Tag Futebol

When Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman entered Game 7 of the World Series in the eighth inning on Saturday night, Toronto was up 4-3 over the Dodgers. He needed four outs to seal the championship win for his team—that’s a lot of pressure.

In the ninth inning He delivered a quick strikeout of Enrique Hernández for the first out, then on a 3-2 count, Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas hit a 387-foot home run to tie the game. Hoffman then got the final two outs of the inning to give Toronto the opportunity to win in the bottom of the ninth, but he still felt like he failed in his closing position.

The Dodgers went on to win 5-4 in the 11th inning, and Hoffman felt the weight of the loss, telling reporters afterward that he feels like he “cost” the team the World Series title.

“It sucks,” Hoffman said after the game. “Supposed to end differently. Was just one pitch. I cost everybody here a World Series ring. It feels pretty s—ty.”

Obviously the loss can’t be blamed on just one person, there were plenty of late mistakes made by the Blue Jays in Game 7, but Hoffman was understandably emotional after the loss. It’s going to be a tough inning to sit with all offseason.

Rafael Devers didn't wait long to collect his first hit and RBI as a member of the San Francisco Giants.

Just three days after his surprising trade from the Boston Red Sox to the Giants, and hours after being introduced as a Giant, Devers was penciled into San Francisco's lineup as the clubs's designated hitter on Tuesday night against the Cleveland Guardians.

Devers struck out on in his first at-bat of the game, but received a hero’s welcome from the fans at Oracle Park.

He later sent the crowd into a frenzy when he broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI double in the bottom of the third inning.

Devers delivered again in the bottom of the ninth inning, hitting a single to put two men on base with the Giants trailing by a single run.

Unfortunately, the Giants couldn’t complete the comeback, falling to the Guardians 3–2.

Whether hearing the team news over the tannoy in the stadium or seeing the line-up graphics revealed on their television screens, there are likely to be many England fans who encounter some unfamiliar names when watching the Lionesses play their final two matches of 2025 over the course of this next week – and they can certainly be forgiven.

With household names such as Leah Williamson, Hannah Hampton, Alex Greenwood and Lauren James all missing from Sarina Wiegman's squad for friendlies against China and Ghana, the England boss has been forced to continue what she also had to do for  November games with Brazil and Australia and call upon some fresh and inexperienced faces. It means there are five uncapped players involved in this camp, on top of the five players still in single digits for senior international appearances, all of whom will be hoping to impress as attention begins to turn towards the 2027 Women's World Cup.

Of course, stars like Lucy Bronze, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo remain in the fold, while Lauren Hemp's return from injury is great news as England close out a monumental year that saw them retain their European Championship title. But who are the lesser known members of this Lionesses' squad who could get a chance this week?

Let GOAL introduce you to those hoping to take advantage of this opportunity and force their way into Wiegman's plans before World Cup qualifying starts in the New Year…

• Getty Images
  

  Sophie Baggaley

  For dedicated followers of the Women's Super League, Sophie Baggaley won't be a new name. The 28-year-old has racked up over 100 appearances in the English top-flight over the course of the last decade, holding starting gigs with Birmingham, Bristol City and Brighton, while also occupying a back-up role at Manchester United when Mary Earps was the Red Devils' No.1.

  During that time, Baggaley has earned a few England call-ups, too, with her first coming back in 2016 when she was a 19-year-old impressing in the youth national teams. Still uncapped, Baggaley has dropped down the pecking order in the years since, but is clearly seen by Wiegman as a trusty option to have in the squad when necessary, as evidenced by her role as a standby player for Euro 2025.

  When Hampton had to miss last month's clash with Brazil, Wiegman again turned to Baggaley to restock the goalkeeping department, and with the Lionesses' undisputed No.1 absent for this camp, it is the Brighton shot-stopper who again has an opportunity to impress. However, given she is spending this season as the Seagulls' second-choice, following Chiamaka Nnadozie's summer arrival, it's hard to see Baggaley winning that elusive England cap right now, with Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse more likely to get an opportunity apiece this week.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Taylor Hinds

  Left-back has been a problem position for England for almost all of Wiegman's time in charge but, last month, she turned to an unexpected option to potentially help solve that issue.

  After coming up through the Lionesses' youth teams but never earning senior recognition, Taylor Hinds won her first cap for Jamaica last year. Yet, she was still eligible to switch allegiances back, something Wiegman persuaded her to do when she called the Arsenal defender up ahead of the October international break. In the second game of that window, a friendly against Australia, Hinds made her senior England debut.

