Tag Futebol

They may not force their way in this season against England but opportunity could come next year

Andrew McGlashan19-Nov-2021

Henry Hunt

The South Australia opener has made a big impression over the last two seasons to vault himself into national consideration at the age of 24. He scored his maiden century in his fourth first-class match in 2019 and this season he has made two hundreds, including a superb 134 against Tasmania in bowler-dominated conditions out of a total of 220. It matches the two he made last summer when he was the standout performer in another poor season for South Australia and the four centuries have come in his last 13 first-class innings.”I think Henry’s form over the last couple of weeks has been fantastic, but in many respects it’s backed up what we’ve been seeing from him,” national selector George Bailey said. “He’s well organised, his game’s in really good order, he’s got a lot of fight in the way he goes about it, he’s determined and he’s a gun fielder.Related

• Pat Cummins won't ask for rest 'unless I've got something going wrong'

• Khawaja or Head? Bailey has an answer but he isn't telling

• Jhye Richardson confident for Test chance after weathering injury challenges

Bryce Street

The left hander has made a name for himself at the top of Queensland’s order with his stickability at the crease but this season he has also worked on expanding his stroke range as witness during his century against Tasmania which included the first sixes of his first-class career. Three of his four hundreds have come from more than 300 deliveries while the other took 281. He also stood up to New South Wales’ Test-strength attack in last season’s Sheffield Shield final with 46 off 203 deliveries which allowed Marnus Labuschagne to take charge. In recent weeks his form has tailed a little – a top score of 23 in his last five innings – but Street’s qualities remain sought-after in this era.”For a young guy, Streety is bloody difficult to dismiss and that’s a great trait as an opening batsman,” Bailey said. “And the flow-on benefits of how hard it is to get him out is that his teammates are often the beneficiaries of his hard work, so we love the determination, we love the grit he brings.”Which of Nic Maddinson, Bryce Street, Matt Renshaw and Henry Hunt could break into the Test side?•Getty Images

Matt Renshaw

Renshaw made a terrific start to his Test career including a big century against Pakistan at the SCG in 2017, but has not played since being hastily called into the Johannesburg Test in early 2018 following the fallout from the ball-tampering scandal. He was in line to play against Pakistan in the UAE but suffered a concussion. A difficult couple of seasons followed and he was dropped from the Queensland side then took a break from the game. He has returned and reinvented himself into a middle-order batter with considerable success averaging 55.92 since the start of last season. The selectors have an eye on his skill against spin with the subcontinent tours scheduled for next year.”I think he’s worked his way really nicely into the start of this season, he looks really at home in that number five role and he’s an excellent player of spin,” Bailey said.However, speaking this week, former captain Steve Waugh said he thought Renshaw should return as an opening batter. “I don’t know why he is batting in the lower order because he did a great job for Australia opening He’s got a good technique but for some reason he is not the flavour of the day. But I thought he made an amazing Test debut under lights in Adelaide in difficult conditions. He scored slowly but survived. He hasn’t got the credits he deserves while playing. I wouldn’t rule him out.”

Nic Maddinson

Maddinson’s career has been rejuvenated by his move to Victoria where he has averaged 63.41 to put himself firmly in the frame for a Test recall having struggled during his first opportunity in 2016 (he made his debut in the same match as Renshaw). He was the closest of the Australia A group of batters to earning a place in the main squad. Chris Rogers, the Victoria coach, has spoken of the maturity Maddinson has brought to his game on and off the field, something further emphasised by his recent promotion to captain of Melbourne Renegades in the BBL. His innings of 87 against New South Wales earlier this season came in for significant acclaim in a match where few other batters could score as freely and he followed that with a century at the MCG. He has been troubled by the short ball during his career but has worked on that aspect of his game.”It’s one of those things, you get to the second half of your career and you start to probably look at things differently,” Rogers said this week. “You think more about your game, how you’re structuring your innings, all those kind of things. You probably balance your personal life out a bit as well. He just seems really calm, that’s the thing that stands out for me. From the innings I’ve seen this year he’s been completely calm from ball one, and he’s looked like a senior player, an old pro, and that doesn’t come easily.”

After almost two years, Shohei Ohtani made his return to the mound on Monday. Ohtani threw one inning in his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his first time pitching in a game since suffering a torn UCL in August of 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels.

