The chief selector said Kohli’s experience was valuable to India’s T20 squad and that there was enough muscle in the middle order

Shashank Kishore02-May-20241:03

Agarkar: Someone with Kohli’s experience matters at World Cup level

“Are you concerned about Virat Kohli’s strike rate?”India’s chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar was asked that question at a press conference to discuss the squad for the T20 World Cup in Mumbai on Thursday. Though he didn’t specify, it’s possible the questioner may have meant Kohli’s strike rate against spin.”I don’t think we’ve been discussing it,” Agarkar said. “Look, he has been in great form fortunately in the IPL, so there are no concerns there at all with regards to how it’s going [for Kohli] in the IPL.”Kohli is currently the second highest run-scorer this season, with 500 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 147.49. But, among 16 players who have scored at least 100 runs against spin in IPL 2024, Kohli ‘s strike rate of 135.66 is the fifth lowest.Agarkar, however, said that Kohli’s experience was valuable and that they had made selections to give the middle order more power. “I mean we’ve obviously got some reinforcements. That’s the whole thing, but you want some experience in your team,” he said. “I mean these guys [Rohit, Kohli] have been around because they’ve been good enough to be around. That’s the reason they played. They have played multiple World Cups.Virat Kohli has 500 runs at a strike rate of 147.49 after 10 innings in IPL 2024•BCCI”But look, like Rohit spoke before, we have tried to get in players who are going to bat a certain way in the middle of the innings where just presuming that a lot of teams will use spin sometimes. That has been an issue. We have tried to address that with some of the guys that we picked. We have tried to get in some left handers as well through the middle of that innings. Surya has been the number one T20 player in the world for a while. I don’t think he’s too bad through the middle either.”Last week in the IPL, Kohli played one of his best T20 innings against spin, scoring 70 not out off 44 balls against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. He scored 61 runs at a strike rate of 179 against Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Sai Kishore, the most he has ever scored against spin in a T20 game.”All the people who talk about strike rates and me not playing spin well are the ones who love talking about this stuff,” Kohli said after that innings. “But for me, it’s just about winning the game for the team. And there’s a reason why you do it for 15 years – because you’ve done this day in [and] day out; you’ve won games for your teams.”I am not quite sure if you’ve been in that situation yourself to sit and speak about the game from a box. I don’t really think it’s the same thing [as playing out there]. So for me, it’s just about doing my job. People can talk about their own ideas and assumptions of the game, but those who have done it day in [and] day out know what’s happening, and it’s kind of a muscle memory for me now.”

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is in the market for a potential new manager this summer, with Ange Postecoglou likely to leave after a disappointing season.

Ange Postecoglou facing Spurs exit regardless of Europa League

News sources across the British media, including Mirror journalist John Cross and The Telegraph’s Matt Law, have heard from their sources that Spurs could part company with Postecoglou, even if they win the Europa League.

Tottenham now "ready to sell" £50m-plus star and replace him with 24 y/o

Spurs are hatching a plan to reshape the squad.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 23, 2025

It would be quite a feat for the Australian to clinch Tottenham’s first piece of silverware in 17 years amid a campaign blighted by injuries, protests from supporters and potentially their worst ever Premier League season to date.

The Lilywhites face this year’s fairy-tale overachievers Bodo/Glimt in the Europa semi-finals, a side nobody expected to get this far, and Postecoglou’s men are the overwhelming favourites to reach this year’s final in Bilbao.

However, even in the event that Postecoglou keeps good on his promise by winning a major trophy during his second season in charge, something he confidently predicted right at the start of 2024/2025, Spurs’ torrid domestic form and lack of backing from fans could mean he still parts company.

Levy has the likes of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Brentford’s Thomas Frank on Spurs’ managerial shortlist to replace Postecoglou, according to reports,

Further abroad, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has previously shared news of Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi attracting admirers from within Spurs, but it will be very hard for Levy to prise the Nerazzurri boss away from Italy.

