Hansi Flick addresses Lamine Yamal's angry reaction to being substituted vs Eintracht Frankfurt as Barcelona wonderkid picks up Champions League suspension

Hansi Flick addressed Lamine Yamal's angry reaction after being substituted during Barcelona's 2-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. The Barcelona wonderkid was withdrawn in the 89th minute for Roony Bardghji, cutting a visibly irritated figure as he left the pitch. His expression remained stern as he walked toward the bench, and he appeared to mutter under his breath in disappointment.

Barca forced to battle after Frankfurt strike early

Flick’s men were made to scrap for the three points on a demanding night at Camp Nou. Barcelona fell behind after just 21 minutes when Ansgar Knauff broke the deadlock, punishing a sluggish first half showing from the hosts. For the fifth consecutive match, the Catalans conceded the opening goal, a pattern that Flick acknowledged remains a concern. But once again, Barcelona’s resilience proved decisive. After the interval, they shifted gears, pressing higher and stretching Frankfurt’s defensive line. The response culminated in two goals from an unlikely source in Jules Kounde, whose adventures in the final third were rewarded handsomely. Marcus Rashford and Yamal provided the assists. 

AdvertisementAFPFlick responds calmly to Yamal’s reaction

Flick addressed Yamal’s irritation to being withdrawn late on in his post-match comments, offering a composed explanation. He confirmed that the decision to remove the winger was precautionary rather than tactical. 

"We changed Lamine with a few minutes to go because he was booked and it was late," Flick said. "If he was a bit annoyed, then I fully understand and I like it. I was a player too. It's fully acceptable, not a problem."

While the manager may appreciate Yamal’s intensity, Barcelona will have to cope without him in their next Champions League fixture. His yellow card against Frankfurt was his third of the current campaign, triggering an automatic one-match suspension. He will therefore miss January’s encounter with Slavia Prague.

Flick also stressed the value of Barcelona’s repeated comebacks, though he conceded the team cannot afford to make a habit of starting slowly.

He added: "Really happy how we come back but sometimes it would also be good to start well and score the first goal. It is what it is."

Kounde revels in attacking freedom

Kounde, meanwhile, admitted he relished the opportunity to push forward. He explained that Frankfurt’s five-man defensive shape left wide spaces behind their back line, encouraging him to attack with conviction.

"My first job is to defend well so I have to keep a balance," he said. "And there are games when we play against a back five, today Frankfurt were very deep, so you have to attack the spaces in behind, which is what I tried to do. I had success with those two goals."

Flick echoed that sentiment, praising the Frenchman’s mentality. 

"It's great to have Jules scoring… his talent and his mentality are so important," Flick said.

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Yamal rewrites the record books

Yamal's assist to Kounde pushed him to 14 Champions League goal involvements, seven goals and seven assists, which sets a new competition record for players aged 18 or younger. In surpassing Kylian Mbappe’s previous benchmark of 13 involvements, the Spaniard has etched his name into elite European company. Notably, Yamal will not celebrate his 19th birthday until July, leaving him with half a season still to boost that record. 

As bad as Vicario: Frank must finally bin 5/10 Spurs flop after Fulham

Tottenham Hotspur improved after the break, but the damage had been done following Fulham’s early flurry in north London, two goals to the good after six minutes.

Thomas Frank spoke before the game about the importance of starting with confidence, but the performance was anything but assured, with Sky Sports co-commentator Alan Smith remarking that it was “chaos in Tottenham’s defensive line” early on.

It wasn’t just the defenders who flattered to deceive, though, with Guglielmo Vicario’s ill-judged rush from his box to deal with a clearance leaving Harry Wilson to curl home and double the Cottagers’ lead just moments into the match.

Guglielmo Vicario is letting Spurs down

Vicario has been an astute piece of business for Tottenham over the past several years, but he has left plenty to be desired this season, with his error-strewn performance against Fulham sadly not an outlier, his costly mistake the third of the Premier League campaign, and 11th since he arrived in 2023.

There is a case to be made that the Lilywhite defenders needed to drop back and protect the yawning goalmouth, but Vicario, 28, has much to answer for, only making one save besides, as per Sofascore.

Whether Vicario reprises his starting berth between the sticks going forward is another matter, but it’s certainly one Frank will chew on as he looks to arrest this slump and bring Spurs back into the ascendancy, stringing together some strong winter form to challenge for a reprisal of their ongoing Champions League campaign.