In one inning against the San Diego Padres, Ohtani allowed two hits, one earned run and did not record any strikeouts. Though he planned to hit around 95-96 miles per hour with his fastball, he ended up reaching a high of 100.2 mph and threw multiple pitches in the high 90s during the inning. After pitching, Ohtani continued to help his team earn a 6-3 win by notching two hits and two RBIs on offense.

"Not quite happy with the results overall," Ohtani said through an interpreter after the game, via Alden Gonzalez of , "but I think the biggest takeaway for me is that I feel good enough to be able to go out for my next outing."

“My arm was moving a little too fast, so pitches were going more to the glove side than I anticipated,” Ohtani said, via Jack Harris of .

Ohtani additionally noted that the adrenaline heading into the game allowed him to reach 100 miles per hour, but by the end of his outing, he was able to dial in his pitches to the 95-96 mph range he was seeking heading into the game.

When asked if he plans to pitch again in a week, Ohtani said that that's the plan, but he will first see how his body reacts after the outing.

"That's my expectation, but I did hit 100 today, so I want to see first where my body feels and how it reacts," Ohtani said, via Gonzalez. "But the expectation is for me to go once a week, hopefully to be able to go a little longer every time I'm out there so that the bullpen won't be so taxed."

Mohammed Shami served a reminder of his fitness on Tuesday with a match-winning spell to deliver Bengal’s second consecutive win in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy.At Eden Gardens, Shami finished with 5 for 38 – his 13th first-class five-for – as Bengal beat Gujarat by 144 runs. He finished with eight wickets in the match across 28.3 overs. Shami currently sits third on the Ranji season’s wicket-taker’s leaderboard, with 15 wickets at an average of 10.46 after four innings.”When you perform like this, it feels good both mentally and physically,” Shami said. “Coming out of a difficult phase and performing well gives a lot of satisfaction. The time after the [2023] World Cup was tough and painful.Related

• Shami five-for leads Bengal to second win

“But then I played the Ranji Trophy, white-ball cricket, the IPL, Champions Trophy, Duleep Trophy [since his comeback late last year]. Now my rhythm is back to where it was before. I can clearly feel there’s still a lot of cricket left in me.”Shami has been open about his hurt of missing out on India selection for the England tour. When asked during the squad announcement for the West Indies Tests about Shami’s availability, chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that the fast bowler hadn’t played enough cricket.Since then, there have been a few back-and-forths in the media between the two, even if not directly at each other. It’s perhaps with all this in context that Shami was asked if this felt like another comeback, a suggestion he dismissed.”This was not a comeback match for me,” he said. “If you had said that last year, maybe it would have made sense. But yes, in terms of this match, what we did was a special comeback.”We decided to bat for 8-10 overs today, we had already taken three points [first-innings lead]. The situation was tough, but the boys put in their full effort. To turn the game in this manner is rare, especially on this kind of wicket. It’s a great job by the boys.”Amid chatter that this sets him up well for the South Africa Tests, Shami chose to distance himself from social media speculation, while reiterating he was focused on delivering his best wherever he plays.”Yes, I knew this question would come,” Shami said with a wry smile. “Controversy follows me. What else can I do or say? In today’s world, social media twists everything. My job is to perform well. Wherever I get an opportunity, I’ll give my best. The rest is up to god. Bengal is my home. Every match I play for Bengal is special.”Coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla was effusive in his praise for Shami’s discipline, underlining he was fully fit and in great rhythm.”You all saw how Shami bowled. There’s nothing for me to add,” he said. “His performance said it all. There’s no question about his commitment. The entire world knows what Mohammed Shami is. He doesn’t need a certificate from anyone, his bowling is the certificate. He’s completely fit.”That said, Shukla also wanted to tread a cautious path in terms of Shami’s workloads. “We can’t make Shami play all seven matches, though he keeps saying he’s fit and wants to play every game,” he said. “The way he’s running in is unbelievable.”If you compare his run-up and rhythm from when he played for India with now, you won’t find any difference. Even after 500 wickets, he’s in fantastic rhythm. He’s playing with complete calmness now.”

أكد محمد الشناوي، حارس مرمى وقائد النادي الأهلي، على جاهزية الفريق واستعداده بشكل جيد لمبارة شبيبة القبائل الجزائري التي تجمع الفريقين، في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويلتقى الأهلي مع شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، مساء غد السبت، في إطار الجولة الأولى من مواجهات دور المجموعات للبطولة الإفريقية.

