a distant second on points.

However, for all the improvements he’s made to the team, Arteta hasn’t been able to sign or develop a world-class centre-forward.

Worse yet, one of his former strikers is still going strong away from the Emirates and has even won comparisons to the sensational Alexander Isak.

Why Arsenal need a new nine

Now, the main reason Arsenal so desperately need a new number nine at this moment in time is the simple fact that, with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out injured, they don’t have a central striker.

However, the primary reason they’ll still need one when those two return is that neither one is prolific enough nor intimidating enough to lead the line of a title-challenging side.

For example, before his injury, Jesus had racked up a middling haul of seven goals and two assists in 27 games, and while Havertz had done far better with 15 goals and five assists in 34 games, that’s still not quite good enough.

Their main rival last season, Manchester City, have an inhuman bagsman leading the line in Erling Haaland, who, despite being accused of having an ‘off year’, has racked up 28 goals and four assists in 38 games this year.

Likewise, Mo Salah, who is Liverpool’s main goal threat, has put the ball in the back of the net 32 times in 41 games this season and provided 22 assists for good measure.

Even Newcastle United, who are fighting for a European place, have a superstar striker leading the line in Isak, who has a tally of 22 goals and five assists in 31 games.

With a record like that, it’s no surprise that the former Real Sociedad ace has been consistently touted for a move to Arsenal, but frustratingly, a forward who left the club under Arteta has now been compared to the Swede.

The ex-Arsenal star compared to Isak

So, when it comes down to a former Arsenal striker who left under Arteta and could feasibly be compared to Isak, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to find out the player in question is Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

In his pomp, the Gabonese international, who Bukayo Saka once dubbed a “legend,” was a lean-mean-scoring machine for the Gunners, racking up a sensational haul of 92 goals and 20 assists in just 162 games and became the fastest player in the club’s history to reach 50 Premier League goals.

However, after losing form and falling out with the manager, he joined Barcelona for free in February 2022.

While he did reasonably well for six months, he joined Chelsea the following campaign, where he seriously struggled, and ended up joining Marseille just a year later.

Fortunately, he rediscovered his form in a big way on the French Riviera, and in just 51 appearances last season, he scored 30 goals and provided 11 assists, which earned him another move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah, where he has racked up 13 goals and two assists in 23 games.

Over the last year or so, such an impressive revival has seen him likened to the unreal Isak.

The comparison stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Swedish star is the fifth most similar forward to the former Gunner across the last 365 days.

Now this is based primarily on last season, and the best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked closely, including, but not limited to, actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, shots on target, expected assists, passes into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and Aubameyang probably had to leave the club for Arteta to carry on his project to bring Arsenal back to the top.

Still, we can’t help imagining how much better this team would be with someone like him leading the line.

Arsenal can end Merino experiment by starting £46m star who's "like Henry"

Mikel Merino must be given time away from playing as a striker for Arsenal.

5

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 10, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have a huge game next up in the Premier League. Ange Postecoglou’s side will travel to Stamford Bridge to face London rivals Chelsea on Thursday. The Lilywhites have now gone three games without a win in the top flight but will be looking to turn things around in midweek.

Indeed, Stamford Bridge has not been a happy hunting ground for the North Londoners. In the entire Premier League era, they have won just one game away to Chelsea, drawing 11 and losing 20.

One of the men imperative to turn that run around will be captain Son Heung-min.

What Son has said about his Spurs performances

It has been a mixed bag of a season for Lilywhites captain Son. The experienced 32-year-old has not necessarily been the first choice option on the left wing for Postecoglou, playing 40 games and 2834 minutes, the equivalent of 31 full 90-minute games.

In that time, his numbers are certainly not unimpressive. He’s scored 11 times and grabbed 12 assists, mainly from the left wing. With that being said, he hasn’t hit the heights of previous seasons, perhaps due to fewer minutes across the campaign.

One of Son’s biggest contributions in a single game this term came against the bottom of the Premier League side, Southampton. In a 5-0 thrashing of the Saints away from home, the Spurs number seven scored one and assisted two.

In the last few weeks, the South Korea international has perhaps shown an issue with the amount of game time he is getting under Postecoglou. In a recent interview, the Spurs skipper said, “I’m in excellent physical condition” and explained, “my club manager made those decisions to create better situations”, seemingly referring to his lack of game time.

