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Ravi Shastri has been named India’s team director for the upcoming tour to Bangladesh, while Sanjay Bangar, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar will continue as assistant coaches for the tour

Amol Karhadkar02-Jun-2015Ravi Shastri has been named India’s team director for the upcoming tour to Bangladesh, while Sanjay Bangar, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar will continue as assistant coaches for the tour. However, the long-term coaching appointments are likely to be finalised in consultation with the cricket advisory committee before India’s tour to Zimbabwe in July.The appointments, announced by the BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, meant the only name missing from India’s coaching staff from the World Cup was Duncan Fletcher’s, whose contract has ended.Shastri is understood to have been interested in a long-term position, either as head coach or team director but for now, he has agreed for the short-term assignment of one Test and three ODIs in Bangladesh.Since the BCCI didn’t want to rope in new appointees for the short tour, the three specialist coaches were also retained. One of the three is in danger of losing his post after the Bangladesh series.Meanwhile, the high-profile cricket advisory committee is likely to meet in Kolkata on June 6 to spell out the procedure for appointing the head coach or team director. Besides Shastri, the BCCI is believed to have been in touch with former Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody and Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach Daniel Vettori.While Moody is understood to have been recommended by VVS Laxman, his colleague at Sunrisers Hyderabad, Vettori has been recommended by Test captain Kohli.Shastri had been named director of cricket after India’s poor performance in the Test series in England last year and the BCCI had appointed Bangar, Arun and Sridhar as assistant coaches at the same time. Their tenures with the Indian team were then extended until the end of the 2015 World Cup.

The Germany goalkeeper will travel to the tournament without playing a competitive match this year, but he's not the first injured star to travel

Getty ImagesPaolo Rossi – 1982Before going to the World Cup in 1982, Juventus forward Paolo Rossi had played just three games in two seasons thanks to a lengthy suspension for alleged match-fixing while at Perugia. He was a shock inclusion in the Italy squad, with major doubts over his fitness proven correct during the group stages where he made little impact. By the time the knockout stage arrived, he was much sharper, scoring three times against Brazil and the opening goal in the final to help the Azzurri to a shock win over West Germany.AdvertisementGettyKevin Keegan – 1982England forward Kevin Keegan scored 21 times in 63 appearances for his country, but only played in one World Cup game. The Three Lions missed out in both 1974 and 1978, but when they qualified in 1982, their captain was suffering from a serious back injury. The problem kept him out of all their first-round games as well as their first two matches in the second round. He came on for the last half hour against Spain, but wasted his best scoring chance to see England knocked out of the tournament.GettyBryan Robson – 1986Bryan Robson travelled to the 1986 World Cup with a shoulder problem, but started England's first two games before suffering a re-occurrence of the same injury which kept him out of the rest of the tournament and forced the Three Lions to change their formation in the absence of 'Captain Marvel'. Four years later, he was fit enough to start at the World Cup, but was injured early in the tournament after dropping a bed on his toe while having a weight-lifting competition with team-mate Paul Gascoigne.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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GettyRonaldo – 2002Brazil superstar Ronaldo played in the 1998 World Cup final just hours after having a seizure and as a result played poorly as France took the trophy. Four years later, his appearance at the tournament looked to be in jeopardy having played just 16 times in two seasons due to a cruciate ligament injury. However, he made a remarkable return, guiding Brazil to a fifth world title with eight goals along the way.

An injury setback has ruled England captain Leah Williamson out of Arsenal's huge Women's Super League clash with Manchester United on Saturday.

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Williamson ruled out of Man Utd clashArsenal star suffered 'minor' hamstring injuryIlestedt also absent due to illnessWHAT HAPPENED?

Williamson recently returned from nine months out after rupturing her ACL, making her comeback in a cup fixture with Reading in January. However, despite starting for Arsenal in their FA Cup defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, she wasn't fit for the massive meeting with Man Utd on Saturday, ruled out because of a hamstring problem.