وقال الشناوي خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الذي عقد اليوم في استاد القاهرة: “تعودنا على التركيز الشديد، ونعرف أهمية وقيمة المباراة ونسعى إلى تحقيق الفوز، خاصة أن الفريق حصل على دفعة معنوية بعد الحصول على كأس السوبر وعقب نهاية فترة الأجندة الدولية”.

وأضاف: “الأهلي يتواجد في مجموعة متوازنة وجاهز لمواجهة أي فريق، ومن يرغب في الحصول على اللقب، عليه أن يكون جاهزا لمواجهة الجميع”.

طالع | ييس توروب يوضح موقف إمام عاشور من مباراة شبيبة القبائل

وأكمل: “تركيز الفريق كبير أمام منافس يملك خبرات عديدة ونتعامل مع كل مباراة بشكل مستقل، ومنذ العودة إلى التدريبات الجماعية، هناك اهتمام بكل التفاصيل وهدفنا الفوز في مباراة الغد”.

ويتواجد النادي الأهلي في المجموعة الثانية من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، مع أندية شبيبة القبائل والجيش الملكي المغربي ويانج أفريكانز التنزاني.

Neymar issued a public apology after conceding a controversial penalty in a game that has kept Santos in a relegation dogfight. The Brazilian superstar was in action on Wednesday evening against Mirassol. An eventful outing saw him open the scoring inside four minutes, before being responsible for presenting Serie A rivals with an opportunity to level the scores.

Drop zone: Neymar trying to steer Santos towards safety

While turning from hero to villain in the space of an hour, Neymar was able to help Santos to what could be another priceless point. Their meeting with Mirassol ended 1-1. Stalemate on home soil has put little distance between them and the drop zone, but a one-point advantage continues to be held over Vitoria.

Santos sit 16th in the table, with collective heads just above water. They have just four fixtures left to take in this season. Neymar will be desperate to see them to safety, as questions continue to be asked of his future.

AdvertisementEventful outing: Neymar scored & conceded a penalty

The 33-year-old returned to his roots in January, with a second stint at his boyhood club being agreed after seeing his lucrative contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal torn up. Having spent 12 months on the sidelines with ACL damage, injury issues have been difficult to shake in South America.

Neymar has, however, figured in Santos’ last four fixtures and remains a talismanic presence. He got them off to the perfect start against Mirassol. He also thought that a chance to step up to the spot himself had been earned when Alvaro Barreal was felled inside the area. The referee awarded a spot-kick, but Santos’ Argentine striker was offside.

Neymar was then involved in more penalty drama on the hour mark. Reinaldo took a tumble under pressure from Neymar, who swung a leg at the ball long after it had gone. The match referee was called to review the incident on a pitchside monitor.

He determined that Neymar’s challenge was reckless and poorly timed, as he kicked through the legs of Reinaldo. The Mirassol full-back stepped up from 12 yards himself and, despite Gabriel Brazao getting a touch to his effort, was able to bring the scores level.

Instagram

What Neymar said in penalty concession apology

The game finished tied, meaning that the points were shared. Neymar was happy enough with that outcome, but felt the need to apologise for his penalty concession on social media – with more questions being asked of the match officials in Brazilian football.

He posted on Instagram: “We face one of the best teams in the championship… We gave everything to try for victory and I think we deserved it a lot. Congratulations to the team and the fans who once again made it a beautiful party! We continue together at this final stage, every point, every detail will be important!

“Note: sorry about the penalty… There are so many different criteria that I don't even know what to say, just accept! THE FIGHT DOESN'T STOP, GO SANTOS !!”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettyNo.10 role & Messi reunion: What next for Neymar?

Carlo Ancelotti will have been among the interested observers of Neymar’s latest outing. The Italian coach, who has continued to overlook Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer when it comes to an international recall, has spoken of wanting to see Neymar deployed as a No.10 by his domestic employers.

He has said: “I think he needs to play more centrally, not as a winger, because wingers in today's football are players you need to help defensively as well. When you play a little more centrally, the defensive work is much less than when you play as a winger. And I also think that a very talented player, closer to the goal, has more opportunities to score goals. [False 9] could be his ideal position.”

