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We must just turn up and wait for what treat he throws at us

Sidharth Monga21-Jun-20252:33

Manjrekar: The world knows how special Pant is

Rishabh Pant would have been right at home in England in an era gone by. Imagine him as one of the schoolboys in Cambridge in the late 1950s and early 1960s, an eccentric inspired by the Beat Generation of America, walking around with little regard for rules and convention, rejecting materialism that came with the post-war relative prosperity, looking all hip and dandy, doing things for rhyme or reason not apparent to observers, offending and confounding anyone who thinks they are an authority figure.Pant is actually quite at home even now. Only Alec Stewart and Matt Prior have more hundreds as wicketkeeper in this country. No visiting wicketkeeper has more than one. He has scored more hundreds in this country than Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli.All he needs is long hair, a fisherman sweater, kohl in his eye, and he could somersault all over the streets. Rish the Beat, he could call himself, along the lines of the mad-genius singer-songwriter and guitarist of that era, Syd Barrett, who went by Syd the Beat for a while.Related

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Pant dances down the second ball he faces. Seemingly goes into his bunker. Occasionally tries to ramp-pull Josh Tongue, the bowler who troubled him the most. Plays proper dirty slogs off Chris Woakes, one of them in the last over of the day. Charges Brydon Carse early on the second morning.When the opposition wicketkeeper, Jamie Smith, tries to coax him into a reckless shot against Shoaib Bashir, Pant tells him the bowler is bowling well and the field is spread out so he can’t. And still goes ahead and slog-sweeps the next ball for the 79th six of his career, going past MS Dhoni and behind only Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma among Indians.He brings up his hundred with a one-handed six, having fallen in the 90s seven times, the same number as his centuries now. On three occasions, trying to hit a six. Once, he hit a six outside the ground, the ball was lost, and he got out to the replacement ball on 99.It’s like nothing really matters. What is a hundred? Just a material possession. The world is just random chaos we must embrace, we are but a minuscule part of what is just a pale blue dot, and the best we can do is live every moment to its fullest: cartwheel when we get a hundred, trudge back slower than Inzamam-ul-Haq when we miss it, sharing every expression of pain with the world. And then do the same all over again without a care for convention or hundreds or that pain of getting out to a creative shot.Rishabh Pant celebrates his century with a somersault•Getty ImagesOf course this is not the 1950s or 60s. Of course Pant is no shooting star. Since his debut, he is only the most consistent Test batter of the most high-profile and the most scrutinised Test team in the world. He just plays a high-pressure game with the lightness of a spiritually awakened person.There has to be some method to Pant’s batting. Until he himself talks about it someday – or he could choose to keep the mystery about it alive – we can only look to make educated guesses from some of the trends.He likes to go after seam bowlers early in the piece. He is more aggressive in more challenging conditions. He likes to hit balls where fielders aren’t, something ridiculously simple when spoken about but hard to execute.Pant is susceptible to balls bowled on good length and angling across or seaming away from him. It would seem all his creative shots are designed to avoid facing those deliveries as much as he can.After he charged down to Ben Stokes second ball, only one out of the next nine Stokes deliveries were pitched on that good length. In this innings, for example, he faced 108 balls of pace and played 22 false shots, a control percentage of a tick under 80. Only 35 of those 108 balls were on a good length of 6-8m from the stumps. He played 16 false shots to them.Pant had a wider range of interception points than other batters. He was likelier than anyone else to meet a quick delivery either more than 3m down the wicket or 0.5m from the wicket. And still his average interception point was further down than others.He thrives in this chaos where he has thrown the bowlers off their lengths. When he was playing just his second Test, having got off the mark with a six in his debut innings, he let Moeen Ali bowl good ball after good ball to him in Southampton. He tried to weather the storm in the traditional way. The storm didn’t subside. He ended up scoring a 29-ball duck, and said never again.There must be no rhythm or plan for bowlers when they come at Pant. The bowlers must be forced to protect as many areas on the field as possible, giving him more room for error when he attacks. Even his batting coach mustn’t know the gameplan. There must not be any yardstick to measure his processes by. We must just turn up and wait for what treat Beat Rish throws at us.