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Speaking to Sky Sports before the game, Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall said of Williamson: "[It's a] minor injury, really unfortunate, but it keeps her away from this fixture here."

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Williamson wasn't the only absentee for Arsenal, with fellow centre-back Amanda Ilestedt also ruled out of the game due to illness. It meant that Laia Codina was named to the starting XI for just the third time in the WSL this season, alongside England international Lotte Wubben-Moy.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Williamson was one of four players to suffer a devastating ACL injury at Arsenal last season, along with Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Laura Wienroither. After making her initial comeback before Christmas, Miedema returned to the Gunners' matchday squad for Saturday's game following a knee irritation.

Tim Weah impressed off the bench for Juventus, despite their dreadful performance in a 4-2 loss to Sassuolo.

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McKennie started for Juve in wing-back roleReplaced by Weah, who impressedAllegri's side suffer dismal 4-2 defeat

USMNT duo Weston Mckennie and Tim Weah featured for Juventus in their 4-2 loss to Sassuolo Saturday evening, with the latter out-performing his international compatriot off the bench. Weah replaced McKennie in the 58th minute and played a part in his side's only goal from open play.

However, the story to tell is one of errors and horrendous blunders from the Italian giants as a disastrous own-goal, two goalkeeper errors and calamitous defending haunted the Bianconeri.

Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

It was a night to forget for the Bianconeri, as they fell to Sassuolo 4-2 on the road in a Serie A clash. Juve were well below their best and plagued by defensive errors as the pressure mounts on Massimiliano Allegri and his side.

Armand Lauriente opened the scoring for the hosts just 13 minutes in before an own-goal eight minutes later brought Juventus level. Italy international Domenico Berardi then doubled Sassuolo's lead just before the break. Federico Chiesa brought Juventus level once again in the 78th minute in what seemed like a burst of momentum, but it was undone just four minutes later after Andrea Pinamonti capitalized on a Wojciech Szczesny goalkeeping blunder.

Come stoppage-time, Juventus defender Federico Gatti added to the mountain of errors with a calamitous own-goal to make it 4-2.

USMNT star Weston McKennie started the match for the Bianconeri before being replaced by compatriot Tim Weah in the 58th minute, who capitalized on his short cameo with a promising showing.

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Weah took advantage in the second half with a fantastic impact on the match, while McKennie – who he replaced – struggled for much of the game in a wide role. The question needs to be asked as to whether Allegri is using the former Leeds man to his full potential, as it was another disappointing showing.

It would be hard to pin blame on McKennie for the result, however, as Szczesny had a howler of a night with two goalkeeper errors, but he didn't exactly do anything to convince Allegri to continue with him ahead of Weah.

GettyUSMNT IMPACT

It's never ideal when you have two players competing for the same spot in an XI, especially when neither view it as their best position. Unfortunately, that's the case for USMNT duo McKennie and Weah at the moment. The former is typically a central midfielder while Weah plays as a winger for his national team. Under Juventus boss Allegri, they're playing right wing-back, which doesn't suit either.

For Gregg Berhalter, it's an issue because in an ideal world, both players are starting and both are playing in the positions he sees as best for his players. Despite that, though, both McKennie and Weah had great September international windows for the USMNT. With October friendlies on the horizon, it's fair to expect the duo to replicate their excellent September showings but with the competition for game time at Juventus – with each other don't forget – there is cause for concern.

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Getty ImagesGOAL'S RATINGS

Weston McKennie (5/10): A quiet night, but was consistent in driving forward on the right flank. Frankly, though, McKennie did nothing to warrant another start in the role.

Timothy Weah (6/10): Weah subbed on for McKennie in the 58th minute and made an instant impact as he played the pass directly before the assist for their 78th minute equalizer. The humiliating loss certainly wasn't his fault.

Clubs in the English top flight have until June 23 to tie down players to short-term deals if they want to finish the 2019-20 season

The coronavirus pandemic threw football into chaos this year.