However, changes clearly need to be made, and Frank does not have long to enact any shuffling, with Newcastle United awaiting at St. James’ Park on Tuesday evening.

There may actually be an outfield Tottenham star who must be dropped for that crucial top-flight clash, having lacked dynamism in the middle of the park this season.

5/10 Spurs star was as poor as Vicario

The boos chorused around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at full-time, and Joao Palhinha was among the dejected players in white after a disappointing midfield display that saw him hooked on the hour mark.

The loanee, brought in from Bayern Munich in the summer, was ineffective against his former London outfit, with football.london criticising ‘one of his shakier performances’ and branding him with a 5/10 match rating.

Vicario might suffer from crises of judgement, but Palhinha is beginning to solidify as a centre-midfielder lacking in key areas; namely, he is limited in possession and he is not mobile enough.

As per FBref, the Portugal international ranks among the bottom 9% of Premier League midfielders for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

These flaws were accentuated against Marco Silva’s side, who only had 37% of the ball but made it count. Palhinha’s inability to break lines and influence in the attacking half played into this.

Joao Palhinha vs Fulham

Match Stats

#

Minutes played

60′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

45

Accurate passes

31/35 (89%)

Chances created

0

Dribbles

1/2

Recoveries

1

Tackles won

0/1

Interceptions

3

Duels won

4/6

Data via Sofascore

You would hope, at least, that the tough-tackling midfielder would win his tackles, but Palhinha’s one attempted tackle saw him come up short, lunging into the grass.

The fact that the 30-year-old failed to create a chance and made just the one recovery further emphasises the poor display, too one-dimensional and sedentary in the middle of the park.

Tottenham need more energy and electricity and enthusiasm. Sure, key playmakers are sidelined, but this isn’t good enough.

Change is needed, and it might be time for Frank to repackage his engine room with a new combination.

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Pope shines again as Root, Brook tune up in England win

England XI haul in target of 202 as warm-up game with Lions goes the distance

Tristan Lavalette15-Nov-2025Joe Root and Harry Brook had final hits in the middle before the first Ashes Test, but weren’t able to kick on from encouraging starts in England’s five-wicket victory over the Lions on a slow surface at Lilac Hill.Chasing 202 runs in batting-friendly conditions, England stuttered at 14 for 2 after the wickets of openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. The pair had combined for a swashbuckling 182-run stand in the first innings, but Duckett fell for a golden duck after fending a short delivery from seamer Nathan Gilchrist to point.It was a rare occasion that the ball reared off the sedate surface and the type of fierce delivery that Duckett can expect on the bouncier surface of Optus Stadium, while Crawley edged Matt Potts to slip after a loose drive.Potts followed up from his impressive effort earlier in the match with 1 for 9 off his four-over burst with the new ball.Related

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Ollie Pope’s stylish century in the first innings put to bed any speculation over his spot for the first Test and his confidence was further underlined with a rapid 90 off 67 balls.With belligerent blows all around the wicket, particularly effective down the ground, Pope dominated a 113-run partnership with Root, who had a lengthier stint at the crease after making just 1 run off 12 in the first innings.Root was mostly intent on rotating the strike with sharp running between the wickets, quietly moving to 31 off 52 balls before being bowled by offspinner Will Jacks after playing down the wrong line.Brook came to the crease after an ugly first-innings dismissal when he was bowled after charging down the pitch. He motored to 19 before his stumps were rattled after botching a reverse paddle against Jacks.Jamie Smith ensured the game wrapped up quickly, clubbing an unbeaten 39 off 22 while Ben Stokes finished 15 not out as England hauled in the target in just 34.4 overs.There had been an unknown over whether the final day would meander into an early finish or whether a chase late in the day would be conjured. But Stokes followed through with his “balls to the wall” mantra from ahead of the match, with the game going the distance.The Lions declared at 251 for 6 midway through the second session as England’s hierarchy opted for their top-order to have another hit-out. Quick Brydon Carse made a compelling case for selection in the first Test with three wickets after missing the opening two days due to illness.Shoaib Bashir in discussion with Jeetan Patel•Getty Images”It [Optus Stadium pitch] might be a little bit different to this week’s preparation, but this was all about bowlers getting miles in their legs,” Carse told reporters.”Over the handful of Tests that I’ve played, whether that’s with the new ball or first change….I’m pretty open to both of those [roles]. We’ve got a group of bowlers that can do different roles and happy to slot in anywhere.”Offspinner Shoaib Bashir bowled for the second consecutive day, but again proved ineffective with little turn on offer to finish with 1 for 83 off 12 overs, an even more expensive return than his earlier effort against England’s main XI.England were buoyed earlier in the day by the news that quick Mark Wood was cleared of a hamstring injury, just hours before Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the first Test. But Wood did not take the field on the final day as the England XI had a shake-up with Bashir changing teams having taken 1 for 68 from 12 overs in the Lions’ first innings.Much like on day two, the surface seemed livelier earlier in the day with Jofra Archer producing sharp bounce and beating the bat on several occasions. But Archer and Gus Atkinson were upstaged by Carse who threatened with a nagging back-of-a-length approach. His accuracy frustrated opener Tom Haines, who on 12 slashed straight to point.Carse also claimed the wickets of Ben McKinney and Jordan Cox, who both made half-centuries in each innings. The 6ft 7in McKinnie dominated the opening session and took the aerial route against Bashir, his eyes lighting up when he threw the ball up.Jacob Bethell’s chances of a first Test call-up are unlikely, but he did stroke an effortless 70 off 80 balls having failed in the first innings with 2. Bethell appeared to be cruising to a century until he whacked straight back to Bashir who took a sharp return catch.After a six-wicket haul in the first innings, Stokes bowled just one four-over spell while Root claimed Jacks in his only over before the Lions declared.