Son was not selected from the start for Spurs’ last game against Fulham, a 2-0 defeat. However, he has three goals in the past against Chelsea and could hurt the Blues by running in behind their high line.

In fact, there is one player in particular who could help get him firing at Stamford Bridge.

The Spurs player who can get the best out of Son

Postecoglou is not short of creative options in midfield. Dejan Kulusevski has become a deadly player from central areas, and young Lucas Bergvall has also impressed. However, one man who could have a real impact playing just behind Son is James Maddison.

It has been a largely profitable season for Spurs’ number ten. He’s played 38 times across competitions, scoring 11 goals and grabbing seven assists, with 14 of those goal involvements coming in the Premier League.

Son and Maddison have a strong history of linking up well with each other. In 59 games together, they have combined for nine goals, with Maddison only linking up with three players more.

That included one goal combination against Hoffenheim in the Europa League group stage, where Maddison grabbed a goal and assist, and Son scored twice.

Not only that, but the England internationals’ creative numbers via FBref from the Premier League this season compared to other midfielders are exemplary.

For example, he averages 8.27 progressive passes and 0.94 shot-creating actions per game, ranking him in the top 5% and 2%, respectively.

Progressive passes

8.27

95th

Key passes

2.01

87th

Expected assists

0.32

97th

Shot-creating actions

4.72

92nd

Goal-creating actions

0.94

98th

The England international could be considered in the “same category” as former Spurs star Harry Kane. At least, that’s what Son himself once said, and he knows a thing or two about playing with the England captain. They combined for 54 goals in a Spurs shirt.

Maddison can certainly replicate what Kane did at Spurs with Son; picking the ball up in deeper zones and playing him in behind the opposition defence. This could certainly work well against Chelsea on Thursday.

There is certainly lots of evidence to suggest that the former Leicester City star would be ideal to start in midfield against Chelsea.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

If Postecoglou is looking to help get Son firing, the starting Maddison, a progressive and creative player who has linked up well with the Spurs skipper in the past.

Spurs' award-winning CF was ahead of Kane, then Poch sold him for £208k

The promising forward wasn’t able to reach his potential at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 28, 2025

The English actor sat down with GOAL at TST 2025 for an exclusive interview about him donning the Clarets badge for the tournament this year

CARY, N.C. – Hero Fiennes Tiffin, best known for his role as Hardin Scott in the famed 'After' Netflix franchise – a four-film series of romantic dramas based on the Anna Todd-authored novels – is taking a break from the film set this week and returning to his roots.

The 27-year-old actor is lacing up his boots and putting on the shirt of his first love: West Ham United.

"It's an honor and a privilege," he told GOAL at media day for The Soccer Tournament 2025, where he will be playing for the Clarets in the competition.

"I think it will always will be… It will always be that way anytime I put on the West Ham shirt. I feel like it's hard not to repeat myself, because the emotions are the same. It’s surreal for me to be amongst the people I looked up to when I was growing up, and wear the top that I've supported and watched for years. It's surreal, and the kid in me can't believe it."

Fiennes Tiffin, 27, will be playing with the likes of West Ham legends Anton Ferdinand and Mauro Zarate in the 7v7 competition this year, as he features for the second time after he debuted for in 2023 in the inaugural year of TST.

Fans around the world know the English actor from his role as Scott in the romantic films, but as a child, where his fandom was born, he also played the role of a young Tom Riddle in the sixth installment of the Harry Potter films, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

GOAL sat down with the English actor to talk about his West Ham fandom, where it stemmed from, and what fans should expect from him on the pitch at TST this year.

The Soccer TournamentEarly beginnings

When Fiennes Tiffin was just a child, he wasn't surrounded by a footballing family, but rather, a community that took him in and introduced him to the Clarets and what it means to be a West Ham fan.

"No one in my family really cares much for football, but growing up in South London, you're never more than a meter away from someone who does. And I had neighbors two doors down called the Gatehouses, and they were all big West Ham fans – a family of like six or seven – and they always had season tickets," Fiennes Tiffin said.

The actor remembers playing with the family's kids, getting hand-me-down West Ham tops, and even eventually playing on the same youth football team. It all led to his initial experiences with the club.