While the Premier League season has now resumed, clubs and players alike face an uncertain future.

The financial ramifications of the disruption are yet to be truly seen but, in the short term, players up and down the country find themselves with decisions to make.

Most player contracts in the Premier League end on June 30 of a given year, but the 2019-20 season is now expected to run until late July. For clubs playing in Europe, fixtures may continue until the end of August.

The Premier League has set a deadline of June 23 for players to agree short-term contract extensions in order to play until the end of the season.

Some have already taken up this option – David Silva at Manchester City and Liverpool’s Adam Lallana among them – but plenty of players are still set to be without a club on July 1.

GettyWillian – Chelsea

Brazil international Willian has played more than 300 times for Chelsea since joining in 2013, winning two Premier League titles after the Blues hijacked a proposed move to Tottenham.

However, his future has been up in the air for some time now and he has been linked with a number of clubs during the 2019-20 season.

Manchester United and Arsenal have both been linked, with the 31-year-old still a useful player for any club looking to add strength in depth.

Barcelona were also rumoured to be considering a move during the January transfer window but for now, he is believed to be open to signing a temporary contract to finish the season with Chelsea.

AdvertisementGettyRyan Fraser – Bournemouth

Fraser’s decision not to agree a short-term contract extension has left Bournemouth staring down the barrel of relegation as the final stretch of the season looms.

He notched seven goals and 14 assists in the Premier League last season, though he has scored only once in the current campaign.

The Cherries restart the season in 18th. Simon Francis, Andrew Surman, Artur Boruc and Charlie Daniels have all agreed to short-term deals, but Fraser will depart for free.

Arsenal and Tottenham have both been linked with his signature.

Getty ImagesJan Vertonghen – Tottenham

Contrasting reports around Vertonghen’s immediate future mean it is currently unclear whether or not he will still be a Tottenham player come July 1.

The 33-year-old has been at Spurs since 2012, one of the key figures in their progression under Mauricio Pochettino.

His experience also means he will be a wanted man if he does leave on a free transfer.

Fellow defender Japhet Tanganga, who made his debut earlier this season, is also out of contract but had reportedly been in talks over a new deal before Covid-19 struck.

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GettyDavid Luiz – Arsenal

Arsenal are looking to reshape their squad on a budget under Mikel Arteta, and it remains to be seen whether Luiz will be part of the rebuild.

He may well have already played his last game for the Gunners, having been sent off in a disaster-class performance against Manchester City in their first game back.

Luiz has shown signs of being keen on another year at the Emirates Stadium but, after an unconvincing season, some fans would doubtless be content to see him go.

The defender’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, has said his future will be decided before the June 23 deadline.

Manchester United are ready to cash in on Raphael Varane in the January transfer window, according to a new report.

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Varane has fallen out of favourBarely playing under Erik ten HagInterest from Bayern Munich and Al-IttihadWHAT HAPPENED?

Varane has fallen way down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag and has played just eight times in the Premier League. Since the beginning of October, Varane has played 18 minutes of football, and was on the bench for both of the club's recent games against Everton and Newcastle. A report from now claims that United are willing to sell the France international in January.

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Both Bayern Munich and Al-Ittihad are said to be interested in signing the defender when the transfer window opens. Ittihad's interest is said to be the most advanced, although Bayern have enquired about his availability. He could cost around €30m (£25m).

DID YOU KNOW?

Varane has a contract until 2025 and has played a total of 75 games for United since arriving in 2021. However, it remains to be seen if he will be willing to leave in the January window, or whether he will decide to run down his contract.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR VARANE?

He may wish to bide his time, as reports state that manager Ten Hag is under significant pressure. United face a difficult run of games and face Chelsea on Wednesday, before also playing Bayern and Liverpool before Christmas.

