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MI brought in pace-bowling allrounder Raj Bawa, who has played two IPL matches before

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Apr-2025Mumbai Indians (MI) opening batter Rohit Sharma was injured and ruled out of their away game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow on Friday. Captain Hardik Pandya said at the toss that Rohit was hit on the knee before the game, and had to sit out.After MI lost the game by 12 runs in a last-over finish, head coach Mahela Jayawardene said Rohit was hit the day before the game and took a fitness test on Friday.”Ro got a hit on his knee just in the IT (iliotibial) band, he tried to bat yesterday and couldn’t put any weight on it,” Jayawardene said at the press conference. “Again, he came and did a fitness test early today (Friday) to try, and it was discomfort for him to put weight on that so he felt it wasn’t 100% for him to play this game. That’s why we thought we will give him a few more days to try and get through that. Unfortunate what happened in the nets.”Hardik was also asked at the toss when Jasprit Bumrah would be fit again, and he said, “he should be back soon.”In their bowling-first XI, MI brought in pace-bowling allrounder Raj Bawa, who has featured in two IPL games in the past, for Punjab Kings, and plays domestic cricket for Chandigarh. Bawa was India’s second-highest run-getter in the Under-19 World Cup in 2022.Rohit’s form was also under scrutiny so far in IPL 2025, with him having scored only 13, 8 and 0 in the three games. He was present at the ground, though, having a chat near the pitch with Suryakumar Yadav before the toss in his training kit, and also came out of the dugout during a strategic time out when MI were bowling.MI were already without Bumrah for the first few games, and didn’t have Hardik too for their first match. They lost their first two games before opening their account at home against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but now have three away losses to their name.

PBKS were off to another quick start, reaching 39 for 0 in 3.1 overs, but it unravelled quickly thereon

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Apr-2025After restricting Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to 103 for 9 in their last match, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowled out Punjab Kings (PBKS) for 111 in Mullanpur.A power-packed batting unit, PBKS were coming off a score of 245 in their last match and raced away to 39 for 0 in 3.1 overs. However, Harshit Rana led KKR’s comeback with incisive short-pitched bowling and three wickets, KKR debutant Anrich Nortje chipped in with one, and their two big spinners took two wickets each to consign PBKS to ignominy.Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh got off to another excellent start when KKR looked for early swing through Vaibhav Arora. Once they saw the openers take the pitched-up deliveries for boundaries, the KKR fast bowlers made sure almost nothing was pitched in the batters’ half.All of Rana’s three wickets came off the short ball. He handcuffed Arya with one in the ribs, getting him caught at backward square leg. A short and wide ball to Shreyas Iyer resulted in a vicious cut straight to deep point for a duck. Prabhsimran kept the intent up but ended up getting caught at point off the last ball of the powerplay.KKR had added pace to their line-up possibly because PBKS’ Indian batters have been doing well. You could say the Indian batters ended up picking out deep fielders, but the non-Indian batters disappointed PBKS more. Neither Josh Inglis nor Glenn Maxwell picked Varun Chakravarthy from the hand. Both were bowled, Inglis on the slog-sweep and Maxwell when defending.PBKS even called in an SOS batting substitute in Suryansh Shedge, which meant Maxwell would have to bowl four overs. The wickets still kept falling. Sunil Narine took two out in the 11th over, Shedge with one that turned away and Marco Jansen with the other one that turned in.Vaibhav Arora, almost as if feeling FOMO, came back to take out Shashank Singh, the final piece of batting in PBKS.

MI have won their last five matches, but Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s fireworks have given RR’s campaign a late boost

Shashank Kishore30-Apr-20254:12

Jaffer: Have advised Suryavanshi to always play his natural game

Big picture: RR alive, but only just

Across all the matches played over 18 seasons of the IPL, a select few remain etched in the collective memory. The mention of Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) is likely to evoke a night of chaos, disbelief, and unforgettable drama from IPL 2014.It was the night when Corey Anderson tore into RR’s attack, James Faulkner delivered that full-toss, and Aditya Tare wrote his name in IPL folklore with the winning six. It was the night when Rahul Dravid, usually so unflappable, flung his cap to the ground in frustration. It wasn’t just a cricket match, it was pure theatre.Related

• Pollard: 'We always had that belief that Rohit is going to come good'

• A star is born (to bat): Echoes of Sachin 1989 in Vaibhav's record-shattering spectacle

• Who is Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year old IPL sensation?