The dissatisfaction around N17 right now after this tepid campaign has caused tensions in the stands to reach boiling point, so Levy and ENIC are under real pressure to get this next appointment right, make smart investments into the squad and turn Tottenham’s fortunes around.

Tottenham now eyeing Burnley manager Scott Parker

As per The Mail and journalist Mike Keegan, a new name is now on Tottenham’s growing list of linked head coaches – Burnley boss Scott Parker.

The former Lilywhites and England midfielder amassed 63 appearances for Spurs during his playing days, and has since gone on to enjoy some successful stints during his managerial career – guiding both Fulham and Burnley to Premier League promotion.

Bar a failed stint at Jupiler Pro League side Club Brugge, the 44-year-old has showcased some promise in his early career as a tactician, and it is believed Tottenham are fans of Parker as a manager.

He’s also attracted praise from his peers, with Man City boss Pep Guardiola branding him one of English football’s new “innovative” coaches back in 2021, while former Tottenham left-back Ryan Sessegnon called Parker a “top coach” when he was linked with the hot seat four years ago.

“He’s a top guy, top man and a top coach. He’s just an all-round great guy,” explained Sessegnon.

“He obviously has a philosophy of play and sticks to it and all the players are buying into that. Recently, it hasn’t been so good for them in terms of results, but I think the performances and effort is still there.”

Blackburn Rovers have now registered their interest in signing an “amazing” striker with 96 career goals and are battling rivals Hull City and QPR, according to a report.

Blackburn set sights on new striker

Blackburn narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs this season, finishing just two points behind sixth-placed Bristol City, who ultimately proved to be no match for Sheffield United, losing 6-0 against Chris Wilder’s side on aggregate.

As such, Valerien Ismael may not have to make too many changes to his squad to turn them into promotion contenders, but one area in which the manager is clearly lacking is striker, with last season’s top scorer, Yuki Ohashi, finishing with nine league goals.

Ohashi enjoyed a solid end to the campaign, picking up goals and two assists in his final six games, but it is clear the Japan international could do with some support up front, and the Rovers have now set their sights on a new striker.

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That is according to a report from Football Insider, which states Blackburn have now registered their interest in signing Swansea City striker Jerry Yates, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at fellow Championship side Derby County.

There could be fierce competition for Yates, however, with two MLS clubs keen, alongside second-tier rivals Queens Park Rangers and Hull City, who have also expressed an interest in the striker.

The forward is set to return to Swansea for pre-season, but he is unlikely to stick around for too long, with a permanent move elsewhere expected this summer, and the Rovers are set to be in the mix for his signature.

"Amazing" Yates could help fuel Blackburn's promotion push

Blackburn have remained outside the Premier League for the last 13 years, having narrowly missed out on the play-offs in three of the last four Championship seasons, and it is clear they could do with some additional attacking firepower to fuel a promotion push.

Not a single Rovers player managed to break into the top 20 Championship scorers last season, with Ismael’s side scoring just 53 league goals, which may have been costly in their pursuit of the top six.

There are some signs the signing of Yates could help fuel a promotion push next season, having been lauded for his “amazing” work-rate by former Derby manager Paul Warne last season.

The 28-year-old has been a consistent source of goals throughout his career, bagging a total of 96 across spells with the likes of Swansea, Derby and Blackpool, and the signing of the Englishman could relieve the goalscoring burden that currently rests on Ohashi.

