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Jose Mourinho is back in club management, with ‘The Special One’ reportedly agreeing a two-year contract at Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

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Severed ties with Roma in JanuaryHas worked in England, Italy & SpainEmbracing new challenge in Super LigWHAT HAPPENED?

The enigmatic Portuguese has been out of work since severing ties with Serie A outfit Roma in January. He had guided them to Europa Conference League glory, and the Europa League final, but was ushered through the exits so that the reins could be handed to club legend Daniele De Rossi.

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Mourinho considers himself to be far from a spent force and made it clear when bidding farewell to Stadio Olimpico that he would be open to any enticing offers. He quickly distanced himself from speculation suggesting that he could follow fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League.

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There was talk of the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss returning to England at one stage, but his next destination – according to – will be Istanbul. Mourinho is committing to a two-year deal there, with Fener looking to build on a 2023-24 campaign that saw them collect 99 points and suffer just one defeat, only to finish as runners-up in the Super Lig behind arch-rvials Galatasaray.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Mourinho is a proven winner, with trophy triumphs delivered just about everywhere that he has been. He is a two-time Champions League winner, from stints at Porto and Inter, while tangible success was also savoured when working with Ronaldo and Co at Real Madrid.

The senior quick bowler lashes out at his team-mates, says they haven’t learnt from their mistakes even as the losses have piled up

Jarrod Kimber in Cardiff03-Jun-2019Sri Lanka quick bowler Lasith Malinga was scathing in his criticism of his team-mates’ attitude, saying that they have moved from one defeat to another in recent times without learning any lessons.Speaking to the Sri Lankan press before their game against Afghanistan in Cardiff on Tuesday, Malinga said, “In the last one-and-a-half years or two years, we have been saying, ‘we have lost one game, move on, do well in the next game’. You can’t play cricket like that. We need to learn lessons from those defeats. There’s no point in forgetting those defeats.”I have played four World Cups and I still feel the pressure for tomorrow’s match. The other players must also feel it. You can’t play cricket anywhere without feeling the pressure. If a player doesn’t feel that pressure, that excitement, the nervousness, then there’s no chance of getting 100% from that player. They must think to themselves that if they don’t deliver, they have not done justice to the team.”

We can’t improve our skills at the moment. We need to become mentally tough

In the last three years, Sri Lanka have won just 26% of their ODIs; they have lost to Scotland in a List A match, and Afghanistan beat them in their most recent contest in the Asia Cup.In their opening match of the World Cup, Sri Lanka, who have won just four of their 21 completed ODIs in the past 12 months and lost warm-up matches to South Africa and Australia before the tournament, went down by ten wickets to New Zealand after folding for 136.”All the players must realise their own mistakes first. We can’t repeat the same mistakes over and over,” Malinga said. “As a senior player and as a member of the squad, I hope everyone will have that fear of not doing their duty and feel the shame of losing. Everyone must realise that it’s a must that they perform because if not our cricket will not go forward.”At least from tomorrow, I hope everyone will have that fear because they have been selected as the best 15 to represent the country, not to be passengers. It’s essential that they identify different game situations and support each other in the middle.”I feel players need to get confidence, but we can’t improve our skills at the moment. We need to become mentally tough.”Dimuth Karunaratne, leading Sri Lanka in the World Cup despite not being an ODI regular since March 2015, was the only batsman to show some grit against New Zealand, carrying his bat for 52 runs as wickets fell in a heap around him.”I feel our top-seven batsmen have to take responsibility,” Malinga said. “We need to be patient. Patience is very important.”We know these conditions; we can have someone get 60-70 runs and some balls can still move around. Each bowler has their own method of setting up a batsman and taking wickets. So each bowler has their own ways of bowling those wicket-taking deliveries. I can’t decide that for the others.”

The new coach began her tenure with a near-perfect performance on the road to the Olympics this summer.

If this was a preview of what the rest of the Emma Hayes era will look like, fans of the U.S. women's national team are in for a treat. It's too soon to say that the USWNT is all the way back to its best but, if Saturday's demolition of Korea Republic was any indication, this Hayes-USWNT partnership could be something special.

In her first match in charge, the U.S. smashed their way to a 4-0 victory and, to their credit, it didn't even feel that close. This was a complete performance from top to bottom, one that saw every player on the field raise their level in a bid to impress their new boss.

No one raised it higher than Mallory Swanson, who scored two and assisted another to further her push to the starting XI. An injury robbed her of a World Cup last year, but there doesn't appear to be anything that can stop her from regaining an Olympic spot.

