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England 0-1 Brazil: Endrick hits dream winner as Selecao triumph at Wembley

Harry Carr
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England 0-1 Brazil: Endrick hits dream winner as Selecao triumph at Wembley

Future Real Madrid forward Endrick scored his first senior international goal to fire Brazil to a 1-0 friendly win over a much-changed England team at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

With Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka among those to miss out through injury, Anthony Gordon, Ezri Konsa and Kobbie Mainoo made their senior England debuts, the latter duo doing so off the bench as Gareth Southgate took the opportunity to experiment ahead of Euro 2024.

Though the Three Lions had their opportunities, most notably through Gordon, Brazil looked the more threatening side throughout with Vinicius Junior missing a glorious chance and Lucas Paqueta hitting the post.

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Their winner came with 10 minutes left as Endrick made a dream impact off the bench, the 17-year-old tapping into an empty net after Jordon Pickford denied Vinicius.

The result ended England’s 20-match unbeaten run at Wembley, and Southgate now has just one further friendly to test his players before naming his Euros squad – against Belgium on Tuesday.

Brazil should have gone ahead after 12 minutes as Paqueta sent Vinicius through on goal, but he made poor contact with his finish and Kyle Walker prevented it from crossing the line, though the right-back was substituted after suffering an apparent hamstring injury in that incident.

England’s first clear-cut chance fell to stand-in striker Ollie Watkins, but the Aston Villa man couldn’t keep his shot down under fierce pressure from Fabricio Bruno.

Paqueta side-footed against the left-hand post with Pickford rooted to the spot shortly after the half-hour mark, then the West Ham midfielder was incredibly fortunate to avoid a second yellow card for tripping Jude Bellingham as half-time approached.

Gordon forced Bento into action twice either side of the interval, seeing a bending effort pushed away then volleying against the Brazil shot-stopper following Declan Rice’s deep free-kick.

Paqueta got away with yet another foul before curling a first-time effort just wide of the top-left corner as Brazil fired off another warning shot shortly after the hour mark.

England looked increasingly disjointed as Southgate made a string of second-half changes, and they were punished with 80 minutes gone.

Andreas Pereira’s throughball released Vinicius, and though Pickford smothered his attempt, Palmeiras star Endrick bundled the rebound home, becoming Brazil’s youngest goalscorer since Ronaldo Nazario in 1994 and sparking wild celebrations among the visiting fans.

The teenager could have added a second to cap a lightning break in stoppage time, only to be denied by Pickford, but it didn’t matter as Brazil kept England at arm’s length in the closing stages.

Mason Greenwood: Juventus ‘evaluating move’ for Man United forward after loan transfer to Getafe

Ben Miller
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Mason Greenwood: Juventus ‘evaluating move’ for Man United forward after loan transfer to Getafe

Juventus have reportedly been monitoring Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood during his loan spell at Getafe while evaluating a move for the forward, who is out of contract in 2025.

Former England international Greenwood has scored eight goals in 27 matches for the Spanish club since signing on deadline day in September, United having decided against keeping him following an internal investigation into his conduct which was triggered by the collapse of a legal case against him.

Italy forward Federico Chiesa is out of contract in 2025 with Juve, who are keen on Greenwood because of the dribbling, width, technique and creativity he can offer them, according to Gazzetta.

Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli and deputy Giovanni Manna are also said to see the 22-year-old’s youth and contractual situation, which would reduce any fee involved in a potential move, as enticing.

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Greenwood is expected to return to United at the end of the Liga season but not stay at Old Trafford, although Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose Ineos group has taken over football operations at the club, has suggested the situation could be reviewed without giving a view on how it should progress.

Academy product Greenwood scored 35 goals in 129 appearances for United between his debut in 2019 and his last appearance for the club during the 2021/22 season.

Man United transfer news: Greenwood exit?

United will see a transfer this summer as “the last chance to gain something from the player’s departure”, the report speculated.

Only one team in the top seven of Italy’s Serie A has scored fewer goals than Juve, although their defensive record is only bettered by runaway leaders Inter.

The most successful team in the history of the Italian game are 17 points behind Inter but in a strong position to qualify for next season’s Uefa Champions League, standing five points above fourth-placed Bologna and three behind Milan.

