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Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes fired Portugal ahead against Iceland on Sunday with a beautiful strike from the far corner of the box.

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Article continues below

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Portugal host Iceland in Euro 2024 qualifier Fernandes scores first-half openerPerfect response to Man Utd criticsWHAT HAPPENED?

Iceland were holding Portugal at 0-0 with half-time fast approaching in the Euro 2024 qualifying clash, only for Fernandes to pop up with a moment of brilliance to break the deadlock. He controlled a back-heel pass from Bernardo Silva out in front of him before unleashing a superb shot that flew into the far corner of the net, with Iceland goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson unable to get near the ball despite a full-stretch dive.

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Portugal were already safely through to next summer's European Championship, having won all of their opening nine games in Group J. Fernandes is now up to six goals and seven assists in qualifying outings, and appears to be saving his best performances for the international stage. The 29-year-old midfielder has faced criticism for his performances at Manchester United this season, with Erik ten Hag's side having slipped way off the pace in the Premier League – but supporters will hope he can transfer his form for Portugal back to his club ahead of a busy festive period.

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Getty ImagesWHAT'S NEXT FOR FERNANDES

Fernandes will likely return to Ten Hag's starting XI when United take on Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday. The Red Devils will then turn their attention to the Champions League, with a must-win encounter against Galatasaray on the cards.

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their pursuit of free agent centre-forward Jermain Defoe…

What’s the talk?

According to INews, the Black Cats have made contact with the player and are one of a number of EFL clubs attempting to sign him.

The report claims that he wants to continue playing until the end of the 2021/22 campaign and is seriously considering a deal to join Sunderland.

SOL rocking

Lee Johnson could get the Stadium of Light rocking with a deal to re-sign the attacker. Not only does he have a successful history with the club but he is also a recognised name in English football and has enjoyed a brilliant career for club and country.

This means that he would almost be a marquee signing in the sense of the fanfare that would come with it, irrespective of his age. In 93 games for Sunderland between 2014 and 2017, he plundered an impressive 37 goals and four assists, which is why fans would surely be over the moon to see him back as they were able to enjoy his immense goalscoring talents previously.

The English predator has scored 200 club career goals to date and found the back of the net 20 times for England at international level. This means that the Mackems could be bringing in a player who has 220 strikes to his name, with the majority coming at the top level for club and country.

Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson once dubbed him “wonderful” and his record in Scotland suggests that he still has something to offer on the pitch at the age of 39. He managed 32 goals and ten assists in 74 games for the Gers, showing that he still has what it takes to be a regular goalscorer.

Therefore, he could bolster Johnson’s squad and score a few goals in League One to help the club with their promotion push back to the Championship. Fans would surely be buzzing to see him back in red and white after his previous spell with the club and the stands will be rocking if he comes in and has an impact on the season, as his statistics suggest that he will be able to do.

He was also part of the coaching set-up at Ibrox before Giovanni van Bronckhorst came in and brought in his own staff. This means that he could come in and play his part on the pitch before potentially retiring and taking up a coaching role at the club moving forward.

AND in other news, Alan Nixon drops Sunderland transfer claim that will leave fans gutted…

Thursday was a day for drum beats and celebrations at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata

Anand Vasu15-Mar-2001Thursday was a day for drum beats and celebrations at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. India beat Australia by 171 runs in one of most thrilling Test matches of all times and levelled the three-match series with one game to play. At the end of the second day, India were down and out, able to make just 171 in their first innings. In a knock of 281, described by Steve Waugh as “some of the best batting I have ever seen”, VVS Laxman galvanised the Indians.It has been long since an Indian has taken the attack to the opposition in such strident fashion. Laxman stood up and delivered the goods when it was most needed – the hallmark of a true champion surely. But wait, let us not forget Rahul Dravid, who shared a 376-run partnership with Laxman on the way to making a belligerent 180. Let us not also discount Steve Waugh’s magnificent hundred – his first on Indian soil. And then there is Harbhajan Singh, who with match figures of 13/196, including a hat-trick, would have been the man of the match on almost any other day. Then again, this historic win, after being asked to follow on, would never have been possible if not for Laxman.Looking for that elusive triple hundred Laxman perished early in themorning, slashing hard at a short and wide ball from Glenn McGrath to be caught by Ricky Ponting in the gully region. Laxman’s 281 came in over 10 and a half hours. When the Hyderabadi was dismissed, the roar that went up showed how much his innings meant to the crowd at the Eden Gardens. If this were the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad, his home town, the cheers wouldn’t have been louder or the ovation more heartfelt. Unfortunately for Laxman, he did not add to his tally of 44 boundaries. When the fifth wicket partnership finally broke, the Dravid-Laxman pair had added a mammoth 376.Dravid then moved on to 180 (444 mins, 353 balls, 21 fours) before being run out in a bid to push the scoring rate. By then, however, Dravid’s dismissal was inconsequential with India leading by a huge margin. Dravid’s innings too was an important one, coming at a time when the middle order bat had lost his number three slot. Signalling the end of a lean patch, Dravid came to India’s rescue. Zaheer Khan (23 not out) used the long handle to good effect and India declared their innings closed on 657/7, equalling the second highest ever second innings total in Test cricket. The highest, 671/4 declared, made by the Kiwis at home against the touring Lankans was a bit too far away to go for. The other time the same score was made, was by Pakistan against the West Indies at Bridgetown in 1957-58, albeit for the loss of one more wicket.Set a tough target of 384 off 75 overs, the Australians went about their task most methodically. Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater combined well to blunt the early efforts of the Indians. However, as is often the case on a fifth day wicket, it wasn’t to last forever. Slater (43) was undone by a Harbhajan Singh off break – he was the first, but certainly not the last to perish in that manner.Mark Waugh, whose dream was a double hundred on Indian soil, disappointed once more. The elegant middle order batsman was trapped plumb in front by an arm ball from left arm spinner Venkatapathi Raju before he could get off the mark. With Justin Langer having left earlier, the Australians were 116/3 and the Indians began to sense a window of opportunity.The safest batsman in the world in these kinds of situation, Steve Waugh, joined Hayden out in the middle. Stroking the ball well around the park, the pair added 50 for the fourth wicket. Then the procession began. Let off by Ganguly just before the tea interval, Steve Waugh repeated his mistake, turning the ball around the corner. The second time around however, the man at backward short leg was the agile Hemang Badani. Moving to his natural side, the left, Badani snapped up a smart catch, sending the Australian captain on his way. Steve Waugh’s 24 helped boost Australian hopes, but did not do enough for the team total.As expected, the fall of the captain’s wicket boosted the Indian morale no end. For its part, the crowd too began to get squarely behind the Indian team. With the score on 166, Ricky Ponting followed his captain back to the pavilion. Attempting an awkward sweep shot, Ponting presented Das with a simple catch at forward short leg. From 166/3 Australia slumped to 174/8, losing five wickets in a 32-ball period that yielded just eight runs.Adam Gilchrist, having won all 15 Test matches he has played, was brought down to earth in his sixteenth. Trapped leg before wicket by Tendulkar off the very first ball he faced, the Aussie stumper bagged a ‘King’s pair’. Matthew Hayden (67 runs, 199 mins, 119 balls, 6 fours) played all over a Tendulkar full toss and was adjudged lbw. Tendulkar was not done yet. Bowling a perfectly pitched googly the Indian batting maestro had Shane Warne trapped plumb in front.In deep trouble, with an almost full-strength crowd lusting for an Indian victory, the Australian fast bowlers attempted to resist the Indian spinners. For a time they did. Not nearly long enough though. When Glenn McGrath shouldered arms to Harbhajan Singh and umpire SK Bansal’s finger went up for the fifth time in the day, it was all over. Scuttling Australia for 212, India had won by 171 runs. For the third time in the history of the game a team had won after being asked to follow on. Surprisingly enough, Australia has been at the losing end of all those matches. The first instance was way back in 1894-95 when Australia unsuccessfully enforced the follow on against the touring England side at Sydney. The second time was in Headingley in 1981 with England being let off the hook. Today, India got its name on that elite list.There was a mad rush for souvenir stumps out in the middle. In the stands the bedlam was much more frenzied. Every placard, poster and piece of paper was on fire. The scenes today could have only been bettered in the bull-rings of old, where gladiators fought each other to death. There was no death here at the Eden Gardens. But those fortunate enough to be present witnessed several rebirths. Harbhajan Singh with 13/196 and a hat-trick has cemented his place in the side. Vangipurappu Venkat Sai Laxman with 281, the highest Test score by an Indian, has made the number three slot his own. Rahul Dravid with 180 has rediscovered form that gave him the nickname “The Wall”.Most importantly, Indian cricket has once more found the will to beat the best side in the world and stamp its authority on world cricket.