Chris Rogers has conceded that team doctor Peter Brukner was right to rule him out of both Tests in the West Indies after he suffered concussion when he was struck on the helmet at training

Brydon Coverdale12-Jun-2015Chris Rogers has conceded that team doctor Peter Brukner was right to rule him out of both Tests in the West Indies after he suffered concussion when he was struck on the helmet at training. Rogers said he had had “some pretty bad days” since the incident in the lead-up to the first Test, but he was hopeful that he was on the way to recovery after facing throwdowns in the nets on Thursday.Rogers initially thought the incident was innocuous but he has suffered from headaches and dizziness since then, and admitted he would not have been fit for the ongoing second Test in Jamaica. He said he had been surprised by how long his symptoms had persisted since being struck on May 31, and while it was a concern he had been assured by Brukner he would recover.”I got hit on the head when I was just a bit early on a pull shot,” Rogers said. “Then I was actually hit on the box and that’s when I walked away and was a little bit annoyed. To be honest, I didn’t think much of the hit on the head. I’ve been hit on the head quite a few times. I thought it was just another one.”But then I just didn’t start to feel great. I spoke to the doc and didn’t expect him to rule me out of the Test, but he did. I was a little bit surprised at the time but since then I still haven’t quite recovered. I’ve had some pretty bad days so I think the doc was right. He made the right call.”You never want to miss a Test, especially for something I thought was fairly insignificant. I guess nowadays any knock to the head can make a difference. I just didn’t really think I’d have the headaches and the dizziness that have come with it. It’s been surprising but that’s what has happened.”Rogers said at the time he had not worried about the hit from a bowler who “wasn’t even that quick”. He was not aware of having been concussed previously in his career, and said it was hard to watch on from the sidelines but having felt ill after attempting some training he knew that he needed to be ruled out of the Jamaica Test as well as the first in Dominica.”As an opening batsman and a small one, you tend to cop your fair share on the helmet,” Rogers said. “But I’ve never really had symptoms like this, I must admit. Even just running and taking a few catches and then feeling terrible for the rest of the day. It’s been a bit of a wake-up call.”Shaun Marsh has filled Rogers’ position at the top of the order in the West Indies and Adam Voges slotted in at No.5 and scored a hundred on debut in Dominica. That will mean a decision for the selectors ahead of the Ashes next month; Rogers’ experience in English conditions will make him a desired member of the side if he is fully fit.”I had a hit today and that was a good sign,” Rogers said on Thursday. “I haven’t felt any side-effects from that so I think I’m on the road to recovery now … After a while you want to be back in it and you feel a little bit left out when you’re not part of the team. But that’s natural and you just have to wait your turn.”

Goal takes a look at the interesting monikers of the 32 teams that are travelling to Qatar in November 2022…

The World Cup is the grandest stage of international football where people, art, and culture from across the globe come together. It is a month-long carnival where the finest footballing nations lock horns for the ultimate prize in football.

Almost every football team has got nicknames that gives an insight into their roots or their distinct characteristics. There is usually a story behind each of these monikers that also resonate well with the fans at large. These nicknames would be used by commentators and journalists.

In fact, Brazil, the most successful nation in World Cup history, has got around six nicknames. Argentina are popularly known as for its colour of the flag and jersey. Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal are known as for their rich naval history whereas England are known as

GettyAustralia – Socceroos

The term 'Socceroos' was coined by Sydney-based journalist Tony Horstead who wanted to highlight Australia's iconic kangaroos. The words  and  are combined into a portmanteau word as 

AdvertisementGettyIran – Team Melli

in the Persian language means "The National Team". There are a few other nicknames as well such as meaning the "The Iranian Lions", meaning the "Lion Hearts" and "Princes of Persia".

Getty ImagesJapan – Samurai Blue

The Japanese team is nicknamed the in close reference to their historical Samurai background.

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GettyQatar – The Maroon

Qatar is nicknamed The Maroon, corresponding to the colour of their home jersey.

Erik ten Hag has seen the “crazy idea” of returning to Ajax speculated on if he were to get the sack at Premier League giants Manchester United.