That was the case for Neymar against Mirassol. Further appearances in that playmaking post will give him the chance to catch the eye. His contract is, however, running down towards free agency at the end of the calendar year.

Having been linked with other teams in South America, a reunion with former ‘MSN’ Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in MLS with Inter Miami has also been speculated on.

London Spirit held off the charge of Trent Rockets under lights at Lord’s to register their second win and throw The Hundred men’s competition wide open.The win takes them into a five-way tie at the top, while for Rockets, their hopes of peeling off a third consecutive run-chase to go outright top were dashed as Spirit held their nerve to clinch it by 21 runs.Despite the final winning margin, at the midway point of the Rockets’ chase the game was beautifully poised. Tom Banton and Joe Root had carved out 69 for the first wicket, with Banton having just launched Dan Worrall for an 89-metre six.But when Jamie Overton removed Banton in eccentric fashion, the opener angling a dab onto his own stumps to depart for 46, Spirit got to work. The next set, delivered by Worrall, swung the game decisively – David Willey and then Rehan Ahmed falling in the space of three balls, the latter clean-bowled by a beautiful away cutter.Five balls later, when Root mistimed his sweep shot against Liam Dawson to fall for 27, the Rockets had lost four wickets in 14 deliveries, all but ending their chances of hauling in a record chase at Lord’s in the Hundred. Some muscular hitting from Marcus Stoinis at the death was too little too late.Spirit’s pace attack of Overton, Worrall, Luke Wood and Richard Gleeson, who sent down this year’s fastest tournament delivery to date – a 94.1mph yorker – hunted brilliantly as a pack.With the bat, Jamie Smith was the star man for Spirit. Promoted to open he was irresistible, going to his half-century in 32 balls and sharing a 73-run partnership with Kane Williamson, the pair laying the platform for Ashton Turner to pump a quickfire 16-ball 30 at the death.Meerkat Match Hero Smith said: “It’s been difficult at times at home for us, so to come out here and get a win here in front of a fantastic crowd is really important and steps us on for the next few games we’ve got coming up here.”Our seamers took the pace off, and we used the ground dimensions really nicely, and most importantly we kept taking wickets, which stemmed the flow for them.”It’s nice to get some runs, especially on a new ground and playing for a new team. It’s good to start well, and we’ve got a quality team. I just need to keep building the relationships with the guys at the top of the order, David Warner and Kane Williamson, and the players we’ve got throughout.”

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed a double injury setback following their Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, with Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele both ruled out for several weeks. Hakimi suffered a severe ankle sprain after a reckless challenge, while Dembele sustained a calf issue. Both will be reassessed after the international break, heightening concern ahead of a congested fixture run.

PSG issue medical update after Bayern loss

PSG have confirmed that Hakimi and Dembele will be sidelined for several weeks following injuries sustained during the Champions League defeat to Bayern at the Parc des Princes. The match, which ended 2-1 in Bayern’s favour, proved costly beyond the scoreline as PSG lost two key starters before half-time.

Hakimi was forced off after suffering a severe sprain to his left ankle in first-half stoppage time, with PSG announcing the following day: "Achraf Hakimi has severely sprained his left ankle, which will leave him unavailable for several weeks.”

Minutes earlier, Dembele had already exited the field after signalling discomfort in his left calf immediately following what he believed to be the opening goal. He has “picked up an injury to his left calf and will therefore remain on the treatment table for the next few weeks,” according to the French side.

The club confirmed that detailed updates will arrive “after the international break,” leaving the timeline for both players’ returns uncertain.

AdvertisementAFPLuis Diaz challenge sparks fury and concern

Hakimi’s injury stemmed from a reckless tackle by Bayern winger Luis Daz in the closing moments of the first half. The Colombian initially received a yellow card, but after a VAR review, the referee upgraded it to a straight red due to the severity of contact and the dangerous twisting motion of Hakimi’s ankle.

The Moroccan right-back was visibly emotional as he was helped off the pitch, later confirming his determination to return quickly: "Falls are part of the journey, the comeback makes the difference. Thank you all for your messages."

Hakimi left the pitch in tears and could not put weight on his leg, he now faces a race against time to be fit for the Africa Cup of Nations, with Morocco set to open their tournament on December 21. The national team captain was expected to be one of the poster figures of the campaign.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany expressed his concern for the full-back post-match, saying: “I hope Hakimi recovers quickly. We know what it’s like to have an injured player in a match of this intensity.” Meanwhile, Colombian international Diaz posted soon after on Instagram: “Wishing Hakimi a quick return to the pitch.”