Mitchell Starc stayed away from the IPL for the best part of his peak years, but after winning the title with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), will consider dropping one format from his life, and that might be ODI cricket.”The last nine years, I’ve prioritised Australian cricket. I have given myself a chance to give my body a break and spend some time away from cricket with my wife as well, so that’s certainly been where my head’s been for the last nine years,” Starc said at a press conference after the IPL 2024 final in Chennai, where KKR steamrolled Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to win their third title, with Starc playing a starring role.”Moving forward… look, I am certainly closer to the end of my career than the start. One format may drop off. There is long time before the next one-day World Cup and whether that format continues for me or not… it may open doors for more franchise cricket.”Related

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And franchise cricket could mean two months of the IPL, a tournament he had played just twice in the past, for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2014 and 2015, but usually skipped to be fit and fresh for international cricket.In fact, in all these years of playing top-level cricket – he made his international debut in 2009 – Starc has only played 137 T20s.”I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this season,” he said. “It’s been great, it leads into the World Cup, that’s the other side of the benefit of being here against some amazing players in an amazing tournament. It’s a great lead-up to a World Cup.”Next year – I don’t know the schedule exactly – but I’ve enjoyed it, I look forward to being back next year and hopefully be seen in purple and gold [KKR’s colours] again.”Starc, the most expensive IPL auction buy ever when KKR splurged INR 24.75 crore (US$2,982,000 approx.) had a terrible time of it to start with, going wicketless in his eight overs in the first two games while conceding 100 runs. He took time to get it right, picking up a three-for against Lucknow Super Giants and a four-for against Mumbai Indians, but really came into his own in the playoffs, with 3 for 34 and 2 for 14 against SRH in Qualifier 1 and the final.”I’ve played a lot of cricket, so I know how to manage myself,” Starc said. “I haven’t played a lot of T20 cricket in the last few years, so for me, it was trying to find that rhythm of [the] T20 format, and trying to stay ahead of batters.”

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير آخر المستجدات الخاصة بموقف اللاعبين المصابين في فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي، معلقًا على وجود مفاوضات مع جوزيه جوميز لتولى مهمة القيادة الفنية بالفترة المقبلة.

ميحتل الأهلي المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 15 نقطة، إذ فاز في 4 مباريات وتعادل في 3 وخسر لقاء وحيد.

وقال أحمد شوبير في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة الأهلي: “زيزو وأفشة شاركا في مران اليوم بالكامل، أشرف داري وكريم فؤاد وجراديشار لم يشاركوا لعدم اكتمال الشفاء”.

وأكمل: “عين الحسود فيها عود، بعد تألق حسين الشحات أمس، أجرى أشعة بعد أن سقط على كتفه ولم يشارك في تدريبات اليوم، وشعر بآلام في الكتف، والطبيب ينتظر نتيجة الأشعة لتحديد موقفه من المباراة القادمة أمام كهرباء الإسماعيلية”.

طالع | مواعيد مباريات الأهلي في شهر أكتوبر 2025.. انطلاق المشوار الإفريقي و3 مواجهات محلية

وواصل: “رغم تألق كوكا أمس وحاز على إشادة جميع الجماهير في مركز الظهير الأيسر، لكن محمد شكري الظهير الأيسر الأساسي، أنهى برنامجه العلاجي والتأهيلي وشارك في جزء من التدريبات الجماعية اليوم، وسوف يتم تحديد موقف دخوله في قائمة المباراة القادمة”.

وأتم: “أنا سمعت إن جوزيه جوميز يقترب، لكن لم أحصل على معلومة من مصدر رسمي داخل الأهلي، لذلك عندما يتم التأكد سأعلن، وترددت أسماء كثيرة، لكن عندما يأتيني خبر من مصدر رسمي سأعلن”.

Wolverhampton Wanderers finished their 2024/25 season with a 1-1 draw against Brentford on Sunday.

This result meant the Old Gold finished 16th, 17 points clear of the relegation zone. Vitor Pereira’s opening few months have been largely promising, but there must be some improvements made to the squad during the summer transfer window.

Several players failed to shine against the Bees, however, which could impact their futures.

Wolves' best and worst performers against Brentford

Marshall Munetsi scored a screamer to rescue a point for the Molineux side, and it was an excellent overall display.

He lost possession just seven times and succeeded with 100% of his dribbles during the game.