West Bromwich Albion had a game to forget today against Cardiff City at the Hawthorns, with an explosive ending to the clash when the final whistle prompted chaos from the bench, as Valerien Ismael ran onto the pitch to criticise a decision made on a penalty shout in the last moments.

Ismael’s furious reaction to the referee’s decision not to give a penalty in favour of the home side, ensued chaos on the pitch as both West Brom and Cardiff City players engaged in a brawl, that saw Sam Johnstone and Aden Flint receive red cards.

Newly returned Alex Mowatt was handed a straight red card earlier in the encounter after a challenge on Will Vaulks that put Albion down to ten men in the 76th minute, but the side were able to hold Cardiff City to a 1-1 draw, thanks to an early second half goal from Callum Robinson.

One player who had a shocking performance for the Baggies was 18-year-old, Tom Fellows, who failed to make a positive impact on the team during his time in his attacking position today.

According to SofaScore, Fellows lost 75% of his duels and only touched the ball 15 times during his entire 65 minutes on the pitch which was almost five times less than his attacking partner Karlan Grant.

The young forward would have been attempting to emulate the fantastic impression his fellow youth academy starter Taylor Gardner-Hickman has had during his opportunities in the first team.

However, Fellows failed to get going in the game and failed to cause any kind of attacking threat with 0 shots on or off target, and 0 key passes, clearly failing to impress the manager who took him off the pitch 20 minutes into the second half.

The Baggies have now failed to register a win in their last three games, and are losing traction on their grasp for a promotion spot as they miss yet another opportunity to close the gap with Blackburn Rovers, Fulham and Bournemouth, with Fulham in particular still holding two games in hand after having their fixtures postponed.

Ismael will now be without his goalkeeper and a midfielder for three games thanks to their red cards and will need to take a closer look at the problems this West Brom side seem to be having this season, with the opportunity to look to the transfer window for improvement in their pursuit for promotion.

Craig Hope has now dropped an insider claim on reported Newcastle United transfer target Lloyd Kelly.

The Lowdown: Kelly targeted

It has already been widely reported that the St. James’ Park faithful are interested in a move for Kelly in the January transfer window.

With Kieran Trippier being officially announced by the club on Friday morning, it now looks as if the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium will concentrate on strengthening their defence further, given their poor defensive record in the Premier League so far this season.

The reliable Mark Douglas has confirmed the Magpies want a centre-back and a striker after the capture of Trippier.

The Latest: Kelly latest

As per The Daily Mail’s Hope, it ‘sounds like’ it could now be ‘difficult’ for the North East club to do a deal for Kelly this month, as Bournemouth are reluctant to sell him while they are going for promotion.

Eddie Howe ‘likes’ the player, but it looks like he may now have to look elsewhere for other targets.

The Verdict: Shame

It would certainly be a shame if the Tyneside outfit miss out on signing Kelly.

Of course, he is a player that Howe knows well, having signed him for the Cherries while he was the manager there, and he then went on to play nine games under him in an injury-hit campaign.

Nonetheless, Howe would know how to get the best out of him, and his ability to play anywhere across the backline would have been a real asset to have, adding depth in multiple positions.

However, it looks like the new owners will now have to look at other targets in what promises to be a very busy next few weeks ahead.

In other news, find out who is now on NUFC’s ‘radar’ here!