Eleven years on, as RR and MI meet once again, this time in Jaipur, echoes of that 2014 night at the Wankhede reverberate. There’s heightened expectation of something just as jaw-dropping unfolding at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, fuelled by what the 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi did on Monday night.Suryavanshi’s 38-ball 101 ended RR’s streak of failed chases and five stinging defeats. It also kept them alive in the tournament, at least mathematically. But there’s no time for them to revel in the afterglow with games coming thick and fast. On Thursday, RR face an MI outfit gathering momentum like a rolling stone, unbeaten in five games and now in the top two.Rohit Sharma has regained his timing, a fit-again Jasprit Bumrah is bowling like only he can, Suryakumar Yadav is coaxing the ball to every corner, Trent Boult is hooping them around, and Will Jacks has put on two impactful performances after a lukewarm start to the season. There’s suddenly an air of invincibility around MI.Thursday’s clash, in essence, is one between a team reignited and one in full flight.

Form guide

Rajasthan Royals WLLLL
Mumbai Indians WWWWWRohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav come into Thursday’s game in serious form•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight: Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Rohit Sharma

Vaibhav Suryavanshi began his IPL journey with a six and has now rocketed into the spotlight with a stunning century. As his bat-swing and hand-eye coordination turn heads, teams are watching closely. RR batting coach Vikram Rathour has revealed that Suryavanshi is among the few batters readily welcoming Jofra Archer’s hostility in the nets. With a clash against Jasprit Bumrah looming, all eyes will be on the boy wonder once again.Kieron Pollard sees the shift in the tone of press-conference questions as a reflection of Rohit Sharma‘s rising form. After tallying just 56 runs in his first six innings and missing a game due to a niggle, Rohit has returned with scores of 26, 76*, 70, and 12, each innings displaying his trademark powerplay aggression. His change in fortunes has also mirrored MI’s stirring run of wins. Can he sustain this surge?

Team news and probable XIIs

Sanju Samson will remain on the sidelines as he nurses a side strain.Rajasthan Royals (probable): 1 Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Riyan Parag (capt), 5 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Sandeep Sharma, 12 Yudhvir Singh.Corbin Bosch made a superb first impression after coming in as a replacement for an unwell Mitchell Santner in MI’s previous game against Lucknow Super Giants, hitting 20 off 10 balls and picking up 1 for 26. If Santner has recovered, it’ll be an interesting selection dilemma for Hardik Pandya.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Will Jacks, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Corbin Bosch/Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12 Karn Sharma.

The big question

Pitch and conditions

Pace on the ball worked to Gujarat Titans’ disadvantage in the previous game in Jaipur, while Rashid Khan conceded just 24 in his four overs. For RR, Maheesh Theekshana was able to get some grip off the surface, taking 2 for 35. On Thursday, though, the fast bowlers on both sides – Archer for RR, Boult and Bumrah for MI – have the quality to find answers in all conditions. Weather-wise, conditions are expected to remain oppressive with temperatures having touched 40 degrees Celsius.

Stats and trivia

• RR have won their last five games against MI in Jaipur. Their last defeat came in 2012.
• Sandeep Sharma has a favourable match-up against Rohit. He has dismissed him five times in 12 T20 innings while conceding just 38 runs off 44 balls.
• Suryakumar Yadav has equalled Robin Uthappa (10) for most consecutive scores of 25 or more in the IPL.
• Bumrah’s economy rate of 7.5 is the best among fast bowlers who’ve delivered 10 or more overs this season.

Quotes

[Royals have] very, very good batsmen, high quality strikers of the ball and a squad that I know pretty well or ground that I know pretty well. But yeah, different colours for me, obviously. Looking forward to coming up against an old team and yeah, I feel like we’ve got a good squad in terms of bowlers that can cater for most conditions.”

Gary Stead, New Zealand men’s most successful coach, bows out after seven years in the role

Alex Malcolm04-Jun-2025New Zealand’s most successful national coach, Gary Stead, will bow of the role at the end of the month after a seven-year tenure that included a World Test Championship (WTC) title, three global limited-overs final appearances, and a historic 3-0 Test series win in India.Stead, 53, had already stood down from the white-ball role and was given some time to consider his future with the Test side, but New Zealand Cricket (NZC) appear set to appoint one coach for all formats with Stead standing down when his contract finishes at the end of the month.He has left a huge imprint on New Zealand cricket after taking the role from Mike Hesson in 2018. Stead coached New Zealand to the ODI World Cup final in 2019 where they lost on a heartbreaking boundary countback. The 2021 WTC final win over India was New Zealand’s first global title since the 2000 ICC Knockout (Champions Trophy) title. He was in charge as New Zealand got to the 2021 T20 World Cup final and the 2025 Champions Trophy final as well as two other semi-finals in the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup.Related