Liga president Javier Tebas has praised Greenwood’s impact in Spain and said he wants him to stay in the division but midtable Getafe would be unlikely to present a more attractive proposition than Juventus.

Gazzetta added that Juve are interested in 30-year-old attacker Felipe Anderson, whose contract with Lazio is about to end.

Juventus and Lazio will meet in a two-legged Coppa Italia semi-final in April.

Man City transfer news: Haaland move played down by Barcelona but Cancelo could sign permanently

Ben Miller
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Man City transfer news: Haaland move played down by Barcelona but Cancelo could sign permanently

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has played down reports that the reigning Spanish champions want to sign Manchester City top scorer Erling Haaland but said he expects Joao Cancelo to make his loan move permanent from the Premier League club.

Reports in February claimed that Haaland’s representatives had met Barca officials in Spain to discuss a move for last season’s leading marksman in the English top flight.

“You are confusing the media player with the one who fits well into the team,” Laporta told Mundo Deportivo.

“Prioritising the team, there will be one or two team additions. Players of the calibre of Lamine [Yamal], [Robert] Lewandowski, Joao Felix, Ferran [Torres] and Raphinha, who are very strong and always contribute to the team.

“I do not see it necessary to make an investment that could distort what we are building, which is a balanced team.”

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Laporta voiced his belief in 19-year-old Brazil newcomer Vitor Roque supporting Lewandowski, saying the forward is “in a process of adaptation” but “has the gift of scoring”.

Numerous accounts have said Haaland has a release clause in his contract that will be activated this summer, with The Sun citing reports in Spain as naming a figure of £171.6 million.

The Norway talisman joined City for £51m in 2022 and swiftly established himself as the most prolific striker in Europe, scoring a remarkable 52 times in all competitions in 2022/23.

The 23-year-old is not on course to match that total this season but remains top of the Premier League scoring charts with 18 goals and is targeting successive league, FA Cup and Uefa Champions League triumphs.

Cancelo transfer: City ‘will not object’

Barcelona’s interest in Cancelo and fellow loanee Joao Felix appears far clearer, having borrowed the both until the end of 2023/24.

“I hope that Atletico Madrid don’t have any objection to Joao Felix continuing with us,” said Laporta, according to Football Espana.

“I don’t think [City] will either [over Cancelo]. [Agent] Jorge Mendes is working on the issue, and he knows our intention.”

Lewis Hamilton: Ex-F1 champion ‘not great’ after taking 11th in Australian Grand Prix qualifying

Ben Miller
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Lewis Hamilton: Ex-F1 champion ‘not great’ after taking 11th in Australian Grand Prix qualifying

Lewis Hamilton said he was feeling “flat” and “not great” after an 11th-placed finish in Australian Grand Prix qualifying which has ensured his lowest grid position of the 2024 Formula One season so far.

Seven-time champion Hamilton followed up being fourth-fastest in the final practice session by failing to make the top 10 for the first time in his campaign, later acknowledging that he has been “less consistent” than Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who will start from seventh.

“He is doing a better job with the car,” said Hamilton. “Three qualifyings in a row he has out-qualified me. He just seems to get on a lot better than I do. I’m just trying to keep my head above water and continue to realise it could be way worse.”

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Mercedes had been targeting progress after two seasons of technical struggles but have experienced multiple problems including the downforce of the car and its capacity at high-speed corners.

“I don’t know if it’s the wind picking up – it picked up quite a bit, same as yesterday – and then the car is just so much more on a knife edge,” said Hamilton.

“It’s just a flat feeling. It’s not great. It’s been a similar feeling for three years in a row. Then there are these spikes of ‘it could be good’, like this morning. Then it disappears.

“If we can find a way of [keeping] that goodness in the car, making it more consistent and holding onto that, maybe we can be more competitive. There’s lots of work we need to do but everyone’s working as hard as they can.”

Mercedes F1 results: ‘Difficult car’

While Hamilton has previously qualified in ninth and eighth this season, Russell’s second successive seventh place came after he started third in Bahrain.