"Before you know it, they were asking me if I wanted to come to Upton Park to watch games. My best mate at school was a West Ham fan, and by the time I could even name five teams in the Prem [Premier League], I knew I was a West Ham fan, and I had the kit and I was going to games," he said.

"So yeah, it kind of happened through neighbors and friends, and yeah, your team picks you, I guess."

It was a rather unorthodox approach to finding passion for the club, but through it, he found a pure and dedicated passion for the club, even while his acting career kicked off as a child.

AdvertisementThe Soccer TournamentFinding love for the Clarets

Through his love for the club, he was selected along with a group of ' legends and other players to represent them in the U.S. as they fight for the $1 million prize in the men's division of the tournament this year. As a kid, Fiennes Tiffin looked up to a lot of players who donned the crest, and now that he has an opportunity to do so as well alongside some of them, it means the world to him.

"From my lifetime, Mark Noble's got to be – I mean, he's Mr. West Ham, isn't he? So if I'm going to name one, it's him. But then the players who I can think back to when I first was watching games," he said. "Anton [Ferdinand] is up there. And they say, never meet your heroes, but Anton is the most respectful, accommodating, welcoming person, but also fun and smart, and knows what he's doing. I can't sing his praises enough. So yeah, he's probably the person who, when I think back to the earliest memories of West Ham for when I was alive, games that I actually watched, it'd be Anton."

With one year of experience under his belt from 2023 already, he's hoping to help lead the Premier League side to the podium this year – but recognizes it won't be easy, wth so much talent on display at TST this year.

The Soccer TournamentCompetition awaits

The men's Group Stage bracket features 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout rounds. West Ham's group includes La Liga side Villarreal, Brown Ballers FC, and TenFifteen FC.

If the Clarets advance, Hero Fiennes Tiffin already has his dream matchups in mind: Sergio Agüero's Selección Portero and Luis Nani’s Nani SC.

"Agüero… man, he's just a Premier League legend, and everyone can still hear that commentator screaming, ‘Agüerooooo!’ Nani as well—he’s massive. But I'm locking in Agüero as the person I'm probably most excited to see play or play against," he said.

Though unsure how many minutes he'll get, Fiennes Tiffin is just proud to wear the West Ham crest alongside fellow fans of the club. His competitive side, however, still hopes to see some action.

"When I’m on the bench, I’m obviously itching to play," he said. "But I’ve been working a lot and haven’t had as much time to train as I’d like. We’ve got a team full of strong players who play regularly at a high level. So I’ve told the coach and the others – I’m here to help however I can. If that means fewer minutes for me, I’m fine with that. I’ll be happy just to put on the kit, get a little run around, and contribute however I can."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

The Soccer TournamentThe future

Fiennes Tiffin is thrilled to take some time to step away from the big screen for the competition, as he feels it's "nice" to take a break from the world he often surrounds himself with. The 27-year-old is currently in the midst of production for the series 'Young Sherlock' on Amazon Prime Video, where he will play a youthful Sherlock Holmes, but right now, his focus is on the competition.

However, that's not to say he hasn't thought about a potential crossover in the near future – in fact, there's a crossover in the back of his head between West Ham, soccer and his acting career that could come to fruition soon, though he's kept his lips sealed… for now.

"Let me not speak so much on this. I'm itching to, but there is one project in particular that is very West Ham oriented, that, if we can make it into a good script, and it's worth turning into a film, and all the stars aligned… and then I'll be involved in that, and that would be a massive crossover. That would be two massive parts of my life coming together. But no, and I guess as an actor, there's something nice about playing roles that are far away from home, but as I say, I'm itching to say more, but I can't right now.

"Hopefully, in the future, we'll see me work on a project that is heavily West Ham-oriented."

For fans who want to catch a glimpse of Fiennes Tiffin on the pitch this week, they can tune in and watch TST 2025, as he dons the badge of the Clarets once more.

The French football legend has joined the chorus of voices celebrating the USWNT legend’s illustrious career during a tribute to her career

• Henry acknowledges Sauerbrunn's impact transcends beyond soccer field
• Arsenal icon praises defender's leadership qualities during two-decade career
• 39-year-old won two World Cups alongside countless other accolades

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  USWNT icon Becky Sauerbrunn received an unexpected tribute from French football legend Thierry Henry as part of a pre-match ceremony honoring her career before the USWNT's friendly against Jamaica. The 39-year-old had announced her retirement from football in December 2024 and Henry appeared in a surprise video message, where he praised Sauerbrunn's leadership, professionalism, and more. The emotional tribute was part of a larger ceremony celebrating Sauerbrunn's announced retirement from professional soccer.