Same for Tierna Davidson, who provided an unlikely brace of her own. The centerback can't be counted on for too many goals, but she got two on Saturday to stake her claim for a starting spot of her own.

Hayes will have some tough decisions going forward but Saturday's match made those look like champagne problems. This USNWT has the potential to be very, very good and, with Hayes at the helm, you're already seeing them take steps toward that potential.

GOAL rates the USWNT's players from Dick's Sporting Goods Park…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defense

Jane Campbell (6/10):

Didn't get called upon much as the USWNT largely dominated the game.

Jenna Nighswonger (7/10):

Looked really solid defensively and was typically good in the attack. Growing as a player before our very eyes.

Naomi Girma (8/10):

Provided the hockey assist on Smith's goal and was great in defense as always. Her passing is such an asset for this team as is her leadership, which is why she took the armband towards the end.

Tierna Davidson (9/10):

Who would have thought we'd be talking about a Davidson brace? A huge game from the defender, who will never be counted on to score as she did on Saturday. Those goals are a nice bonus, though, as she pushes for a starting spot.

Emily Fox (6/10):

A weirdly lethargic performance from Fox, who wasn't bad but not great. Was taken off at halftime as a result.

AdvertisementUSA Today ImagesMidfield

Sam Coffey (7/10):

As usual, did the dirty work and even had a really good look at goal. Still, there are questions if she's dynamic enough for the top, top teams, but she was fine in this one.

Lindsey Horan (7/10):

It feels like Hayes is going to love Horan in midfield. Does so many things well, from final-third dummies to midfield tiki-taka.

Catarina Macario (6/10):

Provided the assist from a corner on Davidson's first but, otherwise, didn't quite look up to the pace. Clearly just needs more minutes after her long injury layoff.

GettyAttack

Mallory Swanson (9/10):

If you had any doubts about her starting, put those to bed. Swanson is all the way back and her recent performances for both club and country make her a lock for the Olympics.

Sophia Smith (8/10):

A striker's finish, to say the least! So much has been made of where Smith is best, but she looked mighty comfortable centrally, particularly on the opening goal.

Trinity Rodman(7/10):

Was outshined by her two attacking teammates, but Rodman still had a good game herself. She's just so dangerous on the ball and, even when she doesn't get a goal, she always feels close.

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Casey Krueger (6/10):

Replaced Fox at halftime, but didn't make too much of an impact.

Jaedyn Shaw (6/10):

Almost scored mere minutes after coming on. Such a dynamic player that's only getting better.

Samantha Staab (6/10):

First USWNT cap and she nearly got her first USWNT goal. Didn't look phased by a moment that, for her, will have felt like a long time coming.

Rose Lavelle (8/10):

A great assist on the fourth goal of the game. That's what Lavelle brings to the table when healthy.

Crystal Dunn (7/10):

She's a forward! It was her pressing, though, that created the USWNT's fourth goal.

Korbin Albert (N/A):

Was showered by boos when she came on, but it didn't seem to impact her as she looked confident in midfield.

Emma Hayes (10/10):

Can't ask for a better start than that, can you? A blowout win, stars stepping up and an identity taking shape… the USWNT are on their way.

Unbeaten now in their last 20 Championship games, Southampton are showing no signs of fading away in the second tier automatic promotion race.

In all competitions, the remarkable Saints have now set a new groundbreaking club record with 21 games on the spin without defeat and a win on Saturday away at Swansea City even saw the South Coast outfit jump up to second spot in the division for the time being.

27

21

2

4

34

65

28

17

7

4

21

58

27

17

7

3

16

58

28

16

6

6

24

54

28

13

6

9

13

45

28

11

10

7

13

43

To really put down a marker about their automatic promotion intentions, Russell Martin's men should continue persisting with this swoop in January despite worrying recent developments.

Southampton battling it out for major deal

Football journalist Sacha Tavolieri reported on Southampton's initial interest in Burnley winger Manuel Benson earlier this month, but an emerging transfer tussle with Leeds United means the Saints have now unfortunately lost any momentum on their side in sealing a deal for the Belgian's signature.

Football Insider revealed, in a report late last week, that Daniel Farke's Whites are in 'very advanced talks' to land the Clarets attacker at the expense of Martin's on-fire Saints.

Still, nothing is set in stone until Benson officially pulls on a Leeds strip and so Southampton won't just roll over for a promotion rival to significantly strengthen.