• Stead signs back with NZC as high-performance coach

• Not too high, not too low: Gary Stead did it his steady way

• Rob Walter named New Zealand men's coach across all forms

• Stead weighs future as New Zealand advertise for split head coach roles

• Rob Walter linked to NZ role after quitting as SA coach

Stead’s crowning achievement came last year when New Zealand became the first team to clean sweep India at home in a 3-0 Test series.”There’s been some amazing memories over the past seven years based around a group of fantastic and talented people who have gone out to give their best for their country, each other and for the fans,” Stead said. “Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson had left the team with strong values and a style of play, and I’ve just tried to build and shape that further to grow our ability to be consistent in everything we do.”It’s been nice to be competitive across all three formats and I’d like to think that, regardless of results, the opposition know the Blackcaps are a team that won’t fold and will always show the grit and determination to compete.”To work alongside some of New Zealand’s best cricketers and have had a ringside seat to every training and match has been very special and an absolute honour. For a country with five million people and limited resources, we comparatively perform outstandingly well against the other powerhouses of the game.”I am grateful to all those that have helped and supported me during my time, especially to my wife Rachel and children Alex and Libby who have sacrificed much. I also want to pay special thanks to NZC, and in particular all of the support staff I have worked with who are hands-on with the team and in the thick of things day-in and day-out.”I’d like to wish the new coach well and the team every success in the future.”Stead said he would initially take some time off but hopes to continue coaching in come capacity either at home or overseas. “I’ll initially take some time to refresh and recharge, but I still have the coaching bug and will look to explore opportunities at home and abroad where I can look to share what I’ve learned from my 30 years of professional sport as a player and coach.”Stead’s long-time captain Kane Williamson paid tribute to him as one of New Zealand’s best ever coaches.The 2021 WTC final win over India was New Zealand’s first global title since 2000•AFP/Getty Images

“Steady gave absolutely everything to the team,” Williamson said. “There was no one more hard-working and passionate about seeing the Blackcaps grow and succeed. He was always thorough in his planning and preparation and will go down as one of our best coaches, but an even better bloke.”NZC chief executive Scott Weenick said Stead had left a lasting legacy on the Blackcaps and New Zealand cricket at large.”Gary’s been an exceptional leader for the BLACKCAPS, elevating the team to the pinnacle of world cricket with remarkable consistency and courage,” said Weenink. “His achievements, from the World Test Championship triumph to historic series wins abroad, have inspired the country and set a new benchmark for excellence in the New Zealand game.”On behalf of NZC, I want to extend Gary our deepest gratitude for his dedication and commitment and wish him every success in his future endeavours.”

The Premier League window might be shut, but in the remainder of Europe’s big leagues are many big deals waiting to happen

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  Mario Balotelli to Marseille

  Having seemingly gotten his career back on track at Nice, Mario Balotelli has tarnished his reputation once again due to a falling out with new head coach Patrick Vieira.

  The forward has been prolific in Ligue 1 over the course of the last two seasons and may yet remain in France, with Marseille still apparently the likeliest destination for the ex-Liverpool man. A switch back to Italy is the other main contender, with Parma the latest side interested.

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  Jerome Boateng to PSG

  It seems that for the duration of the summer Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has been linked with a move. Manchester United might have been the first link, but the strongest and most persistent has been Paris Saint-Germain.

  If Thomas Tuchel intends to play with a three-man defence at the Parc des Princes, he needs at least one reinforcement, and the 29-year-old appears a strong option. However, the signs are that he will remain at Bayern.

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  Yacine Brahimi to Monaco

  It has been six years since Yacine Brahimi last played in Ligue 1, having had spells at Granada and Porto, but the Algeria international could be about to return.

  Monaco are hunting for the 28-year-old, who might have moved to West Ham earlier in the summer but failed to agree personal terms with the London side. Monaco need a replacement for Keita Balde, who has gone to Inter, and he is the leading candidate.

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  Geoff Cameron to Werder Bremen

  Relegated with Stoke last season, 33-year-old US veteran Geoff Cameron is set for a swift return to top-flight football as Bundesliga side Werder Bremen.

  He has not played for the Potters in their opening two matches this season, although he has had personal difficulties, but has made 186 appearances for them overall since signing in 2012, scoring a couple of Premier League goals in the process.

As Europe's premier club competition returns, a number of teenage wonderkids are looking to make their mark at the highest level

The Champions League is back for another season as the great and the good of European football begin their journeys towards what they hope will be the final in Istanbul.

While the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo tend to capture most of the pre-tournament headlines, the competition also offers the opportunity for some of the new stars of the game to showcase their talents to a global audience.

Just last season we saw Erling Haaland stun the world with his goalscoring exploits in Europe, netting 10 goals in eight appearances for Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund as the Norway international announced himself as the game's next great No.9.