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Arsenal play Aston Villa in crucial Premier League title clash

Arsenal travel to the Midlands this Saturday to take on an in-form Aston Villa — a fixture that could prove pivotal in the early title race.

The Gunners arrive in pole position atop the table, buoyed by a recent 2–0 win over Brentford that extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to a remarkable 18 games.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

Villa have surged into third thanks to a stunning 4–3 victory over Brighton in midweek, their sixth consecutive win across all competitions, so Unai Emery’s side will be no pushovers.

Historically, the matchup has been a tight affair. Across all competitions, the two clubs have met over 200 times — with Arsenal holding a slight edge.

However, in recent seasons, Villa have shown that they can be a thorn in Arsenal’s side.

The Villans completed a league double over Arsenal in 2023–24, including a 2–0 win in April that derailed Mikel Arteta’s title hopes and handed the Premier League crown to City.

Arteta will be fully aware of the danger they pose, especially on home turf, with Villa reigning victorious in five of their last seven home league games while boasting the joint-third best home record in the division.’

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To trot out the old cliché, every game is like a cup final for Arsenal right now, so Arteta will need every man at their very best against a Villa side flying high on confidence.

The north Londoners’ strength in depth, following a near-£270 million summer spend, has paid dividends amid the club’s injury woes.

It has even allowed Arteta to rest some key personnel amid the hectic festive calendar, like he did against Brentford, with right-back Ben White getting a rare start ahead of first-choice Jurrien Timber.

The Englishman has barely been given any game time this season thanks to Timber’s form, with an update now emerging on his future ahead of January.

Ben White 'frustrated' at Arsenal as Man City make January enquiry

As per TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey, White — once a regular starter — is growing ‘frustrated’ with his limited minutes.

The 28-year-old has made only a handful of appearances so far this season, prompting concern about his long-term future at the club.

That frustration hasn’t gone unnoticed beyond North London. City, now exploring options at right-back, have reportedly marked White as a strong candidate to reinforce Pep Guardiola’s squad.

The Sky Blues are said to be one of a few clubs who’ve made enquiries, alongside Marseille, Como and Atlético Madrid, but Arsenal’s stance is pretty clear.

Arteta, alongside club management, are poised to reject any proposals for White in the January window, even amid mounting interest. This is because they don’t want to weaken the squad in any way shape or form amid their title challenge.

From White’s perspective, the situation is increasingly uncomfortable.

Once viewed as a defensive mainstay, he now finds his opportunities severely curtailed, and media sources suggest he’s unwilling to spend extended periods on the sidelines.

As things stand, White remains at Arsenal, but the coming months could prove pivotal.

If this current trend continues, and if City or other suitors persist, the defender’s exit may well be one to watch in the summer instead.

Rohl must bin Rangers flop who "offers nothing" to unleash Antman in new role

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl may still be wondering how his side were unable to see the game out for all three points after they found themselves 1-0 up against ten-man Braga on Thursday night.