  "I just wanted to congratulate you on your career," Henry said. "What else to say? Two hundred-plus caps for the national team. Captain of the national team. Winning two World Cups….It's just outstanding…You've been a role model, and an example."

  Henry also praised the center back for her love of

  And you're an Arsenal fan, what's not to like," Henry said with a smile. "From one Gooner to another, well done."

Advertisement

• WHAT THIERRY HENRY SAID

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sauerbrunn's retirement in December 2024 marked the end of an era for the USWNT, as she represented one of the last active players from the team's 2015 World Cup championship. Her international career spans 219 caps, two World Cup titles (2015, 2019), an Olympic gold medal (2012), and countless club achievements with FC Kansas City, Utah Royals, and the Portland Thorns.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  The USWNT will continue their international friendly schedule as they prepare for upcoming tournaments under Emma Hayes' leadership. For Sauerbrunn, retirement opens new chapters potentially including coaching, broadcasting, or continued advocacy work within soccer.

West Ham United are now in the race to sign a “phenomenal” goalkeeper who has been likened to Liverpool star Alisson, and a deal could be done for £30m, according to a report.

Potter searching for a new goalkeeper

Graham Potter is in the somewhat unusual position of having two goalkeepers of a similar level, rather than an undisputed number one, with Alphonse Areola and Lukasz Fabianski both being given runs in the side in the Premier League this season.

However, Fabianski is now 39-years-old, and the Pole’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, while Areola is hardly in the infancy of his career either, at 32, which means the Hammers could need to bring in at least one new goalkeeper this summer.

AS Roma’s Mile Svilar has emerged as an option for the Irons, with the Serbian yet to sign a new contract to extend his stay with the Italian club, while a new target has also now entered the frame.

West Ham want to sign new "complete" forward who's scored 16 goals in 24/25

Graham Potter wants some firepower to ignite his West Ham attack.

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 23, 2025

According to a report from the Sunday Mirror (via West Ham Zone), West Ham are one of the clubs tracking Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, with Potter looking to put his own stamp on the squad he inherited from Julen Lopetegui.

Lammens’ performances in Belgium this season have attracted the attention of a number of other Premier League clubs, however, so there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers also keen.

Given the widespread interest in the goalkeeper, Royal Antwerp believe they could hold out for a fee of £30m, and they may be willing to accept an offer in that ballpark this summer.

"Phenomenal" Lammens likened to Alisson

The Belgian goalkeeper has been an indispensable member of the Royal Antwerp side this season, having worked his way up the pecking order since arriving from Club Brugge, making 30 league appearances, during which time he’s picked up seven clean sheets.

Recently, the 22-year-old’s performances have even earned him comparisons to Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson from freelance scout Ben Mattinson.

Having also been lauded as “phenomenal” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig this season, there is every sign the Royal Antwerp shot-stopper could go on to become a top goalkeeper, so it is little wonder some big Premier League clubs are queuing up for his signature.

Fabianski is now in the twilight years of his career and seemingly set to leave in the summer, while Areola has received criticism at times this season, meaning Lammens could be a much-needed addition to Potter’s squad.

It’s fair to say Liverpool’s 2024/25 campaign has exceeded expectations, with Arne Slot leading the Reds to a multi-front title charge.

Liverpool might have suffered the ignominy of a giant-killing defeat in the FA Cup against Plymouth Argyle, but they are into the Carabao Cup final and hold a slender one-goal advantage over Paris Saint-Germain after the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie.

Oh, the Merseysiders are also 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League, with favourable results over the next few weeks all but confirming Liverpool as Champions Elect.

Harvey Elliott may have landed the knockout punch in Paris this week, but Alisson Becker absorbed innumerable blows to score an incredible victory for out-of-sorts Liverpool.

Slot, to whom Alisson is “the best goalkeeper in the world,” knows he’s got it good in the goalkeeping department, with a world-class superstar between the sticks bailing his subpar players out.