Alphonso Davies, too, put in a number of stunning performances as a marauding full-back for eventual champions Bayern Munich in the knockout stages while NxGn 2020 winner Rodrygo became the youngest player to score a Champions League hat-trick in the group stages for Real Madrid.

But which teenager will be this season's breakout star in Europe's premier club competition?  Goal  breaks down 10 potential candidates to follow in the footsteps of Haaland, Davies and Rodrygo…

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  Jude Bellingham | Borussia Dortmund

  Some may have laughed when Birmingham City retired Jude Bellingham's No.22 shirt following his departure in the summer, but it was a gesture that further illustrated what a talent the 17-year-old is.

  Despite his lack of experience, England Under-21 international Bellingham is already a fixture in the Dortmund midfield following his €25 million (£23m/$29m) move, with Lucien Favre clearly believing the youngster can help drive the Bundesliga side to success at home and abroad.

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  Eduardo Camavinga | Rennes

  Already a veteran of 50 first-team appearances and a goalscorer on his full debut for France, it is clear to see why any potential suitors for Eduardo Camavinga will likely have to pay around €100 million (£91m/$118m) to sign him next summer.

  Camavinga, who does not turn 18 until November, has developed from largely being a defensively-minded midfielder last term to more of a dynamic box-to-box player in 2020-21, and, as such, the teenager who has been compared to Clarence Seedorf will likely feature heavily as Rennes make their first appearance in the competition.

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  Jeremy Doku | Rennes

  Camavinga is not the only young star that Rennes are ready to showcase, either, after the Ligue 1 outfit spent €26 million (£23.5m/$31m) on transfer deadline day to sign Anderlecht winger Jeremy Doku.

  The 18-year-old was previously a target of Liverpool's, with Jurgen Klopp having singled him out as a potential successor to Sadio Mane back in 2018, and after a breakout campaign in his homeland, Doku – who has already played and scored for the Belgium national team – is ready to be unleashed on Europe's top defences.

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  Ansu Fati | Barcelona

  This season promises to be huge for Ansu Fati, with the 17-year-old potentially having to prove himself worthy of taking up the mantle at Barcelona from Lionel Messi should the Argentine depart next summer.

  The early signs are good, with Fati having been on fire for club and country in the opening weeks of the campaign, and after becoming the Champions League's youngest-ever goalscorer last season, the Spain international will now look to help lead the Blaugrana to European glory this time around.

Brazil breezed past Ghana in their penultimate game before the World Cup, with Richarlison seriously strengthening his hold on the No.9 jersey.

A friendly win for Brazil that would have been tough viewing for in-form Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, who was controversially left out of the squad entirely by Tite.

Jesus has started the season superbly and will have been harbouring hopes of wrestling the striker spot – in what is essentially the battle to be Neymar's sidekick – away from Richarlison. However, the Tottenham forward produced a stunning riposte in Le Havre, netting twice as Brazil romped to a 3-0 victory.

Overall, this was as convincing as it gets for Tite's side. Marquinhos nodded them in front inside nine minutes, meeting Raphinha's corner with a clinical header.

And Richarlison – a livewire throughout – wasted little time adding to his side's advantage, with Neymar setting up both of his strikes before the break.

The second half was equally comfortable, but no further goals came. Attention now turns to Brazil's final game before the World Cup kicks off – a meeting with Tunisia on September 27 at Parc de Princes. The stage is set for Neymar in that one!

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  The Winners

  Richarlison:

  The question of who should start up front for Brazil at the World Cup is the biggest dilemma that Tite has to solve ahead of the tournament. And on Friday night Richarlison again showed that he is a reliable choice.

  Playing centrally, but always drifting into the channels too, he netted two well-taken goals to propel his side to victory.

  Off the ball, he was typically industrious, always putting pressure on the Ghanaian defence and never letting them settle.

  Neymar:

  Neymar carried his scintillating recent club form over to the international stage against Ghana.

  Handed a nominal 'No.10' role, the Paris Saint-Germain superstar laid on each of Richarlison's goals. Now aged 30, he has greater maturity and if he keeps firing on all cylinders he could ultimately make the difference as Brazil look to claim World Cup glory once again.

  Lucas Paqueta:

  Central midfield is another disputed area of the pitch for Tite – but Lucas Paqueta's display will have impressed the Brazil manager.

  Afforded significant freedom in the middle, the West Ham summer signing demonstrated intensity and vision, carving out more than one presentable opportunities for his team-mates in the final third.

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  The Losers

  Gabriel Jesus:

  Of course, the biggest loser from this one was Jesus.

  He could not have done much more to convince Tite he deserved a place in this squad since moving to Arsenal, but the Brazil boss still overlooked him.