The Light Blues are yet to win a match in the Europa League this season and they may not have a better opportunity than the one they had at Ibrox earlier this week.

Whilst Mohamed Diomande was sent off later in the match, the Gers allowed the Portuguese side to equalise whilst they had a man advantage, as Nasser Djiga’s wayward header caught James Tavernier out and allowed Gabriel Martinez to pounce.

The German head coach will be scratching his head and wondering what he could do to turn things around in Europe, as the Light Blues have lost four of their five matches, with two of those losses coming in his three games in the competition.

Attention, for now, will turn back to the Scottish Premiership as Rangers play host to Falkirk at Ibrox, after the reverse game at their stadium led to Russell Martin’s dismissal.

Rohl has won all four of his league games in charge of the club so far, but these league matches present an opportunity to try things out ahead of European games. For example, unleashing Oliver Antman in a new role.

Why Oliver Antman should be unleashed in a new role

You could hardly blame any supporters for getting a bit excited by the signing of the Finland international after he registered 17 assists in all competitions for Go Ahead Eagles in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore.

On top of that, Antman delivered two assists on his debut for the Gers against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League, crossing for Djeidi Gassama and winning a penalty for Cyriel Dessers to score.

Since that impressive debut, though, the Finnish forward has produced no goals and one assist in 18 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has failed to deliver consistent quality in the final third.

Per Transfermarkt, all 11 of his starts have been on the right flank. With this in mind, it may be time for Rohl to unleash the 24-year-old attacker in a new role in his Rangers career.

Oliver Antman’s flexibility

Position

Games

G + A

RW

69

9 + 13

CM

22

1 + 0

LW

21

5 + 3

CF

18

5 + 0

AM

8

0 + 0

RM

8

1 + 5

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Antman has played in other positions throughout his career, on the left and through the middle, which means that the Light Blues can, realistically, use him in other areas of the pitch.

With this in mind, Rohl should unleash the Finland international in a flexible number ten position, which would allow him to drift out to the left or the right when the situation demands.

This would allow him to provide creativity on both flanks and centrally, which could help to support the two wingers whilst also providing the centre-forward, in theory, with more creativity.

In order to make this positional change for Antman against Falkirk, though, the German head coach will have to ditch one of his starters from the 1-1 draw with Braga on Thursday night.

Chalkboard

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

With this in mind, Rohl should ruthlessly ditch Youssef Chermiti from the starting line-up after his dismal showing against Braga, which would allow Danilo or Bojan Miovski to lead the line up front, with the Finnish whiz in behind them in the number ten role.

Why Rangers should drop Youssef Chermiti

Rangers parted company with sporting director Kevin Thelwell at the start of the week, after just one transfer window at Ibrox, and his lasting legacy may be the signing of the Portuguese striker.

The former Gers chief sanctioned an £8m deal to sign the forward from Everton, which made Chermiti the club’s most expensive signing in 25 years, since Tore Andre Flo’s £12m move to Glasgow.

That staggering outlay was made in spite of the fact that the 21-year-old striker failed to score in two seasons at Everton after Thelwell signed him for the Toffees from Sporting.

So far, Chermiti has delivered one goal and one assist in 14 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants this season, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has not lived up to his price tag yet.

The former Everton attacker’s performance against Braga was the latest in an unfortunately long line of underwhelming displays from the £8m summer signing.

Vs Braga

Youssef Chermiti

Minutes

89

Sofascore

5.9

Shots

3

Shots on target

0

Pass accuracy

52%

Key passes

0

Duels won

6/15

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Portuguese centre-forward failed to offer quality on the ball, as he was particularly poor with his passes, and also lost the majority of his physical duels.

After the match, reporter Jonny McFarlane posted that Chermiti is “mind-blowingly bad” and that the striker “offers nothing”, whilst describing him as a “galling signing”.

As harsh as that is, it is hard to disagree with the sentiment because of how poor the £8m attacker’s performances have been for the Light Blues, with one goal in 14 matches far from enough for the money spent on him.

Of course, Chermiti is not at fault for the transfer fee that Thelwell agreed to pay for him. He is a young player who is clearly trying his best and competing for the Gers, as evidenced by his 15 duels on Thursday night, but the quality is not there, on current evidence.