Hamilton finished ninth in Saudi Arabia and seventh in Bahrain, more than 50 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen in the first race of the season and more than 47 seconds short of the championship’s dominant driver in the second.

“We know where we need to improve the car and that is in the high-speed corners,” said Russell. “Unfortunately, there are a decent number of those here in Melbourne, so this circuit is definitely not playing to our strengths.

“I do think we’ll be in a better place tomorrow, though, when everyone has the fuel in their car.”

Team principal Toto Wolff did not swerve the issue. “We have a car that is difficult and small changes can cause it to be outside of the working window,” he said.

“There is no simple solution as it is about the complex interaction between all the constituent elements of the car. It is frustrating that we are still saying this but we will continue to keep working on it.”

Aryna Sabalenka ‘is a very strong woman’, says opponent Badosa after Miami Open result

Ben Miller
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Aryna Sabalenka ‘is a very strong woman’, says opponent Badosa after Miami Open result

Paula Badosa called close friend Aryna Sabalenka “a very strong woman” after being beaten 6-4 6-3 by the world number two at the Miami Open – four days after the death of the Belarusian’s former partner, Konstantin Koltsov.

Koltsov, a professional hockey player who had become a successful coach, died in Miami aged 42 in what police said was an “apparent suicide”.

Sabalenka asked for privacy on Thursday and described Koltsov’s death as an “unthinkable tragedy”, adding: “My heart is broken.”

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While Sabalenka will not carry out press duties during the tournament, Badosa provided an insight into the 25-year-old after the pair faced each other.

“We’re both pretty strong mentally,” said the Spaniard. “She proved it. I proved it. She played really well. I played really well for where I’m from.

“This all comes from the fact that we know we’ve been through a lot in our lives… and we know how to separate [our lives from playing] in that moment.”

Sabalenka wins at Miami Open

“Aryna is a very, very strong woman with a strong personality,” observed Badosa. “You can see it on the court. Especially as I know her off the court. She doesn’t surprise me at all.

“I knew she would play very well, as usual. I told her I wished her the best. Let’s see if she can go very deep in this tournament.”

Badosa and Sabalenka hugged at the net after their encounter, which set the victor on course for Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina in the last 32 on Saturday.

Downpours in Florida have affected the tournament, causing a delay to Andy Murray’s match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Australian Open champion and second seed Jannik Sinner is among those scheduled to play on Saturday, as well as top seed Carlos Alcaraz.

Women’s number one Iga Swiatek is also in action, while four-time Grand Slam title winner Naomi Osaka takes on world number 17 Elina Svitolina.

Australian Grand Prix qualifying results: Verstappen holds off Sainz to take pole for Red Bull

Ben Miller
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Australian Grand Prix qualifying results: Verstappen holds off Sainz to take pole for Red Bull

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen overcame what the Red Bull driver called a “tricky” round of qualifying to hold off Carlos Sainz secure pole for the 2024 Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Ferrari’s Sainz – competing 15 days after an operation for appendicitis that kept him out of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – was on course to beat Verstappen until the Red Bull racer prevailed by 0.27 seconds after the top 10 shoot-out.

“Both of those laps felt very nice,” Verstappen said of his late comeback, adding that the test he faced had been a “bit unexpected”.

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“[Ferrari] seem very quick in the long runs, so there’s a bit of a question mark for tomorrow.

“But that makes it interesting. Bit of a tricky weekend but we managed to be there at the end.”

Sergio Perez finished third for Red Bull ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Oscar Piastri was sixth in front of Mercedes’ George Russell, whose team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, trailed in 11th.

Australian Grand Prix 2024: Sainz ‘very happy’

“It has been a tough couple of weeks,” said Sainz. “A lot of days in bed, waiting to see if I could be here today.

“To make it this weekend and put it on the front row after leading all the way through qualifying, I almost could not believe it.

“I’m very happy to be here. I was a bit rusty yesterday but I got up to speed and was feeling good with the car.

“I am not going to lie, I am not in my most comfortable state when I am driving out there but I can get it done.

“There’s a lot of discomfort and weird feelings but no pain, so it allowed me to push flat out.”