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Dutch coach struggling for positive resultsSetbacks suffered at home and abroadQuestions being asked of his futureWHAT HAPPENED?

The Dutch coach finds himself under pressure at Old Trafford after suffering potentially costly defeats in domestic and Champions League competition. The Red Devils lost their last fixture in the English top-flight to Crystal Palace, while back-to-back defeats have been suffered in Europe at the hands of Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.

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Ten Hag did deliver Carabao Cup glory and a top-four finish during his debut campaign in English football, but he has fallen out with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho along the way and desperately needs to deliver a reversal in fortune after being given more money to spend in the transfer market.

WHAT THEY SAID

Former Ajax striker Kenneth Perez has suggested that Ten Hag could end up retracing his steps to Amsterdam after less than 18 months in Manchester. He has told : “Imagine if Erik ten Hag were fired, would it be very crazy for Ajax to ask him back? Manchester United is known for the fact that things can get difficult if things don’t go well. Then it’s not a crazy idea, is it?”

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Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Ten Hag previously won three Eredivisie titles during his time at Ajax, taking in over 200 games at the helm, but he has found consistency hard to come by with United and is waiting on big-money additions such as Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund to come good in 2023-24.

Luke Littler has taken the darts world by storm but he is also a keen football fan – GOAL takes a look at who he supports and his favourite players.

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The sporting story of the year could be written just a few days into 2024 if 16-year-old Luke Littler does the unthinkable and wins the PDC World Championship.

The teenage darts star has pulled off a stunning march to the final, beating established pros including Raymond van Barneveld, Brendan Dolan and Rob Cross to set up a final showdown with Luke Humphries at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday night.

It's no secret that Littler is a keen football fan – so who does he support, and who is his favourite player?

Getty ImagesWHO IS LUKE LITTLER?

Luke Littler is a 16-year-old darts player who – despite only making his senior tournament debut in 2023-24 – has reached the final of the PDC World Championship. He has produced some of the best performances ever seen in the competition, including the phenomenal 6-2 win over Cross in the semis that saw him achieve 16 180s, averaging a score of 106.05. Indeed, if Littler completes the job and wins the final against Luke Humphries on Wednesday night, he will take home the prize money pay-out of £500,000 ($630,000).

AdvertisementWHICH FOOTBALL TEAM DOES LUKE LITTLER SUPPORT?

Littler may have been born in Runcorn, but the teenager is a huge Manchester United fan. In a recent interview, the darts star said he will take a tour of Old Trafford after the PDC World Championship is over. Ahead of the final at Alexandra Palace, United players past and present including Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Luke Shaw sent the youngster their good-luck wishes, while the official Manchester United Instagram account wrote that they're "right behind" him in his quest for glory.

WHO IS LUKE LITTLER'S FAVOURITE FOOTBALL PLAYER?

Littler's favourite player is likely to be a United star, and it could well be Marcus Rashford. After his third round victory last week, the Reds fan copied the striker's trademark celebration, and posted a side-by-side photo on Instagram.

He is clearly a massive football fan in general, though, and recently posed for photos with Declan Rice and Aaron Ramsdale after watching Arsenal lose 2-0 to West Ham. He then attended Tottenham's 3-1 win against Bournemouth with injured Spurs midfielder James Maddison, who has helped put darts on the map with his infamous celebration. Littler has also been spotted sharing a selfie with United midfielder Donny van de Beek, using the caption 'legend'. The Dutchman has since left Old Trafford, however, after completing a loan move to Frankfurt.

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Getty/GOAL/IG:@lukethenukelittlerDOES LUKE LITTLER PLAY FOOTBALL?

Littler has played darts since a young age, but as a child he also enjoyed playing football. He told reporters that he used to play at centre-back, and remarked that "no-one was getting past me". The teenager doesn't play the beautiful game now, after deciding to fully focus on darts at the age of 10, although is clearly a fan of the EA Sports FC/FIFA franchise, having admitted that he only knew Brazil legend Pele from playing the game.