Williamson, Boult and Southee were there in 2015 and in 2019 but may not make it to 2027

Alagappan Muthu29-Sep-20232:47

Can New Zealand make it to their third straight ODI World Cup final?

World Cup pedigree
New Zealand have made it to the semi-final stage of every ODI World Cup since 2007. They produced, along with England, perhaps the greatest game of 50-overs cricket ever at the 2019 final and, since that heartbreak, have gone on to win an ICC World Test Championship and make it to the final four of the T20 World Cup in 2021 and 2022. Whatever they’ve got in the water over there may be the key to unlocking human potential and preventing the robot apocalypse.Recent form
New Zealand landed in India having beaten Bangladesh 2-1 at their Mirpur fortress in conditions that shouldn’t be too dissimilar to what they will see in the World Cup. The only problem is that was a very different squad to the one that will line up against England on October 5. Limited access to their best players has certainly been a factor in them winning just eight out of 20 ODIs in 2023. Their two most recognisable talents – Kane Williamson (3) and Trent Boult (5) – played less than half of those matches.Related

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• How New Zealand all but took the 2019 World Cup title

Selection
There’s a whole lot of experience in their 15. New Zealand have set so much store on it that they are happy to carry not one but two players who are still figuring out if their very recently healed bodies can handle the rigour of a global tournament. The risk is understandable. Williamson is the team’s captain and the one the whole batting line-up revolves around and Tim Southee is necessary to round out a bowling unit that includes a left-arm quick, an express quick, a legspinner and three fingerspinners.Squad
Kane Williamson (capt), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will YoungKey player
So much of ODI cricket in the subcontinent is about top-order batters bedding all the way in and that is pretty much what Devon Conway does everywhere he goes. A left-handed hitter of spin whose off-side power game is on par, if not better than, his leg-side power game and who is managing a hundred roughly once every five innings? That’s bank right there.Devon Conway – the player to watch out for at the World Cup•Getty ImagesRising star

Glenn Phillips is must-see TV. Dude does things that end up outing even the most closeted cricket fan. *Cough* John Cena *Cough*. He sets up to bat like Steven Smith – yells of no-run included – but probably has more in common with Glenn Maxwell. Phillips’ ability to hit 360 degrees and utterly ransack runs from down the order was on brilliant display at the start of the year in Karachi, where he led New Zealand to their first ODI series victory in the subcontinent since 2008. He also bowls pretty some useful offbreaks, which New Zealand might rely heavily on over the coming weeks, and is phenomenal in the field. #TotalPackage #ManCrushWorld Cup farewells?
Well, 12 of the 15 are over 30, and one of the other three is 29, so there’s going to be a fair bit of this. A golden generation of New Zealand cricketers – Williamson, Southee, Boult – will likely be riding off into the sunset soon.

We try to make the sense of the biggest buys at the 2021 IPL auction

Nagraj Gollapudi and Gaurav Sundararaman18-Feb-20210:40

‘We’ve rebalanced our side, Chris Morris fills an important role for us’ – Royals CEO McCrum