Gareth Southgate Man United rumours: Man City’s Stones wants boss to stay with England

Ben Miller
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Gareth Southgate Man United rumours: Man City’s Stones wants boss to stay with England

Manchester City and England defender John Stones wants Gareth Southgate to remain as Three Lions boss amid speculation linking him with Manchester United.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group, which has taken over football operations at Old Trafford, reportedly want Southgate to take over from Erik ten Hag.

When Stones was asked about the situation while sitting alongside Southgate, the 53-year-old, who had earlier called rumours about him replacing Ten Hag “completely disrespectful” to the Dutchman, reassured his player that there was no obligation to answer the question.

“I personally want him here,” replied Stones, an international regular under Southgate. “I agree it would be disrespectful to speak about a team that already has a manager.”

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Southgate’s achievements, including a run to the 2018 Fifa World Cup semi-finals and 2020 Uefa Euro final, will have caught the attention of leading clubs but the former Middlesbrough manager said he would not speak to any suitors before Euro 2024, which begins for England against Serbia on June 16.

England have home friendlies against Brazil on Saturday and Belgium on Tuesday. “I don’t see friendly games as a friendly game,” said Stones.

“It’s against one of the best teams in the world [Brazil] over the past I don’t know how many years.

“It’s a bit different this time with a lot of injuries [for Brazil] and a new manager [Dorival Junior], but it’s a great test for us to get something out of it and move onto the game on Tuesday and finish this week off with two wins.”

England v Brazil: Stones ‘special’

Another excellent season from Stones has helped put City in contention for a successful Premier League title defence, with some pundits crediting the 29-year-old as one of the finest players of modern times thanks to his ability to advance and impress across the length of the pitch.

“It’s been fabulous to watch his journey from a right-back in the under-21s in the first game we picked, moving across to centre-back,” said Southgate, referencing his time in charge at youth level.

“We always knew he had a special talent with the ball. He also values defending. I hold him up as an example to young defenders.

“He’s stepping into midfield and fulfilling that dual role. He’s tactically aware. I can’t speak highly enough of how he is to work with.”

Man United manager: Southgate calls rumours ‘completely disrespectful’ to Ten Hag

Ben Miller
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Man United manager: Southgate calls rumours ‘completely disrespectful’ to Ten Hag

England manager Gareth Southgate has said speculation that he is being lined up to succeed Erik ten Hag at Manchester United after Uefa Euro 2024 is “completely disrespectful” to the Dutchman.

United have been heavily linked with Southgate this week, with reports claiming Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group, which has taken over football operations at the club, plan to sack Ten Hag and make Southgate their preferred target at the end of the season.

“I’m the England manager – I’ve got one job, basically, which is to try to deliver a European championship,” Southgate said of his task in Germany this summer, speaking before Brazil visit Wembley Stadium for a friendly on Saturday and Belgium follow suit on Tuesday.

“Manchester United have a manager. It’s always completely disrespectful when there’s any speculation about a manager who’s in place.”

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The 53-year-old added that his position as president of the League Managers Association, which represents the interests of his counterparts throughout the English game, meant he did not “have any time” for rumours about coaches’ jobs while they are in post.

Southgate has caught the eye of clubs since taking charge of England in 2016, re-establishing the Three Lions as a force at tournaments by guiding them to the semi-finals of the 2018 Fifa World Cup and the final of Euro 2020.

A three-year spell at Middlesbrough in his first managerial role – Southgate’s only experience of the Premier League so far in his coaching career – was less convincing, culminating in his dismissal months after overseeing top-flight relegation.

Southgate to United rumours rage

The former Boro, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace centre-back has become as respected for his approach off the pitch as he has for his revival of the national team he once represented, and he has previously worked with Dan Ashworth, who is expected to take up a senior position at United, at the FA.

There was talk of Southgate leaving after England exited the 2022 World Cup in the quarter-finals at the hands of France, but their comfortable qualification for Euro 2024 has ensured he will have a chance to go one step further than he did at the most recent edition.

Whether Ten Hag will be at Old Trafford by the time those finals start in June could depend on how United end a largely underwhelming season.

With 10 league games remaining, the 20-time champions have a six-point gap to recover on Tottenham, who occupy the fifth position which is likely to mean Champions League football in 2024/25.