Another upset for Ballon d'Or winner Dembele

For Dembele, the injury represents another disruptive moment in an already stop-start season. The France forward had only recently returned from a six-week absence due to a hamstring issue sustained in September, and this latest calf injury threatens to derail his rhythm once more. The French superstar headed straight to the tunnel after being substituted, suggesting immediate concern from the medical staff.

This setback comes at a difficult time for PSG, who are also without Desire Doue and Nuno Mendes, stretching squad depth significantly during a crucial stage of their European campaign.

The timing of both injuries is far from ideal for PSG, as the European champions are balancing domestic title pressure with high Champions League expectations, but recent performances have shown signs of fatigue and inconsistency. Luis Enrique's team lacked sharpness against Bayern especially in defence, and losing two key starters only complicates matters.

Hakimi has been instrumental in PSG’s transitional play, while Dembele has slowly grown into Enrique’s tactical framework. Without them, the team may need to rely on less experienced or out-of-position replacements. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

AFPChallenges lies ahead for PSG

The upcoming Ligue 1 fixtures and remaining European group matches will test depth and adaptability, as they will hope both players can respond well to treatment after the international break. The club remain confident Hakimi will recover in time to feature at AFCON, but his status will depend on stability and swelling reduction. For Dembele, the key will be avoiding further muscular relapse.

PSG face Lyon next in Ligue 1 before returning to Champions League action in a demanding continental schedule. Enrique will need to reshape his lineup, rediscover rhythm, and keep the squad physically managed to avoid further setbacks.

MI handed franchise debuts to Bairstow and Gleeson in a knockout game

ESPNcricinfo staff30-May-20252:58

Moody: GT have a few more concerns than MI

Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians (MI) captain, has chosen to bat first in the IPL 2025 Eliminator against Gujarat Titans (GT).That decision came a day after Punjab Kings (PBKS) were bowled out for 101 after being sent in to bat in Qualifier 1 at the same venue, but a fresh pitch, with significantly less grass cover, is in use for Friday night’s game.Three players won new caps, with overseas players departing both teams on international duty. Jonny Bairstow and Richard Gleeson, who both have previous IPL experience, make their MI debuts, while Kusal Mendis, who comes into the GT side, makes his tournament debut.They replaced Ryan Rickelton and Will Jacks in the MI side, and Jos Buttler in the GT line-up.There were other changes too. With the frontline quick Gleeson replacing the batting allrounder Jacks, MI balanced their line-up by bringing in the seam-bowling allrounder Raj Bawa for the swing bowler Deepak Chahar, who may also still be recovering from the hamstring injury while bowling in MI’s last game against Punjab Kings. GT, meanwhile, brought in the spin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar for the seam-bowling allrounder Arshad Khan, possibly with dry-looking conditions in mind.Mumbai Indians: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Naman Dhir, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Raj Bawa, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Richard Gleeson.Impact subs: Krishnan Shrijith, Raghu Sharma, Robin Minz, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley.Gujarat Titans: 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 B Sai Sudharsan, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 M Shahrukh Khan, 5 Washington Sundar, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 R Sai Kishore, 9 Gerald Coetzee, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Prasidh Krishna.Impact subs: Sherfane Rutherford, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Jayant Yadav, Arshad Khan.

The 2026 World Cup will create a $4.5 billion sponsorship economy for the 13 cities in the United States and Canada set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a report by SponsorUnited released this week. The report provides a detailed look at how the cities fit within the broader sponsorship systems shaping North American sports.

Getty Images SportA World Cup lens on evolving sports sponsorship

Published annually, SponsorUnited’s Markets Report examines the shifting dynamics of sports sponsorship across key North American markets. This year’s edition applies a World Cup-focused perspective, targeting the cities hosting the 2026 tournament (Mexico will also have three host cities). 

Alongside major leagues such as MLS and NWSL, the report also covers NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA and major college conferences in each market. 

That broad scope highlights how the World Cup host cities are central to nearly half of North America’s team sports sponsorship revenue, which totals just more than $9 billion. In the past year, the host cities collectively attracted $725 million in new sponsorship investments, led by Los Angeles at $178 million, New York/New Jersey at $124 million and the San Francisco/Bay Area at $55 million.