  His chances of starting in the World Cup took another hit here, thanks to Richarlison's exploits.

  Pedro:

  Those hoping for an underdog triumph may have wanted the free-scoring Flamengo frontman to grab a hat-trick here and throw another spanner in the works as Tite decides on his primary striker.

  Unfortunately for Pedro, he did not get off the bench – not even for a brief cameo. Perhaps things will be different against Tunisia, but for now it seems difficult to imagine him going to the World Cup.

  Matheus Cunha:

  Completing the trio of forwards who would have been left frustrated by this one is Cunha.

  Unlike Pedro, he did get on for a bit, but struggled to impress as the game became disjointed following a host of substitutions.

  After failing to score or create much, his World Cup prospects now hang by a thread.

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  Brazil Ratings: Defence

  Alisson (5/10):

  The Liverpool stopper was largely a spectator as Brazil were so dominant in France.

  Eder Militao (7/10):

  Deployed at right-back, the defender showed he is more than capable of deputising in that position if required. He was calm in possession and helped progress the ball into midfield.

  Thiago Silva (6/10):

  Has surpassed Lucio as the most-capped Brazilian centre-back of all time. Did not have much to do, but played his part.

  Marquinhos (7/10):

  Scored the opener, again showing how effective he can be from set pieces.

  Alex Telles (5/10):

  He didn't affect the game that dramatically but wasn't awful.

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  Midfield

  Lucas Paqueta (7.5/10):

  The motor of his side – it seemed there was two or three of him on the field. He tackled, created and could have grabbed a goal on another day.

  Casemiro (6/10):

  Dealt with the small amount of defensive work required easily. An important cog in the machine.

The France star has been the Player of the Tournament at the World Cup so far, but that doesn't mean the Three Lions can't slow him down on Saturday

Kylian Mbappe’s peers view him as a once-in-a-generation talent. Bukayo Saka, the 21-year-old emerging superstar for England, chuckled when asked recently whether he could become the “next Mbappe” on the World Cup stage.

"Thank you for your compliment, but no, I think there's only one Kylian Mbappe,” Saka said of the France forward that he will meet in Saturday’s quarter-final.

It’s true. There is just one player who has scored nine World Cup goals before his 24th birthday: Mbappe. There is just one player who has scored 40 Champions League goals before his 24th birthday: Mbappe.

And when England play France with their World Cup hopes in the balance, they will be tracking one man more than any other: Mbappe.

"When he gets the ball, stops and moves, he’s the quickest thing I’ve ever seen,” marvelled Poland defender Matty Cash after Mbappe scored a brace to eliminate his nation in the last 16.

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate would be naive to think he can completely eliminate Mbappe’s threat. Really, the only person who can stop the mercurial Paris Saint-Germain attacker is himself, and he appears to be too locked in at this tournament to produce any of petulant displays that occasionally plague him.

But England's manager can at least reflect on comments from current and former players who have observed Mbappe closely, as well as analyse England's strengths, to craft a blueprint for handling Les Bleus’ top player…

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  Cut off Giroud and Griezmann

  Remember when Kylian Mbappe wouldn't let go of a childish feud with Olivier Giroud right before Euro 2020? That feels like an alternate universe.

  Now he's leaping into Giroud's arms and telling everyone the centre-forward gives him more openings than his team-mates at Paris Saint-Germain, which while perhaps true, is quite a statement considering PSG's frontline also includes Lionel Messi and Neymar.

  Point is, Mbappe currently loves playing off Giroud, whose strength is his hold-up play, with clever flicks and movement.

  Mbappe is also working well with attacking midfielder Antoine Griezmann, and as a result, France have scored nine goals in four World Cup matches to strike fear in England's defence ahead of this weekend's showdown.

  For the Three Lions, limiting Mbappe starts with limiting his closest team-mates and isolating him on the left wing. Giroud and Griezmann cannot be given time or space to find Mbappe running behind the back-four.

  “I played against Thierry Henry, the closest player to Mbappe,” ex-England international Gary Neville said on . “One of the things that is really important is to stop the service into Giroud and Griezmann because once they receive the ball ,Mbappe is going to receive it in far more difficult areas.

  "The lads in the middle – [Jude] Bellingham, [Jordan] Henderson, [Declan] Rice, [John] Stones and [Harry] Maguire – if they can stop the service in that central area, it means Mbappe’s receiving far less dangerous passes.”

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  Attack down Mbappe’s side

  Among wingers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past 365 days, Mbappe ranks in the bottom 10 per cent in tackles, interceptions, blocks and touches in the defensive third. His heat map routinely carries bright splotches in the opposition half and a blank canvas in his own territory.

  In other words, he has little to no interest in tracking back.