Ten Hag enjoyed the high point so far of an uneven campaign on Sunday, when United reached the FA Cup semi-finals with an extra-time win at home to a Liverpool side who are 17 points above them in the table.

IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals v Lucknow Super Giants – Preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and prediction

Ben Miller
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IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals v Lucknow Super Giants – Preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and prediction

State of Play

Fifth-placed last time out, a transformed Rajasthan Royals squad take on Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2024 opener for the teams on Sunday.

The Royals, who missed out on extending their season by two points in 2023, have traded Devdutt Padikkal to their opponents for Avesh Khan and recruited Nandre Burger, Shubham Dubey, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Rovman Powell and Abid Mushtaq.

The inaugural IPL favourites in 2008 are among the favourites to triumph this time, with the likes of England’s Jos Buttler among their ranks.

Lucknow, meanwhile, have exited at the eliminator stage in both of their IPL seasons since being formed.

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Australia icon Justin Langer has replaced Andy Flower as head coach and is hoping captain KL Rahul will be ready to play after returning to training following a quad injury.

“I haven’t been coaching for two years since I left the Australian cricket team, and for two years I’ve been sleeping very well at night,” said Langer.

“Now it’s hard to sleep at night because it’s very hard to fit so much talent into 11 positions. It’s a good problem to have. It’s a sweet problem, but we’ll work it out.”

 

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Expected line-ups

Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c), Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan.

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi, Shivam Mavi, Shamar Joseph, M. Siddharth.

How to watch

Sky have the rights to show the IPL to UK viewers in 2024 and will broadcast every game live. Sunday’s game will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket from 9.50am GMT.

Prediction

The strength of the Royals – not least India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal and Buttler leading their batting – makes it hard to overlook them for the win.

The Super Giants have won all three previous encounters between these sides but expect that pattern to end in Jaipur.

IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans v Mumbai Indians – Preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and prediction

Ben Miller
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IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans v Mumbai Indians – Preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and prediction

State of Play

Almost 10 months after losing the IPL 2023 final against Chennai Super Kings, the Gujarat Titans return to action in pursuit of a second title in their three years of existence when they host the Mumbai Indians at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

There will be an added element of spice to the Titans’ opening fixture of 2024 after captain Hardik Pandya moved to the Indians, while India captain Rohit Sharma and international team-mate Jasprit Bumrah make the visitors a force to be reckoned with.

Shubman Gill has succeeded Pandya as Titans captain – a move they will hope does not affect his batting after Gill scored 890 runs from 17 matches as a 23-year-old last season.

Despite the quality of their squad, Mumbai have gone three campaigns without a title, claiming third place last season after finishing bottom in 2022.

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IPL 2024: Punjab Kings v Delhi Capitals – Preview, expected line-ups and prediction

The five-time champions are favourites to repeat the trick this time around, with their opening opponents considered dark horses behind Chennai, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals.

The Titans have signed Sandeep Warrier to replace injured pacer Mohammed Shami, while fast bowler Kwena Maphaka – a 17-year-old still in high school – has replaced Dilshan Madushanka, who has been ruled out for the entire season through injury, for the Indians.

“We have a history of not starting well in the competition, so we have addressed that,” says Indians head coach Mark Boucher.

“Hopefully we will find one or two things that we feel we can do within the squad to be more ready for the first game and get off to a good start. I’m not looking to put pressure on the players.”

Expected line-ups

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Wriddhiman Saha, B. Sai Sudarshan, Kane Williamson, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Jayant Yadav.

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David, Dewald Brevis, N. Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Mohammad Nabi, Kumar Kartikeya, Jasprit Bumrah, Jason Behrendorff.

How to watch

Sky have the rights to show the IPL to UK viewers in 2024 and will broadcast every game live. Sunday’s game will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket from 1.50pm GMT.

Prediction

On a pitch giving both teams potential for high scores, this match could hinge on how either side copes with the key players they have been shorn of through sales and injuries.

Pandya will serve as an all-rounder as part of a potent Indians bowling attack which should see Boucher’s players justify their status as pre-season favourites.

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