Sadly, with a move to Manchester United on the horizon, Matheus Cunha looks to have played his final game for the club but he did put in a decent display, registering five total shots while delivering nine crosses into the box as he looked to make the difference.

Metric

Highest-Ranked

Accurate passes

Yehor Yarmolyuk (53)

Key passes

Goncalo Guedes and Rayan Ait-Nouri (3)

Tackles

Joao Gomes (8)

Shots on target

Matheus Cunha (3)

Ground duels won

Joao Gomes (14)

Elsewhere, Rayan Ait-Nouri, who also may have played his final game for Wolves, struggled throughout. Not only did he give the ball away for Brentford’s opener, the defender also lost the ball nine times before being subbed off in the 65th minute.

The worst performer, however, was Goncalo Guedes, and it is almost certain that the Portuguese forward will be on his way out of Molineux this summer.

Why Wolves must sell Goncalo Guedes this summer

Guedes was deployed as a lone centre-forward against Brentford, but failed to make an impression in the final third.

The former Valencia man lasted just 65 minutes. During his time on the pitch, he registered two shots off target, succeeded with three of his six dribble attempts and completed only 20 passes.

There was a moment that left the manager “furious” in the words of Old Gold reporter Liam Keen, when Munetsi cut the ball back but the Portuguese made a mess of the chance and sent it wide.

Across his 29 league matches this season, Guedes scored just twice while grabbing four assists and if Pereira is aiming to take the club into the top half of the Premier League table next season, he should not be the main attacking option, particularly when Cunha departs.

He’s lacked so much pizazz in the final third, notably recording a goal conversion percentage of just 7%, while he averaged 0.5 key passes per game, created two big chances and averaged just 0.3 shots on target per game in the top flight.

Those are hardly the statistics of a player who can make a difference for the club in the final third next season, and this must ensure his departure in the coming months.

Dubbed as “lightning quick” by European football expert Andy Brassell upon his arrival at Molineux, it’s fair to say that he failed to live up to his massive £27.5m transfer fee.

With two years left on his current contract at the club, now is the perfect time for Pereira to cash in on him when the transfer window opens.

It is unlikely he can recoup the near £30m that was spent on him, but any decent fee would bolster the club’s transfer kitty, no doubt about that.

With Cunha departing too, Pereira must bring in another attacker or two.

Wolves can sign their new Raul Jimenez with "extraordinary" £29m star

Wolves will need to replace Matheus Cunha this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 25, 2025

The wicketkeeper-batter has played no red-ball cricket since his debut Test series in the Caribbean last July

Shashank Kishore13-Aug-2024Ishan Kishan will lead Jharkhand in the upcoming Buchi Babu tournament, a pre-season red-ball competition in Tamil Nadu starting August 15. Kishan, who was not part of Jharkhand’s original long list, will link up with the squad in Chennai on Wednesday.The move is seen as the first step towards the wicketkeeper-batter’s full-fledged return to first-class cricket. ESPNcricinfo understands Kishan took the decision to participate, and he was drafted in when he communicated this to the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA).A return to the Ranji Trophy fold is also expected during the 2024-25 season, after Kishan informed the state selectors of his desire to return. His last domestic first-class game was in December 2022. He stayed away from the Ranji Trophy towards the end of the 2023-24 domestic season, and this proved costly for him, with the BCCI removing him from the central contracts list for not prioritising domestic cricket.”With Ishan, it was never about ability,” a JSCA functionary said. “It was only about whether he was ready to return. The decision was with him. When he was not included in the initial list, it was only because we hadn’t heard from him. The moment he expressed his keenness to return, he was drafted in.”Kishan’s return to red-ball cricket comes at a time when India are heading into a long Test season, comprising 10 games over the next five months, but a comeback won’t be easy. Kishan made his Test debut during India’s tour of the West Indies last year, when Rishabh Pant was recovering from injuries sustained during a car accident in December 2022.The second Test of that Caribbean tour, in July 2023, remains Kishan’s last first-class game. He was picked in the Test squad for the 2023-24 South Africa tour too, but he asked to be released citing mental fatigue.Kishan now finds himself behind Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel in India’s Test-match queue•Associated Press