That is why Rohl must ruthlessly ditch him from the starting line-up for this clash with Falkirk at Ibrox, because he has not shown enough on the pitch to suggest that he should be playing week-in-week-out as the main number nine.

Dropping Chermiti will then provide the manager with an opportunity to unleash Antman in this new role, because Danilo can move into a number nine position or also be dropped for Miovski to start.

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“Annoying” Liverpool star showed why FSG have to sign Semenyo

Liverpool thought they were back, two goals to the good, but these new habits have seeped into the fabric of Arne Slot’s project, and they are proving tough stains to wipe out.

Still jubilant from their win against Chelsea in midweek, Daniel Farke’s Whites met Liverpool with the expected passion and combativeness, fuelled by a raucous home support, and while the champions weathered that early storm and struck twice through Hugo Ekitike, back in the starting line-up, they succumbed to more defensive disaster, drawing the game 3-3.

The Frenchman has been a shining light throughout a dreary campaign for the Redmen, overshadowing record signing Alexander Isak, but Liverpool’s frontline still lacks balance and connectivity, and that’s why FSG are gearing up for a winter raid on Bournemouth for Antoine Semenyo.

The latest on Semenyo to Liverpool

It has emerged that Semenyo, who has been Bournemouth’s talisman this season, has a £65m release clause in his contract that becomes active during the winter transfer window.

Cue the circling sharks.

Liverpool are joined by Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in their vested interest, but the Reds have been reported to be leading the race for a player earmarked as the perfect successor to Luis Diaz, who joined Bayern Munich in August.

A big-game player with so much dynamism, the Ghana international, 26, has been declared the “best winger in the country” by Chris Waddle, and you would sense that he would only go from strength to strength in a leading role on Merseyside.

Ibrahima Konate’s latest blunder illustrated the desperate need for new defenders, but Slot will feel that Semenyo’s signature is equally important for the Anfield side, whose balance is all wrong in the final third.

And there’s one man in particular who is flattering to deceive.

Liverpool star must be replaced by Semenyo

Liverpool have been in a rut this season, and Cody Gakpo has been carried along in the stream, popping up with some moments in front of goal but lacking the multifacetedness that a winger like Semenyo would bring to the table.

Against Leeds, Gakpo failed with all six of his attempted crosses and lost the ball 13 times. He created only one chance for his teammates (data via Sofascore).

There is a pointed lack of nuance to the Dutchman’s game. Oh, he’s talented, to be sure, and dynamic enough, but Semenyo far outstrips him in such areas, so powerful and athletic and clever with his movements and decisions.

Matches (starts)

14 (12)

14 (14)

Goals

4

6

Assists

3

3

Touches*

42.2

48.9

Shots (on target)*

2.4 (0.4)

2.4 (1.4)

Accurate passes*

19.1 (79%)

19.7 (78%)

Chances created*

1.8

1.3

Dribbles*

1.1

1.6

Recoveries*

2.7

5.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.1

2.0

Duels won*

4.9

6.5

Gakpo knows where the back of the net is, and he is skilled in playmaking too, but Semenyo is the talk of the town and rightly so, standing out in a Bournemouth team that might have lost their way in regard to three-point hauls, but remain one of the most interesting attacking outfits in the country.

Conversely, Liverpool are a structural mess, and their Netherlands winger is failing to provide the width and energy and solutions that were presented with a regularity that led to the Premier League title last season.

As analyst Josh Williams put it, it was an “annoying” display from Gakpo, and the 26-year-old needs a contrasting profile down the left if Liverpool are to restore their presence as superstars.

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Inglis hammers rapid ton amid Australia batting order debate

The wicketkeeper-batter hit 125 off 107 balls for a Cricket Australia XI against England Lions

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2025

Josh Inglis spent valuable time in the middle (file photo)•Associated Press

Cricket Australia XI 341 (Blackford 86, Wyllie 71, Harvey 52, Potts 3-49) and 235 for 2 (Inglis 125*, Harvey 58) beat England Lions 299 (Gay 78, Maladay 3-47, Sinfield 3-87) and 273 (Kellaway 59, Anderson 3-42) by eight wicketsAmid intrigue over what Australia may do with their batting order for the rest of the Ashes, Josh Inglis hammered a rapid century for a Cricket Australia XI against England Lions to signal that he would be option should the selectors opt for significant change.Travis Head’s remarkable century in Perth after being elevated to open due to Usman Khawaja’s back spasms has prompted talk about whether that should be a permanent move which would likely spell the end of Khawaja’s career and create a vacancy in the middle order.Related