Andy Blignaut is set to return to international cricket after a hiatus of almost five years after he was included in Zimbabwe’s squad for the World Twenty20 in West Indies.

Cricinfo staff26-Mar-2010Andy Blignaut is set to return to international cricket after a hiatus of almost five years after he was included in Zimbabwe’s squad for the World Twenty20 in West Indies.His inclusion completes a remarkable return by Blignaut, 31, who was one of the ‘rebel’ cricketers whose row with Zimbabwe’s cricket board resulted in the sacking of 15 senior white players in 2004. He subsequently returned to the side, and had been tipped as a potential national captain, but then walked out again in 2006 over after a disagreement about money owed to him by the board.Blignaut hinted at a possible comeback in January this year, and after his fitness had been assessed by the Matabeleland Tuskers franchise he returned to action in Zimbabwe’s domestic Twenty20 competition, striking 111 runs in four innings at an average of 37.00 and a strike rate of 133.73, including a matchwinning half century on his return to competitive cricket. He was then included in a provisional squad for Zimbabwe’s tour of the West Indies, but didn’t make the final touring party.The 15-man group also includes batsman Craig Ervine, the younger brother of former national player Sean Ervine, who has returned to Zimbabwe but is still tied to a contract with Hampshire. Shingi Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri, who were both members of the Zimbabwe side that toured the West Indies in March, have not been included in the squad.Masakadza played in only one international game on the tour, taking two wickets in the final over of the second ODI in Guyana to set up a tense two-run win on his international debut. Despite good returns in domestic cricket, Matsikenyeri was woefully out of form on the tour, scoring just 42 runs in six innings.Chamu Chibhabha also returns to the national set-up, being reward for his sparkling Twenty20 form for the Southern Rocks. He was the second-highest run scorer in this season’s Twenty20 tournament, racking up 230 runs at 57.50, including three fifties.With Zimbabwe seeking to bolster their sparse fast-bowling resources as they build towards a return to Test cricket, Tendai Chatara, the Zimbabwe Under-19 opening bowler, will travel with the team to the West Indies to gain some experience of cricket at higher levels, and will play in a four-day match against West Indies A, starting on April 16, before returning home.The World Twenty20 tournament, which begins on April 30, will also see new coach Alan Butcher take control of the side for the first time. Zimbabwe are grouped with Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the competition, and begin their campaign with a game against the Sri Lankans at the Providence stadium in Guyana on May 3.Zimbabwe squad Prosper Utseya (capt), Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, Andy Blignaut, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Greg Lamb, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Ray Price, Graeme Cremer, Chamu Chibhabha, Chris Mpofu, Timycen Maruma, Craig Ervine

Leeds United suffered yet another heavy defeat on Saturday evening as they lost 4-1 at home to Arsenal, just four days after being battered 7-0 by Manchester City.

Marcelo Bielsa is facing an injury crisis right now with numerous key players on the sidelines, including Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford, who were both instrumental in their successful 2020/21 season.

However, it doesn’t excuse some of the defending that has been on show, with versatile full-back Stuart Dallas facing the media after the City defeat.

“There was individual mistakes that cost us tonight [Tuesday] and you can’t get away with that at this level, especially when you’re coming to a team like this,” said the Northern Irishman. “[We’re] just devastated. It’s not good enough from us.”

Dallas particularly struggled at Elland Road on Saturday night, with 90min’s Tom Gott describing the defender as “completely off the pace and guilty of so many huge errors”.

The 30-year-old hasn’t missed a single minute of Premier League action this term, making him a reliable option in terms of maintaining his fitness. However, Leeds have failed to match the standards they set last season, and Dallas’ regular inclusion could arguably prove to be a catalyst for that.

Having a versatile option like him will be of great use to Bielsa, who has deployed the £3.6m-rated ace at both left-back and right-back, as well as across the midfield. Despite being an ever-present in the Argentine’s line-up, he hasn’t contributed an assist since the opening day of the season and is yet to score in the 2021/22 campaign.