  That’s not meant as a criticism of his talent (few wide players with his scoring ability carry much defensive work rate), but rather an indication of an area England may exploit.

  While it will be difficult to slow down Mbappe when France counter-attack, the Three Lions could also use the 23-year-old’s aggressiveness against him. They can counter the counter-attack, if you will, and push forward with pace down Mbappe’s flank knowing he probably won't provide resistance.

  France manager Didier Deschamps envisioned that this could be a problem in the knockout stages in Qatar, warning Mbappe through that “at the highest level, we can’t afford to lose a player when we don’t have the ball”.

  England are hoarders of quality right-backs, and even with Reece James’ untimely injury, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold all carry a threat down Mbappe's side when play transitions from defence to attack. Of the three, Walker is likeliest to start after getting the nod against Senegal in the last 16.

  Neville told that the Manchester City defender is better equipped than anyone else in the world to go step-for-step with Mbappe because of his renowned pace, and the former England right-back may not be far off.

  Walker is, for what it's worth, the closest thing to the motorised remedy that Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik prescribed for stopping Mbappe. “I think we’d need scooters to [stop him] because he’s so fast!” Milik joked.

  Recent injuries and age may prevent Walker from going a full 90 minutes, though, and if the Three Lions are chasing the game, it could be time to unleash the elite playmaking skill set of Alexander-Arnold to put maximum pressure on Mbappe’s wing.

  Alexander-Arnold and either Saka or Marcus Rashford running at tired French legs in the final 15 minutes? It could be the perfect recipe for Southgate.

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  Be physical

  This section can alternatively be titled “Get Mbappe in his feelings”.

  Now, we must be clear that dangerous challenges on a generational star are unacceptable, and there’s a fine line England should not cross.

  But tactical fouling on the counter-attack is an absolute must. Mbappe cannot be allowed to have free runs at England’s backline. He’s legendary in those positions, and Harry Maguire and John Stones don't have the speed to catch him while sprinting towards their own goal.

  Plus, a stop-start encounter could have the second effect of keeping Mbappe from feeling comfortable on the ball, and a lack of chances as the game enters its final stages may spark frustration from the 23-year-old.

  For a cross-sport comparison, the concept is similar to how teams defended Mbappe's PSG kit sponsor Michael Jordan when the basketball legend was in his early years, with the NBA coining the term "Jordan Rules" to describe the effective hands-on defensive strategy that stymied his production.

  No England player has picked up a yellow card at the tournament thus far, meaning a caution wouldn't rule anyone out for the semi-final through suspension. The Three Lions have room to be aggressive without fearing long-term repercussions.

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  Communicate

  Ultimately, Mbappe is not any one player's responsibility.

  If he bags a hat-trick, it won't exclusively be the fault of Walker, Alexander-Arnold or Trippier marking him on the wing. It'll be the fault of an entire defence not working well enough together.

  "You always have to adapt because he is an outstanding player and a special talent," said Mbappe's Ligue 1 rival Benoit Badiashile of Monaco to the . “It is different from other strikers and the main thing is not to leave him any space.

  "You have to work as a team to defend against him during the game. This is something you work on in the week before the match where you collectively work on how to stop him."

  Focus and constant communication will be key, and those are qualities England can feel good about given the experience their defenders have of playing with one another at major tournaments.

  But then again, Mbappe is unlike any other opponent, and he fractures even the tightest of defensive units. Southgate could implement a perfect system for 89 minutes and then see the France star pounce on a loose ball in the box, weave past a marker and score a demoralising goal.

  Sometimes, greatness is inevitable. England must convince themselves that for one night in Qatar, it can be contained.

GOAL rounds up all of the completed Serie A transfers this season so far

Football transfer windows are exciting periods during the sporting calendar every year, with fans drooling at the prospect of a new signing arriving at their club and making an impact.

Serie A has witnessed more than few interesting arrivals and departures in recent years and this year it will be no different.

GOAL rounds up all of the completed Serie A transfers this season so far.

• Transfer INs and OUTs for all Serie A clubs

  Club	2021-22 position
  AC Milan	1st
  Inter	2nd
  Napoli	3rd
  Juventus	4th
  Lazio	5th
  Roma	6th
  Fiorentina	7th
  Atalanta	8th
  Verona	9th
  Torino	10th
  Sassuolo	11th
  Udinese	12th
  Bologna	13th
  Empoli	14th
  Sampdoria	15th
  Spezia	16th
  Salernitana	17th
  Lecce	Serie B champions
  Cremonese	Serie B runners-up
  Monza	Serie B playoff winners