  Though she had not broken into the Lionesses' fold until just recently, Hinds has carved out a very solid club career to date. After coming through the ranks at Arsenal, she joined Everton in search of senior minutes and swapped the blue side of Merseyside for red three years later, signing for Liverpool. It was there that she would really establish herself in the WSL, playing as a wing-back as well as an orthodox full-back while also emerging as a real leader, regularly wearing the armband for the Reds having become their vice-captain.

  This summer, Hinds went back to where it all started, joining Arsenal on a free transfer. She struggled for game time at first, battling with Katie McCabe for opportunities on the left, but has began to accrue more minutes as of late. That will be music to the ears of Wiegman and an England side that would be helped massively if Hinds can mark herself out as a strong option for the European champions at left-back. There is a real opportunity for her to become an important player for the Lionesses, if she can take it.

• Getty Images
  

  Grace Fisk

  Centre-back is so often England's most well-stocked position, but it is significantly depleted this time around, with Williamson still injured, Millie Bright recently retired, Greenwood missing out with a knock and Jess Carter granted a period of rest following the NWSL play-offs. It leaves Esme Morgan, the 25-year-old with 18 caps, as the most established option, meaning there could be an opportunity for Grace Fisk to finally earn that elusive first England cap.

  The Liverpool defender earned her first Lionesses call-up way back in February 2020, when Phil Neville included her in the squad for the SheBelieves Cup in the United States. However, it wasn't until last month that she returned to the fold – for the first time under Wiegman – amid the absences of Williamson, Bright and Lotte Wubben-Moy.

  After making her senior breakthrough in England's second-tier, Fisk has been a regular in the WSL since returning home following her time in the U.S. college system. That was first with West Ham, whom she represented when she won that maiden Lionesses call-up, and is now with Liverpool. The Reds aren't having a great season, with two points from eight games putting them bottom of the table, but Fisk has been one of their better players and will hope to prove her quality in England colours this week.

  Wiegman is expected to rotate, and given she only has four centre-backs to pick from, that could be good news for 27-year-old Fisk. Taking advantage of any chance she receives will be vital if she wants to remain in the mix ahead of the next World Cup, too, as she plays in a position that, when injuries are alleviated, is perhaps the most competitive in the whole squad.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images
  

  Anouk Denton

  After winning her first senior England call-up last month, Anouk Denton has retained her place in the squad. The 22-year-old moved from the Under-23s squad to the senior one midway through the last international break, amid some niggles and the rebuilding of fitness Bronze and Niamh Charles were undergoing. She didn't play in the Lionesses' game with Australia that followed, but Denton clearly did enough to impress Wiegman, having kept her spot this time around.

  Denton has been a consistently impressive, though under-the-radar, performer for West Ham ever since she joined them on a permanent deal back in 2022, having spent time on loan from Arsenal before going to the United States for university. Able to play as a right-back or a left-back, Denton's effectiveness on both sides of the ball has caught the eye, as has her athleticism, which has also allowed her to be utilised as a wing-back.

  Bronze has the right-back spot nailed down in this England XI, but there is a lack of natural options to back her up. If she can continue to impress, Denton can help to address that, while also offering a solution in that problematic left-back position. Her first chance to do that in match action could well come this week.