A deal to bring Benson to St. Mary's until the end of the season could allow the Saints to sail towards an immediate return to the Premier League, with the 26-year-old a promotion winner himself from the second tier just last campaign with dazzling display after dazzling display for the title-winning Clarets.

How Benson fits into the Southampton team

Martin could have the best possible Saints selection headache if Benson joins this month, adding another high-quality attacker to his already talented group up top.

Benson could, however, edge players such as Ryan Fraser out of the side completely and form a ridiculous partnership with Saints sharpshooter Adam Armstrong in the process.

In his last full season at second tier level, the agile 5 foot 7 forward tore the division apart with blistering attacking performances becoming second nature – scoring 12 times and assisting a further three times across the full campaign that concluded in Vincent Kompany's men being crowned outright champions.

A typically audacious screamer from Benson's back catalogue that season sealed the title away at arch rivals Blackburn Rovers last May, a clutch player for the Clarets who could be a similarly effective hero in a Southampton kit if signed.

This unbelievable individual campaign saw football journalist Josh Bunting refer to Benson as a "beautiful" footballer, with reporter Dean Jones describing Benson joining the Saints as a potentially "game-changing" capture in terms of the complexion of the automatic promotion race with Southampton possibly gaining an upper hand.

Coming in at an astonishing 15.75 progressive passes received per 90 minutes over the last year, with Fraser falling just behind with 14.86, Benson could be the missing piece of the puzzle the Saints need to make that second coveted automatic promotion spot their own to usurp Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town.

The Saints will watch tonight's game between the Tractor Boys and table-toppers Leicester City with giddy anticipation, hoping McKenna's men slip up on the big occasion at the King Power Stadium.

After that, Martin will hope luck remains on their side once more and the buoyed-on Saints can somehow pull off a deal for Benson even with Leeds currently in pole position.

Fast bowler calls for final to be available “to as many people as possible” as interest grows ahead of knock-outs

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jul-2019Liam Plunkett has taken to Twitter to clarify his comments about free-to-air access to the World Cup, after appearing to call for the final to be shown on terrestrial television if England make it through next week’s semi-final in Edgbaston.Plunkett’s recall for the past two matches against India and New Zealand helped England to overcome a wobble in the group stages, and seal their progression to the last four of the World Cup for the first time since 1992. They will face either India or Australia in the second semi-final on July 11, with the final at Lord’s following three days later on July 14.Speaking in the wake of England’s 119-run win over New Zealand at Chester-le-Street, Plunkett was asked by the BBC’s 5 Live Breakfast Show whether he would support calls for the final to be made available on free-to-air, given that the World Cup has been overshadowed in terms of viewing figures by the women’s football World Cup – England’s semi-final against the USA on Tuesday drew 11.7 million viewers, making it the BBC’s biggest television audience of the year. England’s World Cup cricket fixtures, by contrast, have drawn an average of 450,000.

.@SkyCricket are an incredible partner for the game and have been for the past 20+ years.
I was asked a question & I never said that it should be on FTA. My words have been twisted & the headline is misleading.

The whole country is behind us. Keep believing. #WeAreEngland

— Liam plunkett (@Liam628) July 4, 2019

“I’m not sure they’re going to do it, but it would great for everybody to be able to watch that,” Plunkett said. “Playing for England, you’re the pride of the country and you want people to be able to access that and watch that. I’m not sure it’s going to happen but for the guys, you want as many people to watch it as possible.”Although the ECB is understood to have held talks with Sky about the status of the World Cup final, it is now unlikely that the match will be made available beyond Sky’s own subscribers. There is a possibility that it will be shown on Sky One, which is estimated to reach half of the households in Britain, and one-off subscriptions may be also made available through Sky’s Now TV platform.”It’s always nice to be on a bigger platform,” Plunkett added. “Hopefully people tune in to watch that game. It would obviously be great to have as many people watching as possible, we feel like we’ve built something special here as a team. It would be nice to go all the way and to have big numbers watching that final if we get through and win, that would be huge.”A proportion of free-to-air cricket access is set to be reinstated from next year onwards, with the advent of the ECB’s new 100-ball competition, after Sky agreed to cede some of its exclusivity to the BBC as part of a new £1.1billion rights deal from 2020-2024.Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive who brokered the deal, recently described Sky as “cricket’s best friend” – the broadcaster has been involved in cricket since 1990 and has been the exclusive partner for home internationals since 2006 – and Plunkett later tweeted to clarify his remarks.”Sky Cricket are an incredible partner for the game and have been for the past 20+ years,” he wrote. “I was asked a question & I never said that it should be on FTA. My words have been twisted & the headline is misleading. The whole country is behind us. Keep believing.”