But the gloved Redmen also present FSG with something of a quandary.

Liverpool's goalkeeping conundrum

Alisson was redoubtable against PSG. Liverpool’s outfield crop were a shambles on the ball and desperate in keeping the French at bay when out of possession – which was the lion’s share of the contest.

He truly is the finest the game has to offer between the posts, but aged 32 and suffering from persistent injury problems over the past few years, Alisson isn’t providing the Reds with an immovable figure between the sticks – not across the span of a many-game campaign.

Incredibly, Alisson’s injury issues haven’t been too keenly felt by the Merseysiders, for Caoimhin Kelleher is “the best No. 2 in the world” – according to Jurgen Klopp – but such a player is within their rights to push for a more prominent role.

Kelleher has unabashedly admitted he hopes to leave in the summer ahead of the culminating year of his deal, and who could blame him?

Liverpool only welcomed Federico Chiesa to Slot’s first-team squad last year, but a deal worth £29m for Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili has been agreed and he links up with the Premier League side ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Liverpool need to sell Kelleher, then let Alisson and his Georgian counterpart jockey for the prime place.

Kelleher isn’t the only star who may be on the move ahead of their final year on the books. Indeed, there’s a modern legend in a similar position. But he’s struggling and it might be time to let him leave for pastures new.

FSG could boldly sell Liverpool stalwart

Slot and his transfer team have got much to sort out this summer. The ‘big three’ are all still non-committal on the contract front, but they aren’t the only stars who may need replacing.

With Liverpool supposedly scouring the market for a new left-back, Andy Robertson faces an uncertain future having failed to produce his finest football.

Robertson is only 30 years old but he’s sure to be suffering some wear-and-tear after many years in Klopp’s full-throttle system. Once hailed as a “Duracell Bunny” by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott, the Tartan Army general’s batteries may be running on empty.

Candidly, Robertson’s positioning and lack of pace have led to some alarming situations this term. As per Sofascore, he’s averaging 0.1 successful dribbles per game. Or in other words, Robertson’s on course to complete less than four dribbles across the entirety of the season.

This has in turn affected his innate creative ability. Indeed, Robertson is heading toward his first-ever Premier League season with the Anfield side having failed to register a single goal involvement, though there’s still time yet.

24/25

26 (24)

0

0

23/24

23 (18)

3

2

22/23

34 (29)

0

8

21/22

29 (29)

3

10

20/21

38 (38)

1

7

19/20

36 (34)

2

12

18/19

36 (36)

0

11

17/18

22 (22)

1

5

Broadcaster Nubaid Haroon even suggested earlier in the campaign that Liverpool should place Joe Gomez back in the left-back berth he moonlit in so well last season while Robertson was injured, noting the Scotsman was “struggling” in the early phase of Slot’s project.

Sadly, Liverpool’s long-serving stalwart has struggled to rekindle his finest form, and it’s beginning to look like he may face an insurmountable obstacle in reaching such a level again at Anfield.

Of course, if Liverpool were to part with Robertson, a suitable long-term successor would be required. Kostas Tsimikas, 28, is an able deputy but with a mean cross and composed passing skills, he’s almost a lite version of Liverpool’s first-choice left-back.

As such, FSG are looking to complete a deal for Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, 21, who has been one of the standout young stars in English football this term.

Given the £160k-per-week Robertson is earning even more than Alisson (£150k-per-week), who is still at the very top of his game, it’s hard to justify his continued place in the team – especially if an up-and-coming talent such as Kerkez is taken into Slot’s plans.

Some tough decisions lie ahead, but if other, more worrying contracts are to be renewed, perhaps the earnings that Robertson takes home might be better redistributed elsewhere.

Those aforementioned ‘big three’ are the only Liverpool players to bank more than the Scotland captain, who is sadly starting to struggle to repay that on the field.

Of course, his experience and age may prevent Liverpool from claiming a hefty fee for his services. Perhaps they will wish for him to run his deal down instead, thus leaving Tsimikas to face the axe.

In any case, this wonderful player is approaching the twilight stage of his Liverpool career, and what a ride it’s been.

He's worth more than Kerkez: Liverpool have struck gold on "special" star

He could become a superstar in Arne Slot’s system in the future.

3 ByAngus Sinclair Mar 7, 2025