He may have been in line for a Test return during the five-Test home series against England earlier this year, but lost out to KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel after he informed the selectors that he wasn’t ready. He did not take part in the Ranji Trophy either, and the selectors, whose inputs are taken on board by the BCCI when it draws up the central contracts list, were not pleased that Kishan used his time away from the game to train privately with his IPL captain Hardik Pandya in Baroda, instead of playing for Jharkhand.Pant is now back in action, and Jurel, who impressed with both his batting and glovework against England, particularly during a Player-of-the-Match display in Ranchi, has moved ahead of Kishan in India’s red-ball queue.Kishan, who had a Grade C contract until losing it this year, featured in two Tests, 17 ODIs and 11 T20Is in 2023. He was also part of India’s squad during their run to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, and featured in two matches at the top of the order when Shubman Gill was out ill.”When you take a break, people gossip about it a lot, they say a lot of things on social media,” Kishan had said in April, referring to his time away from the game. “But I feel it’s important to understand not everything is in players’ hands. We can only make the best use of the break.”This is what adopting a good mindset is. There is nothing like I want to prove to someone. I just have to go there and enjoy. I have learned that you do not have to add pressure on yourself about these things, which are not in your hand.”

In an attempt to avoid what would be a frustrating transfer blow this summer, the 49ers are now reportedly set to go all out to keep hold of one of their most talented Rangers stars.

Rangers' important summer looms

Having been forced to watch on as Celtic picked up yet another Scottish Premiership this season, Rangers are set for a crucial summer transfer window. Before any incomings on the pitch, however, the Gers must finally find a permanent replacement for Philippe Clement, who they sacked back in February. And whilst Barry Ferguson has had some moments to remember as interim boss, it looks as though the 49ers are set to look elsewhere.

In the space of three months, several names have been mentioned in relation to the job with a decision needed sooner rather than later at the end of the season. Just who leads the race to enter the technical area between the likes of Steven Gerrard, Marco Rose and Rafael Benitez remains to be seen, however, ahead of a decision that the 49ers must get right.

On the pitch, meanwhile, the show must go on and Rangers must prepare to end their season on a high with just three Scottish Premiership games left to play. Playing host to Aberdeen on Sunday, Ferguson will be undoubtedly keen to see his side take any positives gained in a 1-1 draw against Old Firm rivals Celtic and turn those into all three points.

The interim boss reiterated that he’s ready to take the job on a permanent basis after the Gers earned a point against the champions, telling reporters: “Everybody’s got an opinion, I don’t care about people’s opinion, I know I can do the job.

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“I know I’ve got a real good staff behind me. I’ve been asked this question two or three weeks in a row, I think it’s clear, it doesn’t scare me one single bit. I know there’s a hell of a lot of work to be done, everybody knows that. And that’s a challenge that I would meet head on. And I know I would change it.”

Rangers desperate to keep Nicolas Raskin

It’s not just the technical area that those at Ibrox must worry about this summer, of course. The Gers also need to fend off any interest in their star men in order to hand whoever they hire the best chance possible at success.

With that said, according to TeamTalk, the 49ers are now set to go all out to keep Nicolas Raskin and fend off interest from Premier League sides Aston Villa and Leeds United. The midfielder has been a bright spark in a difficult season at times and is set to be offered a new deal which reiterates his importance.

Earning plenty of praise as a result of his performances, Belgium manager Rudi Garcia told reporters when asked about Raskin: “I have Youri Tielemans, I have Amadou Onana and who do I have behind? Well of course when you see Raskin’s match in the return leg against Ukraine well you tell yourself that we’ve won a midfielder for the future.