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That would appear an unlikely prospect, at least for the Gabba, with the indications being that Khawaja will be selected if he recovers.However, should a spot become vacant anywhere in the order Inglis’ versatility would make him a candidate. He was part of the squad for the first Test but was released to play for the CA XI at Lilac Hill after having a disjointed lead-up to the Ashes.A calf injury prevented him from playing the ODIs against India and he struggled in the T20Is before making 4 and 28 in his one Sheffield Shield outing for Western Australia.On Monday, he flayed an unbeaten 125 from 107 balls with 15 fours and two sixes as the CA XI charged down a target of 232 in 45 overs, not dissimilar to the Head-inspired performance a couple of days ago.Inglis made a century on Test debut, against Sri Lanka in Galle, when his prowess against spin saw him play as a specialist batter in the middle order. He then filled in at No. 4 when Steven Smith missed the first Test against West Indies with a finger injury.Should Khawaja not be fit for Brisbane, or the selectors do make the call to drop him, Beau Webster would also be in the frame having missed out on the first Test when Cameron Green returned to No. 6. Mitchell Marsh is another who may be considered. He is expected make his Sheffield Shield return for Western Australia in a game against Victoria at the MCG which also starts on December 4.The CA XI was largely a development side due to the ongoing round of Sheffield Shield matches but did also feature Jhye Richardson who sent down 20 wicketless overs in the game as he returns from shoulder surgery. Australia’s selectors are hoping he could be an option later in the Test series and he is expected to feature for Australia A when they face the Lions concurrently to the Gabba Test.The Lions side featured Matthew Potts, Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell from the England Test squad.

Dodgy hotels, bomb threats, golden memories: Lisa Keightley recalls Australia's '97 World Cup triumph

The former Australia batter relives the adventure of a lifetime, on and off the field

Vishal Dikshit28-Oct-2025It’s not too long now before the champions of Women’s World Cup 2025 will take home an unprecedented USD 4.48 million. Rewind to 1997, the second time the tournament was held in India, when Australia became the champions for the fourth time. When they returned home with the trophy, Lisa Keightley came back with food bills she had footed worth nearly AUD 2,500.The 1997 World Cup existed in a world that barely intersected with the five-star hotels and top-notch facilities that international players now expect in India. The BCCI was yet to take Indian women’s cricket under its wing, and the ICC was yet to take over the organisation of Women’s World Cups.Keightley, a top-order batter who was 26 at the time, had never ventured out of Australia and New Zealand when she was called-up for her maiden World Cup with the experience of just 14 ODIs.Related