This is a stark contrast from last term, when the Northern Irishman scored eight goals and set up another two as he missed just nine minutes of Premier League football, albeit in a better-performing Leeds team.

Furthermore, Leeds have conceded 36 goals this term – only 19th-placed Newcastle have shipped more, and a common factor in all of their games this season is the continued presence of Dallas.

United’s weak underbelly has been particularly exposed of late, with the Whites conceding 16 goals in their last four games, an average of four goals per match.

Bielsa is unlikely to drop Dallas, with the 30-year-old a mainstay under the 66-year-old. However, he will need to find a solution immediately, as otherwise the Yorkshire club are going to miss out on available points at a crucial point in the season. Maybe the time has come for the manager to end the utility man’s ever-present status in the current Premier League campaign.

In other news – Forget Ayling: £15.3m-rated dud who made one tackle was Leeds’ villain on Saturday

Scott Styris has said his 34-ball 49 ranks high in his list of best innings, for it came in a crucial series against the world’s best opposition in the 50-over format

Cricinfo staff03-Mar-2010Scott Styris, New Zealand’s match-winner in a thrilling opening fixture in Napier in the five-match ODI series against Australia, has said his 34-ball 49 ranks high in his list of best innings, for it came in a crucial series against the world’s best opposition in the 50-over format. Styris’ knock helped New Zealand chase down 276; he smashed a six off the second ball of the 50th over to seal a two-wicket victory.”I’d have to say it rates pretty highly, because any time you can be the guy at the end and win a game you’ve obviously got to be happy,” Styris said after the game. “When you couple that with the fact that it’s Australia, the No 1 team in the world, it’s even better.”Dan (Vettori) has said this series will define how New Zealand’s gone this summer, so to get the guys up and hopefully win this series is a great feeling.” Styris, who had been ignored for the home series against Bangladesh, was not meant to be in the playing 11 but came in as a last-minute replacement for Vettori, who sat out due to a neck injury.”I was a little bit rusty to start with. I haven’t had an innings for a couple of weeks so it took me a little bit to get going but the wicket out here was top drawer and great for batting, and thankfully once the Powerplay came I was able to get my shots away,” he told Radio Sport. “To win back-to-back games, albeit in different versions of the game, is a good start for us. Hopefully they know they’ve got a contest now and we’re here to play.”The victory also marked a successful beginning as captain for Ross Taylor. He was named Man of the Match for his 70, which, laced with six fours and a six, set up New Zealand’s chase.”I’m retiring now,” he quipped. “I got a text from Dan about 10.45am saying ‘I’m a bit iffy, you might be captain’, so I started getting ready then but I still thought he would be okay. I didn’t really know the extent his neck was playing up. I’m pretty happy with the result.”Ricky Ponting admitted a total of 275 was inadequate on a ground with short boundaries. “I probably felt all night we were just a little bit behind,” Ponting told Sky Sports. “I didn’t think 275 was enough runs on that wicket. The ground is so small and the wicket was very good right through the game.”Australia had an unbeaten summer at home, but have now been beaten in two consecutive games – they were on the receiving end of a Super Over defeat in the second Twenty20 international against New Zealand. “It’s never nice to lose a game,” Ponting said. “But any loss you have, you always learn more from a loss than a win, so we’ve got to look at what we did wrong tonight and make sure we train better leading up to the next game.”That’s the important thing now. I’ve just had a quick chat with the guys in there about the way we executed things tonight and just some of our shortcomings. It’s up to the group now to respond well.”

Virender Sehwag, the Indian opener, has said he aims to play 100 Tests before his retirement and wishes to bat at No.4, even though he may have to wait until Sachin Tendulkar, who occupies that slot, ends his career