Adil Rashid four-for ensures New Zealand fall well short in chase of 237

Vithushan Ehantharajah20-Oct-2025

Phil Salt and Harry Brook combined to blow New Zealand out of the water in the second T20I, as England sealed a dominant 65-run win in Christchurch to take an insurmountable 1-0 lead in this three-match series.Both Salt (85 off 56 balls) and Brook (78 off 35) were independently brutal but came together in devastating fashion with a partnership of 129 from just 69 deliveries. England’s 236 for 4 was a new record T20I score at Hagley Oval, comfortably bumping off the previous best of 208 with 10 balls still to go in their innings. New Zealand were eventually dismissed for 171 with two overs to spare.Mitchell Santner’s decision to bowl first upon winning the toss was a case of rinse-and-repeat; both teams opting for the same XIs after Saturday’s washout in the first T20I. Unfortunately for the Black Caps skipper, this was a truer surface than the one which saw England scrape to 153 for 6.Drier with more pace, Santner’s bowlers were up against it from the off, with all six used posting double-figure economy rates. They were not helped by two dropped catches that would have given them a more realistic target.The one that mattered more gave Brook a life on 40, after he had successfully overturned a caught behind decision on 22. The visiting captain was at his destructive best, with 54 runs through boundaries, including five sixes, two of which were carted out of the ground. Despite Kyle Jamieson accounting for both Brook and then Salt in the space of three deliveries, Tom Banton’s unbeaten 29 from 12 added the record-busting cherry on top.Brydon Carse’s twin strikes in the second over clipped the Kiwis’ wings in pursuit of 237. And though Tim Seiffert and Mark Chapman restarted the chase with an engaging stand of 69, their respective demises to the spin duo of Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson all but confirmed the result.Santner did his utmost to inject some late jeopardy with a breezy 36 off 15, before falling to Rashid’s final delivery, the legspinner finishing a solid evening’s work with 4 for 32. Luke Wood then had the honour of capping off victory in the 18th over with two dismissals in four deliveries, with New Zealand losing all 10 wickets to catches.Salt in cruise modeThis new iteration of Salt is developing a knack of cashing in after missing out. His career-best 141 not out against South Africa in September came two days after a first-ball duck. And with as many days since 3 off 4 in the first T20I at Hagley Oval, he looked on course for a fifth century in the format.No doubt Salt will feel he missed out in a different way, falling for 85 when he was caught on the long-off sponge, 15 short of three figures with as many balls of the innings remaining. Once again he spearheaded a record total a month after leading the breaching of 300.He upheld his first-over responsibility by putting Matt Henry’s second ball on to the grass bank at midwicket, then whipping behind square leg along the floor once Henry had corrected. By the time Jos Buttler faced his second ball, Salt had already struck 20 from nine.That was as dominant as Salt was in his stands. Once Buttler was dismissed for 4, he adopted a secondary role during his work with Bethell (scoring 19 of their 44 together) and Brook (46 of their 129). Hardly a passenger but more than happy to cede the driving.Perhaps the best example of his continued intent was his dismissal, attempting a second six (and 13th boundary) two balls after Brook had holed out at deep midwicket. He now has more T20I runs than Jason Roy, despite 22 fewer innings, moving up to sixth for England run-scorers in the format, with a strike rate of 168.12 that is at least 16 ahead of any of those in the top 10.Brook does as he says”We’ve got such a strong batting line-up, we can keep going,” Brook said after a second coin toss of the series had gone against him on this tour. The response came after the England captain seemed nonplussed with being asked to set a total.And how. Arriving in the eighth over, Brook, a straight-talker, got straight down to business. He raced to 19 off six, courtesy of three successive boundaries off Santner, with two sixes – the first into the crowd, the second over the roof at midwicket – sandwiching a craftily ramped four.A second six beyond the confines of this boutique ground allowed him to knock two singles for a 22-ball half-century – his fifth overall in T20Is and first as captain.He celebrated with 21 off the returning Kyle Jamieson in the following over. Earlier, he had provided 14 of the 20 picked off from Jimmy Neesham’s one-and-only over.Both were examples of constantly putting bowlers under pressure, already a well-worn mantra in his six months at the helm. That knack of leading by example is not only why he was handed the keys to the white-ball job but instilled as Test vice-captain ahead of this winter’s Ashes.Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson successfully tied New Zealand down•Joe Allison/Getty Images