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  AC Milan transfers

  New signings summer window

  Player	Nationality	Previous club	Fee
  Alessandro Fiorenzi	Italy	AS Roma	Loan
  Divock Origi	Belgium	Liverpool	Free
  Junior Messias	Brazil	Crotone	Loan
  Charles De Ketelaere	Belgium	Club Brugge	€35m
  Malick Thiaw	Germany	Schalke	Undisclosed
  Sergino Dest	United States	Barcelona	Loan
  Aster Vranckx	Belgium	Wolfsburg	Loan

  New signings January window

  Player	Nationality	Previous club	Fee
  Devis Vazquez	Colombia	Guarani	€470k

  Departures summer window

  Player	Nationality	New club	Fee
  Jens Petter Hauge	Norway	Eintracht Frankfurt	Undisclosed
  Franck Kessie	Ivory Coast	Barcelona	Free
  Lorenzo Colombo	Italy	Lecce	Loan
  Leo Duarte	Brazil	Istanbul Basaksehir	Free
  Mattia Caldara	Italy	Spezia	Loan
  Frank Tsadjout	Italy	Cremonese	Free
  Alessandro Plizzari	Italy	Pescara	Free
  Daniel Maldini	Italy	Spezia	Loan
  Marco Frigerio	Italy	Foggia	Free
  Gabriele Capanni	Italy	Ternana	Free
  Leroy Abanda	France / Cameroon	Seraing	Free
  Alessio Romagnoli	Italy	Lazio	Free
  Samu Castillejo	Spain	Valencia	Free
  Gabriele Bellodi	Italy	Olbia	Loan
  Sabino Signorile	Italy	Cerignola	Undisclosed
  Riccardo Tonin	Italy	Foggia	Undisclosed
  Luan Capanni	Brazil	Amadora	Loan
  Marco Brescianini	Italy	Cosenza	Loan
  Emir Murati	Croatia / Italy	Released	Free

  Departures January window

  Player	Nationality	New club	Fee
  Luan Capanni	Brazil	Arka Gdynia	Free
  Andreas Jungdal	Denmark	SCR Altach	Loan
  Marko Lazetic	Serbia	SCR Altach	Loan

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  Atalanta transfers

  New signings summer window

  Player	Nationality	Previous club	Fee
  Merih Demiral	Turkey	Juventus	€20m
  Ederson	Brazil	Salernitana	€15m
  Ademola Lookman	Nigeria	RB Leipzig	€15m
  Jeremie Boga	Ivory Coast	Sassuolo	€22m
  Brandon Soppy	France	Udinese	€10m
  Rasmus Hojlund	Norway	Sturm Graz	€17m

  Departures summer window

  Player	Nationality	New club	Fee
  Enrico Del Prato	Italy	Prato	Free
  Bosko Sutalo	Croatia	Dinamo Zagreb	Free
  Roberto Piccoli	Italy	Verona	Loan
  Marco Varnier	Italy	Spal	Loan
  Giorgini Cittadini	Italy	Modena	Loan
  Matteo Lovato	Italy	Salerno	Loan
  Matteo Pessina	Italy	Monza	Loan
  Emmanuel Gyabuaa	Italy	Pescara	Loan
  Rodrigo Guth	Brazil	Fortuna Sittard	Free
  Alessandro Cortinovis	Italy	Verona	Loan
  Salvatore Elia	Italy	Palermo	Loan
  Remo Freuler	Switzerland	Nottingham Forest	€9m
  Marco Carnesecchi	Italy	Cremonese	Loan
  Josip Ilicic	Slovenia	Released	Free

  Departures January window

  Player	Nationality	New club	Fee
  Christian Capone	Italy	Reggiana	Loan
  Ruslan Malinovskyi	Ukraine	Marseille	Loan
  Pierluigi Gollini	Italy	Napoli	Loan
  Moustapha Cisse	Guinea	Sudtirol	Loan
  Roberto Piccoli	Italy	Empoli	Loan
  Alassane Sidibe	Ivory Coast	Ascoli	Loan
  Guillaume Renault	Italy	Alessandria	Free
  Lorenzo Peli	Italy	Pontedera	Free
  Niccolo Ghisleni	Italy	Acireale	Free

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  Bologna transfers

  New signings summer window

  Player	Nationality	Previous club	Fee
  Andrea Cambiaso	Italy	Juventus	Loan
  Joaquin Sosa	Uruguay	Liverpool Montevideo	€2m
  Nikola Moro	Croatia	Dynamo Moscow	Loan
  Joshua Zirkzee	Netherlands	Bayern Munich	€8.5m

  New signings January window

  Player	Nationality	Previous club	Fee
  Gabriele Corbo	Italy	Montreal	Undisclosed
  Sebastian Breza	Canada/ Norway	Montreal	Undisclosed
  Federico Ravaglia	Italy	Reggina	Undisclosed