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“It was just exciting, it was new, it was hustle and bustle,” Keightley says of her first India impressions, speaking to ESPNcricinfo. “It was just very different from Australia, and when we catch up with the players I played with in that ’97 World Cup, some of our funniest stories and experiences are what we had on that tour.”Over the course of the tournament, Australia voyaged almost all across India, playing their league games in Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Nagpur and Lucknow.”Our accommodation was really poor. I remember people getting sick and it was definitely a lot different than it is now,” Keightley says. “I remember my first accommodation when we got off the plane. I went into my room, I went to turn the shower on, and the shower taps were cemented and they didn’t move. I think the bath taps worked but the water was brown and then I went to turn on the telly and it just didn’t work. And the beds had looked like they’d been there for a very long time.”But I suppose it brings a group together. We definitely didn’t let that stop us from wanting to win the World Cup and, I suppose, sticking together as a group and enjoying each other’s company. I think that was a trip where you could say that drew us together.”Keightley was among the less-experienced members of the side and she sat out Australia’s first two games. She was, however, among the best-prepared players, even for some of the off-field eventualities. She carried an extra bag to India stuffed only with food items from back home, but she probably hadn’t accounted for her team-mates, who soon began lining up outside her room. They soon gave her a new nickname.The victorious Australia squad pose with the World Cup trophy•Craig Prentis/Getty Images”I was called the Tuckshop, which in Australia is a place where you go and get sweets,” she says. “So my little bag was full of sweets and lollies and chips and all the stuff that we felt we wouldn’t get in India. And people used to barter with me because I had such a big array of options, they were getting sick of theirs. So they’d say, ‘I’ll give you a muesli bar if you give me whatever.'”Navigating the streets of India might have been a challenge, but negotiating with her team-mates came naturally to Keightley.”Usually, I got a lot more than what they got. So I could get two and three of theirs and it was quite harsh. And I’d just give them like a packet of chewing gum or they would choose what they wanted. And then I had the choice of saying, ‘well, okay, one’s not going to cut it for a packet of chewing gum. I would like two muesli bars and a packet of chips’, or something like that.”I had this caramel-coated popcorn that was very popular. And that was just so different from anything we get in India. So that went for a high price. I usually got a few good things for the popcorn.”Keightley made her maiden World Cup appearance when Australia got to Hyderabad, where they bundled Pakistan out for 27, still among the lowest totals in women’s ODIs. With some spare time in hand before heading to Mumbai for their next fixture, Keightley, Mel Jones and wicketkeeper Julia Price thought it was a good time to go shopping before leaving Hyderabad. They journeyed to the old city, famous for its jewellery.”So we had put our luggage in the hotel, jumped in tuk-tuks, went to this strip where you could buy gold. And when we went to leave, we had no idea of what our hotel name was!” Keightley laughs. “And we had to go to a police station, then they helped us find where we were staying. Then they took us home in the police car.”In Mumbai, Denmark suffered the ignominy of watching Australia amass 412 for 3, only the second ODI total that had breached the 400 mark, with captain Belinda Clark scoring a record 229* and becoming the first double-centurion in women’s ODIs. Keightley played second fiddle, scoring 60 in a first-wicket stand of 168 with Clark. Denmark were rolled over for just 49, losing by a gargantuan 363 runs.Belinda Clark scored a double-century against Denmark and 52 in the final•Getty Images”I remember it was really hot,” Keightley says. “And Belinda was one of the fittest players going around in the Australian team. So to score that many runs was amazing. I do remember there was a tree on the ground in one of the corners and the boundary came in and around the tree. Yeah, she makes my small little 60 look insignificant, doesn’t she?”We just took a picture of the scoreboard. And congratulated Belinda and took a lot of photos. And that was probably about all we did, really. I don’t think we realised at the time that it was the record until the game finished. And then we thought, ‘oh, we better take a picture of the scoreboard and have something to remember it by.'”Australia were on a hot streak. They bundled England for 95 in Nagpur, hammered Netherlands by 115 runs in Lucknow, and were set to take on India in the semi-finals. All this while they sustained on ” bread, Vegemite, and eggs.” They almost left Jones and Price behind in a plane before realising they were sleeping in the last row and also survived a bomb threat on a flight before getting the all-clear with no bomb found in the luggage.They made it to Delhi for their semi-final on Christmas Eve, and the accommodation, once again, left something to be desired.”We lived in where they played the Delhi Open (an ATP tennis tournament), they had rooms around the tennis court,” Keightley said. “And someone was cooking from the kitchen, and across the road, there was the Hyatt. I do know I came back from that tour with an expensive food bill, because we all started to get a bit sick, so we’d go and eat in the five-star hotel wherever we were.”So I came back with a AUD 2000-2,500 food bill, but we did all take different options in food.”Keightley paid all of that out of her own pocket. She was working at the time with Cricket New South Wales, her home state, who granted her paid leave to play the World Cup.”I was one of the lucky ones,” she says. “Not everyone had that opportunity. I just went home and paid my bill and got on with life. It was just the way we did it back then. Usually, you didn’t get allowances. And if you did, it was very, very small and it didn’t cover too much. So usually we would finish the tour with an expensive bill.”A game in Delhi in winter usually means plenty of fog and bad light, and the semi-final was reduced to 32 overs a side.”We ended up playing the semi-final in an army barracks where there was a ground,” Keightley says of the Harbax Singh Stadium that was then the home ground of the Services team in men’s domestic cricket. “And we had no crowd because of a late change in venue. And I remember it being very, very close.”A large number of women and girls thronged Eden Gardens for the 1997 World Cup final•Craig Prentis/Getty ImagesIndia fell short by 19 runs and Australia were off to Kolkata to play the final against New Zealand at Eden Gardens, which could cradle nearly 100,000 people at the time. And there was something to celebrate off the field too.”We loved the final because we went to a five-star hotel and were there for about seven days, for five days or so before the final,” Keightley says. “And it was amazing compared to what we had been staying in. And we loved it because we had time and we went shopping and we went to the market. Obviously, we trained as well. And then it was probably the first time we got to play in one of the main stadiums in India. And the change rooms had fans and the toilets were nicer than we had.”And when we got there, we heard that they were going to try and do a record of the most females watching cricket in a ground. So they shipped in all these schoolgirls to watch the game. And you could not hear a thing. It was so loud. And we had never experienced anything like it.”I suppose it’s very similar to the WPL when you play RCB. That’s what it felt like for us. You had to yell. So, it was our first experience of, ‘wow, this is what the men would experience every time they play against India and Australia.’ We definitely enjoyed that.”It turned out to be a record crowd, ranging between 60,000 and 70,000, among them a 15-year-old ball girl named Jhulan Goswami. Watching the likes of Clark and speedster Cathryn Fitzpatrick kindled in Goswami the dream of taking up the sport as a profession and fast bowling as a passion.Australia kept New Zealand to 164 and took home the trophy with a five-wicket win, along with memories, anecdotes and experiences of a lifetime. Who wanted a million dollars?