Cricinfo staff19-Feb-2010Virender Sehwag, the Indian opener, has said he “would love” to bat at No.4, even though he may have to wait until Sachin Tendulkar, who occupies that slot, ends his career. Sehwag was speaking at the ESPNcricinfo Awards ceremony in Jaipur, where he won the prize for best Test innings for the second year running. His audacious 293 against Sri Lanka in Mumbai was chosen over four other nominations shortlisted for the award.”I would love to bat at number four. I know I would not get that till Sachin retires. But I can wait,” Sehwag said, despite his enormous success at the top of the order. “I still would like to bat in the middle order. It’s difficult to field one-and-half days and then come out to bat in 10 minutes. When you bat at No. 6 like (MS) Dhoni, it allows you some rest. I have been successful as an opener but who knows, maybe I would have been more successful in the middle order.”Sehwag’s brutal innings against Sri Lanka included 40 fours and seven sixes, and set up an innings win for India, propelling them to the No.1 ranking in Tests. He had tremendous success in 2009 – an average of 108.98 in six Tests – and in the four Tests he’s played this year, he’s already managed two centuries. Sehwag said his form would only get better in the years to come. “I’m 31 and I think I’m playing well. And I would get only better in the next three-four years.”Sehwag defended his naturally aggressive approach to batting, saying there were risks involved even if he opted to play more cautiously. “People say I take too many risks. But the fact is, there is risk involved in every shot. You can get out trying to defend a ball as well. At times, people tell me to leave ball outside the off-stump. But some of them can jag back and get you out if you don’t play shots. I think if you think so much, you simply cannot bat,” he said.”In my case, it would become risky if I try to become defensive, since my technique is not that good. I think in a different way. When I grew up, I tried to score off every ball, be it a 10-over-match, a 20-over or even a Test match. If I stay in the wicket for say about 30 minutes, I want to make the most of it and score maximum runs possible. You never know when you get out, try to score as much possible before that.”Sehwag added he wished to play 100 Tests for India before retiring from the format. “I want to play 100 Test matches and once I have done that, I may retire from Test cricket,” he said.

Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur ‘insider’/club source John Wenham, who consistently breaks club news on his Lilywhites Rose channels, has made a stadium naming rights claim.

The Lowdown: Spurs in lucrative hunt…

Since the club finally moved to their brand new, state of the art £850 million ground in 2019 – much has been made on chairman Daniel Levy’s hunt for a lucrative naming rights deal.

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Indeed, reports have suggested that the club have been holding out for a £25 million-per-year agreement as club chiefs lead by Levy personally hold talks with blue chip companies (Football Insider).

Big brands like Amazon and Nike were linked with a deal in 2020 but Spurs have still yet to find a buyer nearly two years after they set the reported £25m price tag (The Telegraph).

Tottenham even appointed chief commercial offer Todd Kline earlier this year in a bid to accelerate progress, a former NFL executive credited with helping to a secure a £180m stadium naming rights deal for the Miami Dolphins (The Evening Standard).

The Latest: Wenham makes naming rights claim…

Speaking to FI, sharing what he knows on the situation, club ‘insider’/source has made a claim in backing of Levy’s eagerness to tie up a deal – going to say Spurs are still working on it ‘in the background’.

“We are still waiting on the stadium naming rights deal,” he explained.

“That’s massive. We are holding out for a super-deal of something like £20million over 20 years.

“There is £400million straight away. Let’s just keep an eye on that one.

“I know the stadium naming rights thing is going on in the background.

“The club could accept a deal tomorrow, they want this massive deal.

“When it gets sorted and is announced, it will be significant. We have been waiting on it for years.”

The Verdict: Big priority…

As Spurs announce pre-tax losses of £80.2m for the last financial year ending June 2021, taking their overall club debt to a seismic £706m in total (The Guardian), the club’s hunt for a lucrative sponsorship contract could not be more imperative.

Reports have suggested in recent months that finding a buyer and putting Tottenham’s near 24-month long quest for an agreement is the board’s ‘priority’ off-field as they seek to address a big financial issue.

This could feasibly translate to the field as new manager Antonio Conte aims to strengthen in the transfer market and reshape the side in his own image.

The Italian will need backing to do so and a Spurs stadium naming rights deal could certainly alleviate financial constraints to a huge degree.

As the search continues ‘in the background’, Conte may be hoping the saga gets concluded as soon as possible.

In other news: Eight players now safe from Spurs axe after impressing Conte behind the scenes, find out more here.