Chris Morris for INR 16.25 crore (USD 2.23 million approx.) to Rajasthan Royals
It is not a common skillset for a bowler to fire up speeds in the 140kph region consistently, have enough variations at the same time, and simultaneously play cameos in the lower order. And that is a big reason why South Africa allrounder Chris Morris has ended up being a millionaire more than once at IPL auctions.In 2018, Morris fetched INR 11 crore (USD 1.5 million approx.) from then Delhi Daredevils. Two years later, in 2020, Royal Challengers Bangalore bought him for INR 10 crore (USD 1.37 million approx.). In the six matches he played for the Royal Challengers last IPL before being sidelined by an injury, Morris’ economy was 6.26 in the powerplay and 7.03 in the death overs. And even though his numbers with the bat are a bit weak in the last two IPL seasons, Morris had a 30-plus average and 160-plus strike rate in four consecutive IPLs between 2015-18.The debate about why the Royal Challengers released Morris is for another day. But on Thursday afternoon, they wrestled with Mumbai Indians initially, then lost out to the Rajasthan Royals, who were gasping by the time they raised the paddle for one last time to silence Punjab Kings’ rival bid late in the play, to buy Morris at INR 16.25 crore, the highest price paid for a player in an auction in addition to being the second-highest salary behind Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers’ captain who gets paid INR 17 crore (USD 2.34 million approx.).All the teams that bid for Morris were on the lookout for at least one overseas fast bowler as well as an allrounder who could provide the firepower with ball and bat. Both the Royal Challengers and Kings did not have a quality allrounder in their ranks. Mumbai needed a replacement for James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile; both were released after the 2020 IPL. They also needed a back-up for Pollard, and therefore were not shy to go big for Morris as they could have hit two targets with one stone.ESPNcricinfo LtdKyle Jamieson for INR 15 crore (USD 2.06 million approx.) to Royal Challengers Bangalore
Coming into the auction Jamieson, towering at over 6’8″, was expected to be picked for a lot of money, but 15 crores for a bowler who has played just 38 T20 matches does raise eyebrows.Jameison’s height, pace and batting ability all worked in his favour, making him the second-most expensive player of this mini-auction. Although he has never played in India, the perceived value was high. He also benefited from the low supply-high demand dynamics.For the Royal Challengers, Jamieson was the final bet after they had lost Morris and Jhye Richardson to the Royals and Punjab Kings respectively. Jamieson is likely to perform the same role for the Royal Challengers Morris was assigned last IPL. The New Zealander is likely to bat at No. 7 while being the strike bowler. It remains to be seen whether he can match his towering price with high-impact performances.Glenn Maxwell for INR 14.25 crore (USD 1.96 million approx.) to Royal Challengers Bangalore
Maxwell and millions is no more a headline. As Mike Hesson, the Royal Challengers’ team director, said Maxwell has that “X-factor” teams are desperate to have. So it was no surprise when five teams contested fiercely for the Australian allrounder.The bidding race began with Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royals but both fell out of the race quite early. Then Royal Challengers and Chennai Super Kings entered into a paddle-raising contest. The Super Kings showed uncharacteristic aggression at the auction table, bidding up to INR 14 crore, which is just one crore lesser than their most expensive player, MS Dhoni who was retained in 2018 at INR 15 crore. The Royal Challengers, no strangers to splurging, did not blink though.ESPNcricinfo LtdBoth Royal Challengers and Super Kings were on the lookout for a power-hitting allrounder. The Super Kings wanted an able replacement for Shane Watson while the Royal Challengers wanted someone that could reduce the burden on AB de Villiers, who Maxwell recently said is his “idol”. Imagine the mayhem de Villiers and Maxwell can cause together at the crease.Jhye Richardson for INR 14 crore (USD 1.92 million approx.) to Punjab Kings
Currently in New Zealand for the T20I series, the slightly built Jhye had impressed franchises with not just his speed, but importantly with how he kept the scoring rate in check while bowling for Perth Scorchers in the 2021 Big Bash League – where he finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. Jhye made an impact especially in the powerplay and the Power Surge segments, indicating he can bowl under pressure.Although the Kings have the Indian pair of Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh in the fast bowling department, they had released West Indies’ left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell after just one season, so had a gap to fill.The Kings had to stave off rival bids firstly from the Capitals, who were probably looking for a back-up for the South African pair of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, both of whom could miss the initial games because of their home series against Pakistan.But after the Capitals exited the race at the INR 9-crore mark, the Royal Challengers picked up the baton. Despite the presence of two other Australian fast bowlers in Kane Richardson and Daniel Sams, the Royal Challengers wanted another fast man, both as a back-up and as a compensation for losing out on Morris. However, the Kings benefited from having the biggest purse at this auction and bagged Jhye.K Gowtham for INR 9.25 crore (USD 1.27 million approx.) to Chennai Super Kings
Harbhajan Singh’s absence in the 2020 IPL was felt hard by the Super Kings who were desperate for a finger spinner to create pressure. The scarcity of quality offspinners with IPL experience in the Indian domestic circuit meant that Gowtham was on the radar for more than one team.Having released Harbhajan, who had been bought in 2018 auction for INR 2 crore (USD 275,000 approx.), the Super Kings’ two main options were Gowtham and Jalaj Saxena. Gowtham can be a handful on spin-friendly pitches apart from being destructive with the bat.The Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad were also looking for spinning all-rounders and therefore entered the fray for Gowtham, which played a role in driving his price upwards drastically. The fact that the Super Kings had a much bigger purse than other two teams played to their advantage.Riley Meredith for INR 8 crore (USD 1.1 million approx.) to Punjab Kings
Meredith became the most expensive uncapped overseas player signed at an auction when the Kings paid INR 8 crore for his services. Shane Warne had spoken about his potential and he will have the chance to show his ability ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup in India. As Anil Kumble, the Kings’ head coach, said, Meredith’s raw pace impressed the management and he would be handy to plug a hole they had from last season.Meredith strikes once every 18 balls in T20s and along with fellow Australian Jhye, the pair could play a similar role to what Rabada and Nortje do for the Capitals. The idea to play two overseas fast bowlers in the playing XI is a trick successfully carried out by five-time IPL champions Mumbai, and now other franchises are catching on to as well.In fact, the Capitals, coached by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, were the other team that bid heavily for Meredith, resulting in a higher price. With the BBL being the only major competition that was held between last season’s IPL and the auction, teams had to fall back on more Australian bowlers and Meredith was a beneficiary.

Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto decided to spend a portion of his Monday doing what he does best: pitching—the simulated version of him, anyway.

Yamamoto was crowned World Series MVP on Saturday night after his stellar October performances, from his historic complete game in Game 2 to his clutch close-out in the final key innings of Game 7. After winning baseball's biggest prize, the Japanese star prepared for the team's World Series parade on Monday while his teammate, Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki, had some fun with a Yamamoto simulator in batting practice.

In an Instagram Story shared by Sasaki, the Yamamoto simulator was seen pitching to Sasaki in a practice facility before Monday's championship parade. It seemed like there was some sort of contest going on, as what was presumably Sasaki's other Dodgers teammates could be heard egging on the Yamamoto machine.

"Strike him out! Strike out Roki!" one person said.

The Yamamoto simulator proceeded to do just that, and Sasaki took the loss in stride, captioning the video, "Yoshi is nasty."

Watch that funny moment below:

Yamamoto is just getting his Dodgers' career started, but after two title-winning seasons in L.A., he's already made his indelible mark in MLB history. Coming of this year's Fall Classic, the 27-year-old became the first player to win three games in a World Series since 2001, and just the fourth ever to record a win in Games 6 and 7 of the World Series.

Clearly, he's not finished yet, and neither is fellow Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.

Major League Baseball is the latest sports league to make a move in the never-ending streaming wars.

According to a new report from Andrew Marchand of , next year's Opening Day contest between the Yankees and Giants will stream exclusively on Netflix. The game is a standalone on March 25, and will formally kick off the 2026 season.

Said Opening Day game comes as part of a three-year deal between MLB and the streamer that not only gives Netflix the 2026 Home Run Derby, but also a piece of the league's special event regular-season games, such as the “Field of Dreams," "MLB at Rickwood Field" and the "MLB Speedway" games. They'll reportedly share these with NBC and Peacock, which are now the new home for Sunday Night Baseball.

"The exact figures for the MLB-Netflix and MLB-NBC/Peacock three-year deals are not yet known, but are expected to be in the $225 million to $250 million per season range," Marchand writes.

For now? We look forward to the 2025 MLB playoffs, which begin next Tuesday, Sept. 30, and won't be aired by a streaming service.