Dawson shows nousThat both teams opted for two spinners owed more to trending towards 2026’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. While New Zealand’s returned 1 for 77 from seven overs, England’s bagged 6 for 70 in eight.The fact both wanted to bowl first showed there was a collective misreading of conditions. And as the lights took over for the second half, the pitch did begin to grip. It was, in more ways than one, a great toss to lose.There is not much more to be said of Rashid, his status as one of England’s most-valuable white-ball cricketers set in stone long before becoming the first visiting bowler to take four or more in a T20I at this venue. But it was Dawson who laid down his credentials to partner the leggie for next year’s global tournament.The left-arm spinner’s wiliness was on show in his first three overs, manipulating his angles to remove Mark Chapman and then the dangerous Michael Bracewell. It took until Dawson’s 16th delivery for New Zealand to find a boundary off him – Jimmy Neesham smearing a four to midwicket – and even then, heading into his final over, the Hampshire allrounder had an impressive 2 for 15 by his name.Twenty-three conceded off a scatty fourth messed up those figures. Two sixes from Santner were responsible the untidy finish, triggering five wides as Dawson bunged a full toss down the leg side in an attempt to hide the ball from the home skipper’s arc. Nevertheless, Santner’s 0 for 41 earlier in the piece highlighted just how impressive England’s own southpaw twirler had been.NZ drop the ballFor all England’s enterprise with the bat, there was unnecessary generosity from their hosts. You do not usually associate slack fielding with New Zealand, but two drops tilted this match against them significantly in Christchurch.Tim Seifert was responsible for missing the first and tougher chance. Jacob Duffy, having pulled out of the previous delivery as Jacob Bethell gave himself room to the leg side, dug one in short with a bit of cut. Bethell, on 7, went for his pull shot, only to top-edge high towards short third.Seifert had tracked it well, but was done by the stiff north-west breeze, ending up on his back, palming the ball just before he hit the deck. Though Bethell “only” managed 17 more before being dismissed with the last ball of the sixth over, his back-to-back sixes off Bracewell lifted England’s powerplay score to 68 for 2.That it was the highest at this ground was a sign of things to come, but that, too, could have been avoided. At the start of the 13th over, Matt Henry returned and was greeted with a lofted straight heave from Brook. Somehow, Neesham, having just bowled an over that cost 20, botched a straightforward catch at long-on allowing Brook a life.They did not have to count the cost of dropping Sam Curran twice on Saturday, the allrounder’s 49 not out hustling England to a respectable total of 153 before the rain intervened. Here, the price of the combined errors was 55 – a figure New Zealand only made up for in their innings with the final ball of the powerplay.

يخوض منتخب سوريا لكرة القدم مواجهة هامة أمام نظيره جنوب السودان، اليوم الثلاثاء، في إطار مباريات الملحق المؤهل لمرحلة المجموعات من بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

وتقام المباراة بين سوريا وجنوب السودان على استاد حمد الكبير في العاصمة القطرية الدوحة، حيث يسعى كلا المنتخبين لانتزاع بطاقة التأهل إلى نهائيات بطولة كأس العرب.

وتستضيف قطر فعاليات بطولة كأس العرب 2025، خلال الفترة من 1 حتى 18 ديسمبر المقبل، وذلك بمشاركة 16 منتخبًا.

طالع.. صورة | “تراثية فكاهية”.. الكشف عن تميمة كأس العرب 2025

وتنطلق بطولة كأس العرب يوم الإثنين 1 ديسمبر المقبل بمواجهتي تونس أمام الفائز من المباراة التأهيلية سوريا وجنوب السودان. موعد مباراة سوريا وجنوب السودان اليوم في كأس العرب

تقام المباراة اليوم الثلاثاء الموافق 25 نوفمبر 2025، وتنطلق صافرة البداية في تمام الساعة السادسة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، الساعة السابعة مساءً بتوقيت سوريا وقطر والسعودية. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة سوريا وجنوب السودان اليوم في كأس العرب

تنقل المباراة بين منتخبي سوريا وجنوب السودان، عبر قناة “beIN SPORTS 1 xtra HD” بالإضافة إلى قناة ” الكأس 1″.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

Nottingham Forest have appointed Sean Dyche as their new head coach on a deal until summer 2027.

The 54-year-old has taken over at the City Ground following Ange Postecoglou’s sacking on Saturday. Dyche, who lives in Nottingham and was a trainee at the club, becomes the third first-team boss of the season and will be joined in the dugout by former Forest heroes Ian Woan and Steve Stone.

Dyche had been out of work since leaving Everton at the start of the year. Forest say that the former Burnley manager has “the perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement”.

Forest and Evangelos Marinakis were also considering former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini and are known admirers of Fulham’s Marco Silva, but the prospect of getting the Portuguese out of Craven Cottage mid-season was deemed too challenging.

The recruitment process, led by global head of football, Edu Gaspar, landed on Dyche and his first game in charge will be Thursday’s Europa League tie with Porto at the City Ground.

Dyche told Nottingham Forest January kitty

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Dyche has been told to work with what he has at Nottingham Forest and won’t be given a big January transfer kitty.

The reporter has claimed from ‘sources that Dyche is unlikely to get a big transfer budget in the January transfer window, and will instead have to work with the players already at the club’.

Forest and Marinakis splashed the cash in the summer, spending just under £200m ahead of their Europa League campaign, so it is understandable to hear of the decision by the owner.