“Because Nico has shown the he’s able to be aggressive, defensive, win duels, he’s able to propose himself because he likes to come search the balls, he played almost 100 balls during the game with more than 90% pass accuracy, while playing forward, because it’s easy to have 90% pass accuracy when you only play backwards.”

The Ecuadorian midfielder logged 15 goals and nine assists across 139 matches with Vancouver

Joined MLS side Vancouver in 2021Valued at around $5M, per TransfermarktHas eight caps with Ecuador’s national teamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Pedro Vite is enjoying one of the best stretches of his young career, and after a strong run with the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Ecuadorian midfielder appears to be headed to Liga MX.

According to MLS insider Tom Bogert, Vite has reached a verbal agreement with Pumas UNAM, although the deal is not finalized. Sources indicate that the transfer could be completed soon, pending final negotiations and paperwork.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Pumas targeted Vite earlier this year when they faced the Whitecaps in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a tournament in which the Canadian side eventually fell to Cruz Azul in the final.

According to GOAL sources, Pumas plan to use the Ecuadorian primarily as a winger, though he can also slot into midfield. His versatility is seen as a major asset by head coach Efraín Juárez, who views him as a projected starter.

With Aaron Ramsey expected to anchor the midfield, Vite would provide depth and rotation options. If the Welshman – or any of the regular starters – struggles with form or fitness, Vite’s ability to play centrally could prove crucial and give Pumas more tactical flexibility.

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

Pedro Vite could become Pumas’ most expensive signing, with the club reportedly ready to pay around $5 million to secure the midfielder – a figure that would surpass the $4.2 million they spent on Nicolás Castillo.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR PUMAS?

Juárez’s side endured a humbling start to the Apertura 2025, losing 3-0 on the road against Santos Laguna. They’ll look to bounce back Sunday when they host Pachuca.

The Young Lions reinvented themselves at this summer's tournament, and Carsley has shown himself a qualified and capable coach at international level

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

For the first time since 1984, England's Under-21s have retained the European Championship, succeeding where the senior men's side have failed over their last two continental tournaments.

Despite a slow start in Slovakia, the Young Lions ended the Euros as champions again, ousting Germany 3-2 in a pulsating final. Harvey Elliott was the star of the show and won Player of the Tournament, but a fair chunk of praise should also go to head coach Lee Carsley.

There was scrutiny over the 51-year-old following his mixed interim spell in charge of the senior side in the autumn of 2024, but he has again proved his credentials by claiming silverware. Now, he has put himself in the best position to think about taking the Three Lions job on a permanent basis some day.

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  Different game

  Over and over again, we see club managers who can't adapt to the different challenges posed in the international game, and vice versa. The teams who have dominated at international level are rarely managed by those who have enjoyed the bulk of their success in their careers with clubs.

  Lionel Scaloni has only managed Argentina's senior and U20 teams;l Spain's Luis de la Fuente's career prior to first taking charge of Spain U21s in 2018 was particularly underwhelming; Didier Deschamps was a credible manager with Monaco, Juventus and Marseille, but will be most remembered as a coach for his work with France; Germany's previous era of serial contention that culminated in 2014 World Cup glory was built on a long-term vision with Joachim Low at the helm.

  Managing a football team isn't all about the x's and o's, even despite the tactical nuances and evolutions of the modern game. Limited time on the training pitch means even the most astute of coaches can come unstuck, with Luciano Spalletti the latest high-profile flop after failing to bring silverware back to Italy. Carsley's relative lack of experience away from the England setup should not be a knock on his qualifications to take the Three Lions job.

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  Following in Southgate's footsteps

  Of course, England don't even need to look too far to see the benefits of promoting from within and overlooking a coach's club record. Sir Gareth Southgate, who relegated a consolidated Middlesbrough side from the Premier League in 2009 and didn't particularly set the world alight in three years in charge of the Young Lions, is the country's most successful international manager ever after Sir Alf Ramsey, who won the World Cup in 1966.