Left-armer will lead Australia’s pace attack in the opening Ashes Test in the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood

Alex Malcolm19-Nov-2025The last man standing of Australia’s big three, Mitchell Starc, says he may take on a little bit of extra responsibility as the senior man in their new-look pace attack. But he believes Scott Boland’s experience and Brendan Doggett’s form will hold them in good stead in the opening Ashes Test in Perth.Starc, 35, is Australia’s ironman having not missed a Test through injury since he broke his finger on Boxing Day in 2022. He reached his 100th Test and took his 400th Test wicket in Australia’s last Test match in July. He will lead the attack in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in Perth and remarkably will be the only one of Australia’s quicks to have bowled in a first-class game at Perth Stadium, with Boland and Doggett having only played BBL matches at the venue.Related

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But Starc is confident both men will handle the big occasion at the start of the series. “I think we’re all pretty clear on what our roles are,” he said on Wednesday.”Obviously I’ve got a little bit more experience there. Scotty’s been around for a fair while now, so it’s not like I’m telling him what to do. We’ve got Patty in the sheds with us anyway. So yeah, I may take on a little bit of an experienced role, if you like. But we’ve all been around the traps for a while, so it’s just staying together as a group.”Starc believes Doggett will be able to handle the pressure of an Ashes series as he seems certain to debut as Australia’s third quick in the attack. Starc first met Doggett in 2018 when they toured the UAE together for a series against Pakistan and believes he has come a long way since his first tour with Australia’s Test squad.”Brendan was a lot younger and rawer then,” Starc said. “We knew what he was about, and since then he’s made the change to South Australia. I think he’s come in red-hot. He’s had a good couple of weeks. We as a group know what he’s capable of, and the skills that he presents. And being a little bit older than back in 2018, he’s probably a little bit more comfortable in his own skin and around the group. So really excited if he gets his opportunity this week to see what he can do on a Test arena. Having had him around the group for a while over the years, I think he’s certainly in a great headspace.”Starc and Doggett put on a clinic in the Perth Stadium nets on Wednesday morning under overcast skies after Australia’s training was delayed briefly due to a lightning strike.Brendan Doggett and Mitchell Starc warm up at Australia training•Getty ImagesThe Perth Stadium nets have been tough work for batters all week and the pair peppered Steven Smith, Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in a hour-long spell. Starc nicked off Smith and looked in superb rhythm having rediscovered something during his recent Sheffield Shield outing after shaking out some rust in the ODI series against India.He admitted he didn’t bowl as well as Cummins did in the nets on Monday. Cummins did not bowl on Wednesday but was at training after missing the optional session on Tuesday. The injured skipper is edging closer to a return in Brisbane having pulled up well from his eight-over spell on Monday.”Probably understand why he doesn’t train much, because when he does, he makes us all look silly,” Starc said. “He was really, really sharp the other day. Sounds like he’s pulling up pretty well. So very positive.”Cummins’ absence with the ball is a major blow but his absence with the bat is arguably harder to cover. Doggett’s first-class average is just 8.57 and he’s never made a half-century although he has a top score of 49. He will likely bat at No. 11 behind Boland with Nathan Lyon elevating to No. 9 and Starc returning to No. 8, a spot he has been trying to avoid for a number of years as his batting has declined quite steeply since his significant early career contributions.”I’ve been trying to get rid of No. 8 for a while, and now I have to go back there,” Starc said. “You all think we fight about getting higher up the order. We all fight to get lower.”We know how important, how beneficial contributions there can be to first innings, second innings, setting up a total, whatever it may be. That’ll play a part. I will keep working on it.”

Leeds United are interested in signing Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher, but they are far from alone in the race to snap him up with as many as 16 Premier League clubs eyeing up a move.

Daniel Farke is feeling the heat at Elland Road after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League, even though he was in defiant spirits after the game.

Farke would love new signings in the January transfer window or next summer, should he still be in charge of Leeds at that point, and either way the 49ers Group are expected to be active this winter.

Leeds in 16-club battle to sign Conor Gallagher

According to a new report from Sky Sports, Leeds are one of 16 Premier League sides making enquiries for Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in 2026.

It is claimed that Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are the only top flight sides not showing interest, meaning the Whites could look to seal a deal for the England midfielder, who cost the Madrid outfit £34m last summer.

Atletico are unwilling to let Gallagher, who has publicly commented on his need for more game time ahead of the World Cup, leave on loan, meaning the 49ers will have to stump up a significant fee to seal a deal in January.