However, Dyche may have been hoping to tinker with his squad in the New Year, but unless he sells one of his Forest stars, it could be a quiet window in what may come as an immediate concern for the new manager.

Tottenham Hotspur maintained their unbeaten record in the Champions League this season after securing a 0-0 draw against Monaco in France last night.

Thomas Frank’s side failed to capitalise on any of the chances that fell their way within the final third, subsequently only registering two shots on target within the 90 minutes.

However, they may have been lucky to walk away with just a point, as the hosts racked up a total of 23 shots, with eight of the attempts being placed on Guglielmo Vicario’s goal.

The Lilywhites’ display will no doubt have disappointed the manager, with his side showing no real bounce back after Sunday’s defeat against Aston Villa.

After such a showing, there’s no disputing that the Dane desperately needs to make changes to his squad ahead of the weekend’s clash against David Moyes’ Everton.

Spurs’ poor performers against Monaco last night

Rodrigo Bentancur was kept within the Spurs midfield last night, but such a decision proved to be the wrong one, given his lack of impact in the South of France.

The Uruguayan international failed to win a single tackle against the Ligue 1 outfit, whilst also losing 100% of the ground duels he entered – showcasing he was often dominated by the opposition.

Other stats, such as one foul committed and seven times possession lost, further highlight his inability to make a positive impact on the European encounter.

However, he wasn’t alone in being disappointing against Sebastien Pogognoli’s men, with Lucas Bergvall also producing a rare disappointing performance.

The Swede was subsequently replaced after an hour, after completing just six passes – subsequently finding a teammate just once every ten minutes.

He also failed to win a single tackle and was even dribbled past twice, with the Lilywhites’ midfield often being overran and leading to their inability to claim all three points.

Despite the showing of the aforementioned duo, one other player once again struggled to prove why the manager has stuck by him throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

The Spurs player who needs to be dropped after Monaco

Even though Spurs have only lost two games across all competitions since Frank’s arrival, they have struggled to impose themselves in numerous outings.

Last night’s showing was another one to forget for the Lilywhites, leaving the side with five points from a possible nine in this season’s edition of the Champions League.

Whilst the side have kept two clean sheets in their three matches, the frontline has massively disappointed – scoring just three goals, two of which were own goals.

Micky van de Ven is currently the only Lilywhites player to find the back of the net in Europe – further showcasing the issue Frank currently has in that department.

One of the players in that area of the pitch that has massively struggled is centre-forward Richarlison, with the Brazilian unable to match his early-season form.

The 28-year-old has now gone six games without a goal across all competitions, with his last effort coming in the draw with Brighton & Hove Albion over a month ago.

His showing against Monaco last night was yet another to forget for the £60m addition, subsequently putting his starting role into serious question.

Minutes played

70

Touches

20

Passes completed

6

Shots taken

1

Dribbles completed

0

Possession lost

8x

Duels lost

4

Fouls committed

1

Richarlison featured for 70 minutes last night, but like Bergvall, he only completed a total of six passes and registered a solitary effort on the opposition goal.

He only managed a total of 20 touches during his performance – a tally fewer than goalkeeper Vicario, who notched 49 – whilst also failing to complete any of his attempted dribbles.

The Brazilian subsequently gifted possession back to the hosts on eight separate occasions, leading to one analyst labelling his showing against the Ligue 1 side as “shocking”.

As a result of his showing, the striker was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by The Standard’s Matt Verri – further showcasing his lack of positive impact against the French outfit.

Frank has been lenient with his centre-forward over the last couple of weeks, but it’s desperately clear the 28-year-old needs to be dropped from the starting eleven.

Richarlison has constantly struggled to match the expectations placed upon him over the last couple of months, with Mathys Tel deserving of a recall against Everton this weekend.

Spurs' "generational talent" is now becoming their best teenager since Dele

Tottenham Hotspur have hit the jackpot on one star who is following in the footsteps of a former talent.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 22, 2025

علق الألماني هانز فليك، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة لأول مرة عن الأنباء التي تفيد برغبته في الرحيل عن النادي الكتالوني في نهاية الموسم الحالي.

كان فليك قد جدد عقده حتى 30 يونيو 2027 في مايو الماضي بعد الأداء المميز الذي ظهر به الموسم الماضي وتحقيقه الثلاثية المحلية بجانب الوصول إلى نصف نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا لأول مرة منذ عام 2019.