January moves loom: £86m duo look set to never play for Chelsea again

Just a matter of weeks ago it looked like Chelsea were in the title race but things have rather unravelled for Enzo Maresca and Co in recent weeks.

The Blues did pick up a point against Arsenal with ten men but results since then have been bleak, losing 3-1 to Leeds United and drawing 0-0 with Bournemouth.

Cole Palmer’s return to fitness has been timely, but according to the manager, he’s still not up to full speed just yet.

The latest Chelsea injury news

Palmer returned from the bench against Bournemouth at the weekend but in a fresh blow to Maresca and Co they have decided that the attacking midfielder will not travel with the squad for the Champions League trip to Atalanta.

That said, no fresh injury has been sustained. The manager has confirmed the forward is simply being rested as part of his recovery.

Palmer had missed a period courtesy of a groin injury and then had to spend an extra week out after breaking a toe at home.

That said, he is now slowly working himself back. Maresca said: “Cole is in part of his process in this moment. He’s not available, he can’t play two games in a row in three days. So we planned that, and it’s just a way to protect him.”

As far as Liam Delap is concerned, the news isn’t ideal there. The striker injured his shoulder against the Cherries and will now miss a period of time.

Commenting on the striker’s situation, the Chelsea boss stated: “Liam, fortunately, there is not any fracture, so that is good news. In terms of how long he will be out, we are not sure at this stage to be honest.”

What Delap's injury means for Chelsea

Well, it certainly means that Joao Pedro is likely to play a lot of minutes over the festive period and there could well be a rare slice of minutes for Marc Guiu who has barely kicked a ball this season after being recalled from his early-season loan spell with Sunderland.

That said, it’s unlikely we’ll see a recall for a certain Raheem Sterling who remains out in the cold alongside centre-back Axel Disasi.

A January exit looms for both players and it would be a surprise if we saw either in a Chelsea shirt again.

Maresca said in his press conference: “In terms of Raheem, once again it’s the same thing I said about Axel, they are Chelsea players. Now also we are in December, January is coming, so anything can happen, obviously.”

Sterling signed at Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £47.5m back in the summer of 2022 but has not lived up to expectations, scoring just 19 goals in 81 outings. A season-long loan spell with Arsenal in 2024/25 failed to get his career back on track either.

As for Disasi, he had a loan spell with Aston Villa in the back end of last campaign but has not been seen in Chelsea blue this season. He once cost the club a whopping £38.5m but there is seemingly no way back for him.

Chelsea flop has fast become their biggest liability since Bakayoko

Chelsea and Maresca need to move on from the walking disaster as soon as possible.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes 3 days ago

Powerplay Podcast: Can anyone stop Australia?

Nadine de Klerk makes a special appearance as Valkerie Baynes and Firdose Moonda build up to the World Cup semi-finals

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Oct-2025The final four teams of the Women’s World Cup have been decided, and as it often has been in recent times, one of them are overwhelming favourites to go on and win the whole thing — even if they do take on hosts India in the semi-finals.Can Australia – who have even turned crises into comfortable wins this World Cup – continue their perfect record (marred only by a washout)? Will India get revenge for the league-stage defeat in their bid for a maiden World Cup title? And will South Africa recover once again from a sub-100 score against a strong England side?Nadine de Klerk joins Firdose Moonda, Valkerie Baynes and S Sudarshanan as a special guest as in the latest episode of ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast where we build up to the semi-finals:

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