Gallagher would be a high-profile signing for Leeds, considering he is playing for one of the biggest teams in Spain and is a Europa League winner from his time at Chelsea. The 25-year-old is also a 22-cap England international, scoring once for his country, while Atletico manager Diego Simeone has heaped praise on the tenacious edge to his game.

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The Whites have a Premier League-experienced boss ready to come in at the expense of Farke.

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Leeds will know that being in a strong position for Premier League survival is paramount if they are to have a chance of signing him, but whether that influences their decision to stick or twist with Farke remains to be seen.

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A previously undiagnosed injury is now set to leave one Newcastle United star sidelined for the majority of December in a frustrating blow for Eddie Howe.

Howe demands fresh "consistency" ahead of Tottenham clash

It’s been one step forward and two steps back for Newcastle all season, but their convincing victory over Everton may yet be the turning point for their campaign. The Magpies brushed the Toffees’ aside to bounce back from Champions League defeat, but Howe is now demanding more “consistency” from his side.

Any change in fortunes would certainly be well-timed ahead of the January transfer window, too. Those at St James’ Park endured a chaotic summer window, before eventually adding reinforcements to Howe’s squad, but are still targeting a number of fresh faces to end unfinished business.

That could yet include a move for James Trafford. The England international chose Manchester City in the summer, but has since been forced to watch on from the bench following Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival. Now, he’s reportedly been allowed to leave the club in January, with Newcastle among his admirers.

The goalkeeper position has been a hot topic of debate in Tyneside as of late and the availability of Trafford, plus Pope’s recent injury may yet see Newcastle make their move.

Newcastle learn extent of Nick Pope injury

As reported by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Newcastle are now set to be without Pope until Boxing Day at the earliest after a specialist diagnosed his groin injury.

It’s frustrating news for Howe, who told reporters in the build-up to his side’s game against Tottenham that Newcastle were still trying to get a “proper diagnosis”.

Without the towering goalkeeper, Newcastle will turn towards summer signing Aaron Ramsdale. Whether he can make a claim to become their No.1 on a permanent basis remains to be seen, however.

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The Magpies now have a decision to make.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 2, 2025

Despite Pope’s recent mistakes, Howe was quick to describe the 33-year-old as “outstanding” after the Marseille game, but will now be forced to kick on without him.

As the fixtures come thick and fast, and Newcastle seek consistency, the absence of one of their most experienced men couldn’t have been timed much worse.

Better than Anderson: £70m "monster" is now open to joining Newcastle

Football goalkeepers arguably have one of the most important roles on the pitch and can go down as the hero or the villain in one moment.

The role of a goalkeeper has evolved over time, and now, being a world-class shot-stopper isn’t enough. Having a ‘keeper with ability on the ball is just as crucial for the top sides, which starts with their No. 1.

There have been some great ‘keepers throughout history, with Man City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma regarded as the current best in the world.

Here is a look at 20 of the greatest goalkeepers in footballing history, factoring in their longevity, consistency at the highest level, while also highlighting team and personal accolades.

20

Thibaut Courtois

If club trophies are what you’re after when looking for a goalkeeper, then Thibaut Courtois’s cabinet is full from his time in Spain and England.

A regular for Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Real Madrid since 2011, Courtois, who stands at 6ft 7, also has more than 100 caps for Belgium.

He has multiple Champions League, La Liga and Premier League crowns to his name and has been a dependable shot-stopper on the biggest stage.

19

David Seaman

Known best for his time as Arsenal’s number one, David Seaman made over 500 appearances for the Gunners and was hailed by Arsene Wenger during his time at Highbury.

Also England’s first choice for 11 years, Seaman was a consistent performer and made some world-class saves. He will be remembered for his iconic FA Cup save against Sheffield United and, unfortunately, being lobbed by Ronaldinho at the 2002 World Cup.

18

Amadeo Carrizo

One of the first goalkeepers to make the decision to wear gloves was Argentine legend Amadeo Carrizo, who played until the age of 44.

A River Plate icon was one of the first shot-stoppers to venture out of the area and play as a sweeper keeper, something which would catch on in time. Carrizo was recognised a year after his death in 2021 by being named in IFFHS Argentina All Times Dream Team.