AdvertisementHome-market sponsorship focus

The report reveals a pronounced home-market focus among top sponsors in those cities. Nearly 40 percent of the highest-spending sponsors allocate at least 75 percent of their sponsorship budgets to their respective markets.

Los Angeles leads with six such hyper-local investors, followed by Atlanta, Kansas City, and Miami with five each. These concentrated spenders tend to be unique local entities – regional banks, universities, or health systems – that dedicate virtually all their sponsorship dollars to their home markets.

Soccer’s rapid growth

Soccer currently accounts for just 9 percent of total team sponsorship revenue among U.S. professional sports in these markets, according to the report, but has grown at a 21 percent rate over the past three years. This growth is fueled in part by a 331 percent surge in branded social engagement, signaling increasing fan interaction and commercial opportunity.

Average sponsorship deal sizes vary widely across host cities, reflecting differing levels of market maturity and opportunity. Markets such as Los Angeles and New York/New Jersey boast average deal sizes around $750,000, while smaller to mid-sized markets –  Houston, Kansas City and Vancouver – have smaller but growing deal sizes ranging from $350,000 to $500,000.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportLooking ahead to 2026 and beyond

The report highlights how soccer’s rapid growth is complementing established sports markets, creating new avenues for brand engagement and investment ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

With the World Cup looming and some injuries impacting training, Mauricio Pochettino challenged to put puzzle together

AUSTIN, Texas – It's not quite a full-strength U.S. men's national team, but it's close. Mauricio Pochettino promised that this October camp would be the start of a whittling-down process for the World Cup. He's delivered. Save for a few injury absences, this USMNT is looking closer to complete as it features most of the team's big stars.

Antonee Robinson, for example, is back after close to a year-long absence. Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann and Cameron Carter-Vickers are back for the first time since the CONCACAF Nations League. Malik Tillman is healthy, too, after missing September. This approaching the A-team and, while that's great news, obviously, it also creates some tough selection decisions.

But late Injuries, meanwhile, could impact the XI, too, as Pochettino said Thursday that Robinson, Christian Pulisic and Alex Zendejas are all dealing with minor issues. Beyond that, after making a move to a three-at-the-back system last camp, Pochettino has some choices to make.

There are talented players to place in different spots. How does he sort between them? Which players fit where, and what pieces might need to move depending on tactics?

GOAL projects how the USMNT could line up on Friday against Ecuador.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  GK: Matt Freese

  Pochettino could go with the returning Matt Turner, it just depends on what message he wants to send. If Turner starts, it's a clear indication that the goalkeeping race is back on and that Freese isn't, in fact, the defacto leader. If Freese starts, it's a show of confidence in the NYCFC shotstopper that he's the guy – at least for now.

  Given the need to keep building Freese, it makes the most sense to roll with him and continue giving him the confidence and minutes needed to be a No. 1. Turner, then, could start then start next week against Australia, if  Pochettino desires.

Advertisement

• (C)Getty Images
  

  LWB: Max Arfsten

  There were already concerns about throwing Robinson in here given his recent injury history, but realistically, if he was to play minutes in either game, this would have made the most sense. He could then have more than a week to properly gear up for Fulham's match at Arsenal, keeping him on a one-game-per-week cadence as he builds back to fitness. 

  However, Robinson didn't work with the team in the final pre-game training session. As a result, don't expect Pochettino to risk him. Give Arfsten the minutes and see what happens for the match against Australia next Tuesday.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  CB: Tim Ream

  The most likely candidate to wear the captain's armband on Friday, Ream can once again start in one of those outside centerback spots in the back three. It's a great system for him, in truth, as it takes advantage of his passing and game-reading abilities while helping mask some of the miles that have been put on his legs over the years.

  Pochettino could, of course, mix things up with a younger option in this spot, but it's worth putting at least one more game of Ream in a back three on film before trying out other options. In that sense, it might as well be the tougher game of the two.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images
  

  CB: Chris Richards

  No need to over-explain this one. Richards is, quite possibly, the USMNT's most irreplaceable player. He's made himself a locked-in starter, whether that's in a back two or three. It would be surprising to see anyone else Richards anywhere else but in the starting XI on Friday.