ويحل برشلونة ضيفًا ثقيلًا على كلوب بروج اليوم الأربعاء، وذلك ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة من مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويسعى برشلونة إلى تحقيق الانتصار على كلوب بروج، بعد التراجع الذي شهده الفريق الكتالوني على مدار الأسابيع الماضية.

ويتواجد برشلونة في المركز الثاني في ترتيب الدوري الإسباني خلف ريال مدريد المتصدر بفارق خمس نقاط كاملة، أما في دوري أبطال أوروبا فقد حقق رجال فليك فوزين من أصل 3 مباريات خلال المسابقة حتى الآن.

اقرأ أيضًا | لابورتا يعلن موعد عودة برشلونة لـ”كامب نو”.. ويدعم لامين يامال

وشارك فليك يوم الأربعاء في لقاء بين فريق برشلونة في مدينة بروج وأعضاء رابطتي مشجعي برشلونة في جينت وباريس، حيث تحتفل الأخيرة بالذكرى الخامسة عشر لتأسيسها قبل مباراة فريقه في دوري أبطال أوروبا، وظهر فليك ودودًا للغاية مع الجميع.

وبحسب ما أفادت صحيفة “سبورت” كان يلتقط الصور ويوقع على التذكارات ويجيب على أسئلة بعض مشجعي برشلونة حول أبرز ما يدور في الفريق الفترة الحالية.

خلال هذا الحفل، أعرب بعض مشجعي برشلونة عن قلقهم تجاه التقارير الأخيرة التي نشرتها وسائل إعلام مختلفة وخاصةً بعد الهزيمة في الكلاسيكو أن فليك يفكر في مغادرة النادي الكتالوني بنهاية الموسم الحالي، وأنه أبلغ بذلك أقرب المقربين منه.

لكن الصحيفة الإسبانية انفردت برد من المدرب الألماني على هذه الشائعات ووصفت أن رده كان قاطعًا وحاسمًا، قائلًا: “مزيد من الهراء”.

Jamie Vardy described his first home start for Cremonese as a “special feeling” but admitted frustration after being held to a 1-1 draw by Udinese. The former Leicester City striker, who completed a shock move to Italy this summer, came close to scoring in a lively full debut but couldn’t prevent his side from dropping points at Stadio Giovanni Zini.

Vardy’s full Cremonese debut ends in frustration

The veteran English international Vardy’s first home start for Cremonese ended in mixed emotions as his new side were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Udinese in Serie A. The 38-year-old, who joined the Italian outfit on a free transfer after ending his legendary 13-year spell with Leicester City, played the full 90 minutes and showed flashes of his trademark energy and movement despite not finding the net.

Cremonese made an electric start at the Stadio Giovanni Zini, taking the lead in the fourth minute through Filippo Terracciano’s header from a well-worked set piece. However, Udinese hit back early in the second half when Nicolo Zaniolo levelled the score with a powerful header. Despite several late chances, including two near misses from Vardy himself, the hosts were unable to reclaim the lead.

The draw leaves Cremonese mid-table after seven league games, boasting two wins, four draws, and just one defeat,a promising start for a team newly promoted to Serie A. But for Vardy, the night was tinged with disappointment after missing two clear chances to secure all three points in front of an excited home crowd.

AdvertisementVardy admits 'special feeling' but rues result

After the final whistle, Vardy took to Instagram to express both pride and also disappointment following his first start in Italy. “A special feeling to make my home debut last night. Another point on the board but I really wish it could have been more,” he wrote, reflecting on a night that could have easily ended in triumph.

It was a performance that encapsulated the spirit that made Vardy one of English football’s great late bloomers, tireless running, sharp instincts, and relentless determination. He may have had the fewest touches of any outfield player to complete the match, but his work rate and pressing caused problems for Udinese’s back line throughout.

Playing alongside Federico Bonazzoli in a two-striker setup, Vardy was tasked with leading the line for Davide Nicola’s side, and despite the lack of goals.

A new chapter after Leicester legacy

Vardy’s journey to Cremonese has been one of the most surprising moves of the summer. After scoring 200 goals in 500 appearances for Leicester City, including a fairy tale Premier League title in 2016, he opted to leave the Foxes following their relegation to the Championship.

The veteran forward was linked with several clubs across England and Europe, including Brentford, West Ham, Celtic, Wrexham and even Manchester United, before ultimately choosing to take on a new challenge in northern Italy. The deal, a one-year contract with the option to extend if Cremonese avoid relegation, gives both parties a fresh opportunity to write another chapter in their respective stories.