17

Alisson Becker

One of the best modern day goalkeepers in recent times has been Alisson Becker, who helped transform Liverpool back into Premier League and Champions League winners.

The second most expensive ‘keeper of all time at £67m, Alisson has proven to be worth every penny for the Reds, with his commanding presence and incredible shot-saving ability seeing him become a regular for Brazil.

16

Dida

Arguably the greatest Brazilian goalkeeper, Dida was a star in an iconic AC Milan team in the 2000s and won 93 caps for his country.

Named FIFPro Goalkeeper of the Year in 2005 and IFFHS Best Brazilian Goalkeeper of the 21st Century, Dida won two Champions League titles.

15

Andoni Zubizarreta

Before Iker Casillas became Spain’s most recognised goalkeeper, they had Andoni Zubizarreta, who played more than 1,000 games during his career.

A club career with Athletic Club, Barcelona and Valencia, Zubizarreta won back-to-back La Liga titles with Athletic Club in the 1980s and four in a row in the 1990s with Barcelona, starring in Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’.

14

Frantisek Planicka

One of the first ‘keepers who made themselves a superstar was Frantisek Planicka, who captained Czechoslovakia at the World Cup in 1934 and 1938, making the final in the former.

Interestingly, Planicka never picked up a card in his career and was a vital member for club and country, winning eight titles with Slavia Prague.

13

Peter Shilton

Making his debut just before England’s 1966 World Cup triumph, Peter Shilton remains England’s most capped player of all time with 125 appearances for the Three Lions.

In his prime, Shilton was one of the best, and his 31-year career, starred in Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest side that won back-to-back European Cups.

Diego Maradona scored the famous ‘Hand of God’ goal against Shilton, and the goalkeeper was named in the World XI on six separate occasions.

12

Pat Jennings

Loved by supporters of both Tottenham and Arsenal, Pat Jennings spent there majority of his club career in north London while also enjoying a 22-year international stint with Northern Ireland.

Winning the FA Cup with Spurs and the Gunners, Jennings made more than 1,000 top level appearances and was even nominated for the Ballon d’Or on three occasions across 13 years.

11

Sepp Maier

The early 1970s was dominated by Bayern Munich and West Germany, with Sepp Maier the top goalkeeper during that era.

Maier, named German Footballer of the Year on three occasions, helped Bayern to three straight European Cups between 1974 and 1976 while also winning Euro 1972 and the 1974 World Cup.

Top reflexes and quick for a ‘keeper, Maier had a crazy personality alongside his ability over an 18-year career.

أوضح الإعلامي أحمد شوبير آخر التطورات بشأن العروض المقدمة للاعبين في صفوف نادي الزمالك، مع توضيح موقف القلعة البيضاء من هذه الأنباء المتداولة على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الثلاثاء: “تداولت بعض منصات التواصل الاجتماعي أخبارًا تفيد وجود عروض خليجية عديدة للاعب خوان بيزيرا”.

وأضاف: “لكن وفقًا لما أكده نادي الزمالك، لم يصلهم أي عرض رسمي للاعب، وبالتالي أصدق ما يقوله النادي أكثر من الشائعات المتداولة على السوشيال ميديا”.

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وتابع: “أما في حال وصول عرض رسمي، فسيتم دراسته بعناية، وإذا كان العرض مناسبًا فهذا يعد خطوة احترافية جيدة، ومن الممكن أن يكون اللاعب قد استفاد من تجاربه السابقة وتعلم من أخطائه”.

وواصل: “ناصر منسي لديه بعض العروض، خصوصًا وأن هناك لاعبين مثل عدي الدباغ وسيف الجزيري وعمرو ناصر وعمر فراج وأيضًا أحمد شريف وشيكو بانزا، وكلهم مهاجمون وأدوارهم مهمة”.

واختتم: “بالنسبة للعروض فهناك عرضين من الاتحاد السكندري ومن البنك الأهلي لـ ناصر منسي، ولا يزال النادي يدرس إمكانية استمرار اللاعب أو إعارته أو بيعه”.