  Though Southgate couldn't quite get England over the line and came under heavy fire for an over-reliance on intangibles over on-field tweaks, he still managed to steer the Three Lions to successive European Championship finals as well as two deep runs at World Cups. He has been widely credited by players, staff and pundits alike for completely changing the mood of the camp at their St George's Park training base, bringing the energy and instilling the camaraderie required to mix it with the very best in the international game. Gone are the days of cliques brought about by club allegiances, and instead, England players look forward to their meet-ups.

  Southgate, brought in as an almost reluctant successor to the disgraced Sam Allardyce in 2016, learnt how to deal with the pressures of the country's most important sporting job on the fly. In 2018, he focused on fundamentals and set-pieces to plot a route through the World Cup, before his side became a more complete outfit for the Euros three years later. Only the reigning champions of France and a rare missed penalty from Harry Kane saw them eliminated in 2022, and Southgate's England then battled adversity to reach another Euros final in his last hurrah. All this came off the back of England's most infamous tournament exit in 2016 to Iceland, too.

  Carsley, who remains highly regarded by the decision-makers at the Football Association (FA), would be walking into a far smoother situation than Southgate did, whenever that vacancy arises again.

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  Couldn't have done any better

  England U21s triumphed this summer despite being unable to call upon key players such as Jarrad Branthwaite, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Rico Lewis, Lewis Hall, Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo, Jobe Bellingham, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Tyler Dibling. A shorthanded team lacking in the star-power of their 2023 triumph took a couple of games to iron out their kinks, and Carsley wasn't afraid to make bold calls, relying upon only two players from the squad that triumphed two years ago – Elliott and centre-back Charlie Cresswell.

  "The lazy thing as coaches would be to try and just reproduce what we did last time, but we've done it differently," Carsley said after lifting the trophy. "We thought outside the box with our training, with our tactics, with the way that we wanted to play, with our squad selection. We knew we had the Club World Cup in the background as well, so being able to adapt quickly to pivot if we lost players and make sure we picked the right squad that were able to not only play a lot of the minutes with less recovery time, but play to a good standard."

  Winger Jonathan Rowe found success playing as a No.9, while Tino Livramento thrived at full-back after Jack Hinshelwood was brought into defence at the expense of Archie Gray.

  Match-winner Rowe alluded to the impact Carsley had on the side following Saturday's victory over Germany in the final: "Grit, perseverance, determination… you name it. We all dug deep, stuck in and we all achieved what we came here to achieve. It's the start of a new wave. We have so much talent in England so it's only right that we utilise it to its full potential. With the right head coach, with the right staff, with the right mindset, with the right people, you can accomplish anything."

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  Taste of the senior job

  Carsley's short stint in interim charge of the England senior side during the second half of 2024 was quite the ride. The Three Lions won five of their six Nations League matches against lesser opposition in Ireland, Finland and Greece, only falling to the latter in the 94th minute at the end of a match in which the boss experimented with an attacking line up.

  After the highs and lows of last summer's Euros, Carsley was tasked in the short-term to improve the team's playing style and set up a strong foundation for Tuchel to work with. "We wanted the England team to be exciting to watch, be attacking," he said following his sixth and final match. "I see them day in and day out in the training ground and now people have seen it. I don't think it's a gamble with some of these players, they're excellent players and the mentality is what stands out for them. Any challenge you put in front of them, they want to overcome. Like I've said in the past, especially with the U21 players, they have a history of winning and expect to win when they turn up for England."

  This also made Carsley believe he could be Three Lions manager on a permanent basis one day, adding: "I think it's given the staff and myself the confidence that we can do the job. You always doubt yourself whether you can do it or not. We often speak about a lot of England managers sat in the house picking the team and to have the responsibility to do that, the trust from my bosses has been a massive confidence."

  It would not be a complete unknown for Carsley, while he is clearly aware that on top of philosophy and entertainment, England is now a nation that needs to win.