In Cremonese, he’s found a club that mirrors some of that underdog spirit, newly promoted, full of fight, and aiming to defy the odds once more. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportWhat’s next for Vardy and Cremonese?

Cremonese’s next challenge comes at home against Atalanta this weekend, where Vardy will be eager to get off the mark in Serie A. Vardy’s continued integration will be key to their survival hopes. His experience in high-pressure games could prove invaluable in guiding Cremonese through the winter fixtures, particularly as they prepare for back-to-back clashes against Juventus, Roma and Napoli in December.

For the English striker, the coming weeks present a chance to turn promise into productivity, and if his debut is any indication, Vardy’s trademark resilience and hunger remain very much alive, and Italy might just witness another chapter of his impressive career.

Newcastle United haven’t made the best of starts to the 2025/26 season, but now that the elephant has been excavated from the room, Eddie Howe might feel a little more chipper about his side’s chances over the coming months.

Against Liverpool last month, Newcastle played with the passion and fervour and ability of an elite outfit. And that’s because the Magpies are of top class, so well coached and so well shaped by careful transfer business since Howe and PIF first arrived.

On the scoresheet at St. James’ Park that evening was Hugo Ekitike, who was billed as Alexander Isak’s potential replacement at Newcastle.

However, both ply their trade for Liverpool.

Why Newcastle wanted Hugo Ekitike

Ekitike has scored three goals and provided one assist since joining Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in July, proving that he has the prolific nature to partner his wide-ranging skill set.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Regarded by analyst Ben Mattinson to be “one of the best strikers out there” last season, Ekitike has proven that his qualities are transferable, and it’s clear to see why he was earmarked to play in Isak’s stead under Howe’s wing.

Like Isak, Ekitike is a stylish and creative forward, bearing a tall frame and endowed with a fierce athleticism that serves as the backbone of his quality as a top goalscorer.

Sadly, both now ply their trade for league rivals Liverpool, and Howe will need to bring Yoane Wissa up to scratch as swiftly as possible, with the summer signing from Brentford having scored 19 Premier League goals last season.

However, the 28-year-old doesn’t boast as high a ceiling as his new strike partner Nick Woltemade, who some consider a talent who could even outstrip superstars such as Isak.

How Woltemade compares to Isak and Ekitike

Woltemade joined Newcastle from Stuttgart in a club-record £69m deal last week, with a deal struck out of the blue and all but confirming Isak’s sale to Liverpool.

The 23-year-old is still coming into his own, but he scored 12 goals from 17 appearances in the Bundesliga last season and received a call-up to the German national team, having now earned two caps.

However, it’s the underlying data which has attracted Newcastle’s attention and money, with data-driven platform FBref revealing Woltemade ranks among the top 5% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and successful take-ons, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 18% for ball recoveries per 90.

He might not be quite the same as Isak and Ekitike, but perhaps that is a positive, allowing Howe to land his next star-in-the-making without signing a mere mimic of the striker just sold.

Matches (starts)

28 (17)

Goals

12

Assists

2

Shots (on target)*

1.8 (0.9)

Big chances missed

11

Pass completion

72%

Big chances created

8

Key passes*

1.3

Dribbles*

1.1

Ball recoveries*

1.9

Tackles + interceptions*

0.5

Duels (won)*

4.4

But in any case, FBref’s number-crunching has revealed that both aforementioned strikers bear a likeness to Woltemade, each blessed with skills that stretch beyond what is expected of a number nine.

A strong presence in the final third allows the towering striker to guide balls to teammates, found through his eight big chances created in the Bundesliga.

Indeed, hailed for his “absolutely ridiculous” quality in the final third by European football expert Zach Lowy, Woltemade is so much more than just a goalscorer, with sharp link-up play and intelligence that rivals that of Isak, albeit applied in a different manner.

Lowy went on to suggest that his prowess as a technically proficient target man is reminiscent of bygone superstars such as Karim Benzema and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, owing to his balance and improvisation and resourcefulness.

Wissa is the more refined attacking signing at Newcastle right now, but Woltemade has the capacity to become something truly special under Howe’s wing, taking samples from Isak and Ekitike’s skill sets and fashioning himself into a unique and effective forward for the Toon.

New Isak: Newcastle have "one of the best teenage prospects in the world"

Newcastle will need to replace Alexander Isak’s goals with a range of different attacking talents.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 3, 2025