  Departures summer window

  Player	Nationality	New club	Fee
  Nicolas Viola	Italy	Cagliari	Free
  Diego Falcinelli	Italy	Modena	Free
  Andri Baldursson	Iceland	NEC	Loan
  Mattias Svanberg	Sweden	Wolfsburg	€9M
  Federico Ravaglia	Italy	Reggina	Loan
  Luis Binks	England	Como	Loan
  Arthur Theate	Belgium	Rennes	€20m

  Departures January window

  Player	Nationality	New club	Fee
  Musa Juwara	Gambia	Odense BK	Loan
  Gianmarco Cangiano	Italy	Fortuna Sittard	Loan
  Denso Kasius	Netherlands	Rapid Vienna	Loan
  Sebastian Breza	Canada	Carrarese	Free
  Emanuel Vignato	Italy	Empoli	Loan

How to watch Sheffield United against Cardiff City in the Championship in the USA, as well as the kick-off time and team news.

Sheffield United and Cardiff City will battle for their own respective causes at either ends of the Championship table when the two teams face off at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

💻 Watch Sheffield United vs Cardiff City live on ESPN+ today!

📺 Watch Sheffield United vs Cardiff City live on Sky Sports today!

The hosts would like to join Burnley, against whom they lost 2-0 earlier this week, as the second team to earn Premier League promotion from the automatic promotion spots. Paul Heckingbottom's men are currently five points clear of third-placed Luton Town with a game in hand compared to the chasing pack.

On the other hand, Cardiff City will want to make their advantage of having a game in hand over fellow relegation-threatened sides as they aim to bounce back from a 0-1 loss against Sunderland.

GOAL brings you details on how to watch the game on TV in the U.S., as well as how to stream live online.

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  Kick-off time

  Game:	Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
  Date:	April 15, 2023
  Kick-off:	7:30am EDT
  Venue:	Bramall Lane

  The Championship game between Sheffield United and Cardiff City is scheduled for April 15, 2023, at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.

  It will kick off at 7:30am EDT in the USA.

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  How to watch Sheffield United vs Cardiff City online – TV channels & live streams

  TV channels & streaming options

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  U.S.	N/A	ESPN+

  In the United States (USA), the game can be watched live on ESPN+.

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  Team news & squads

  Sheffield United team news

  Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham was sent off against Burnley, and as a result is out suspended, with Adam Davies in goal.

  The likes of Enda Stevens, Max Lowe and Rhys Norrington-Davies make up the injury list, thus pushing George Baldock to the left side of defence.

  In midfield, Heckingbottom may replace Oliver Norwood withSander Berge, with James McAtee starting alongside Tommy Doyle.

  Oli McBurnie and Iliman Ndiaye should continue in attack.

  Sheffield United possible XI: Davies; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson; Bogle, Berge, Doyle, McAtee, Baldock; McBurnie, Ndiaye

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Davies
  Defenders	Egan, O'Connell, Clark, Basham, Robinson, Baldock, Bogle, Starbuck
  Midfielders	Berge, McAtee, Doyle, Norwood, Fleck, Coulibaly, Osborn, Ndiaye
  Forwards	Brewster, McBurnie, Jebbison, Sharp, Osula

  Cardiff City team news

  Callum O'Dowda and Callum Robinson are absent through injuries, but Kion Etete is in contention after recovering from a hamstring injury.

  Sabri Lamouchi is bound to stick with Sory Kaba in attack, while Joe Ralls will be looking to replace either Romaine Sawyers or Ryan Wintle in midfield.

  Cardiff City possible XI: Allsop; Ng, McGuinness, Kipre, Romeo; Philogene, Ralls, Wintle, Ojo; Kaba, Wickham

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Allsop, Alnwick
  Defenders	Kipre, McGuiness, Simpson, Denham, Collins, Bagan, Ng, Romeo, Daley-Campbell, Sang
  Midfielders	Wintle, Rinomhota, Ralls, Adams, Colwill, Sawyers, Philogene, Ojo, Whyte
  Forwards	Davies, Kaba, Harris, Etete, Wickham

  Head-to-head record

  Date	Result	Competition
  November 12, 2022	Cardiff City 0-1 Sheffield United	Championship
  April 23, 2022	Sheffield United 1-0 Cardiff City	Championship
  December 4, 2021	Cardiff City 2-3 Sheffield United	Championship
  April 3, 2018	Sheffield United 1-1 Cardiff City	Championship
  August 16, 2017	Cardiff City 2-0 Sheffield United	Championship

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  Useful links

  • Championship standings table

  • Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

  • Championship play-offs: Everything you need to know