There's no two ways about it: Manchester United look lost.

Erik ten Hag's team currently sit ninth in the Premier League, but by the time the weekend arrives, they could be as low as 11th.

Their saviour seems to be in the form of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS and Omar Berrada, with the United faithful now hoping and praying that they can invest in some new talent.

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ByMatt Dawson Jan 23, 2024 Man United want to bolster their attack

According to Ben Jacobs via GIVEMESPORT, Man United have made an approach to sign Joshua Zirkzee.

The journalist stated in the report: "Zirkzee is a really interesting one for the summer. Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are three to watch from the Premier League.

"Manchester United are the ones that have had some kind of formative approach, certainly on the player side. Arsenal and Spurs haven't moved yet, but that may change in the summer. There is a release clause, and if Bologna are to be believed, it only applies to Bayern and is €40m [£34m]."

Jacobs goes on to mention that a winter move has been ruled out. For any club (excluding Bayern) hoping to bring him in over the summer, they will have to part ways with £50m as per prior reports.

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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 Zirkzee's potential role at Man United

Marcus Rashford is the most talked-about player in the world this week after controversy sparked over him missing training last week. To add even more to the situation, INews have announced that PSG are interested in signing the United number ten this summer.

Unfortunately for Rashford, what makes the situation worse is the fact that he's having a troubled season on the field, netting just four goals in 20 Premier League games. Therefore, the boss could look to move the England star on in the summer, with Zirkzee joining the club as his replacement.

The former Bayern Munich striker has been superb this season for Bologna, scoring eight goals in 19 league starts while also providing two assists. In short, he has been the focal point of his side's rise up to eighth in the Serie A.

Nonetheless, let's look at the role that Zirkzee could play at United and a handful of statistics from this season that prove he would be a smart acquisition. The numbers below compare the powerful Dutch striker him to his positional peers in Serie A.

Goals

0.43

Top 32%

xG

0.31

Bottom 59%

Touches

43.05

Top 14%

Touches (Mid 3rd)

19.99

Top 9%

Successful take-ons

1.50

Top 16%

Although Bologna are achieving great things this season, they are far from a dominant side in the Serie A, so for Zirkzee to be boasting those goal-scoring numbers is rather impressive. Just over a third of their goals this season in the league have come via the Dutch forward, which proves how influential he is. Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig labelled the attacker as "prolific," and the fact that he outperforms his xG by 0.12 each game underlines that he's clinical.

During his time at Ajax, Ten Hag built a specific system around the qualities of Dusan Tadic, which saw him play anywhere across the front line in a free-roaming role. This is potentially what he could envision for Zirkzee.

Indeed, the 6 foot 4 attacker has all the necessary traits to flourish in the unorthodox position due to his ability to identify space to get involved in play, drop deeper to create overloads, and use his dribbling to unlock defences. His high overall touches, touches in the middle third of the pitch and successful take-ons serve as evidence to that.

Overall, Zirkzee gives Ten Hag plenty of options in terms of squad selection due to his ability to perform in multiple game states and roles. If Rashford were to swap Manchester for Paris, then the Netherlands ace could be the perfect replacement.

Neymar has earned the nickname “magician” at Al-Hilal despite his injury nightmare, with the Brazilian following Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia.

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Brazilian moved to Middle East in 2023One of several household names in Pro LeagueStandard considered to be on the riseGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The South American superstar opted to head for the Middle East when severing ties with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023. He agreed a lucrative contract with new employers, but suffered knee ligament damage after taking in just five appearances.

AdvertisementWHAT KOULIBALY SAID

Neymar has sat out league and cup triumphs for Al-Hilal, but club colleague Kalidou Koulibaly has told of why the 32-year-old forward is still held in the highest regard: “Neymar is a really important player for us. I call him the ‘Magia’ – magician – because he has so much magic in his feet. When he touches the ball, he is incredible.”

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Ex-Napoli and Chelsea defender Koulibaly has enjoyed better fortune at Al-Hilal, with the Senegalese centre-half adding on why more household names are heading to Saudi Arabia: “At the start, nobody really knew much about this league. It was a big decision for me. But when I saw players like Ronaldo, [Karim] Benzema, [N’Golo] Kante – who I was playing with at Chelsea then – make those moves, I also made my choice. I had a difficult year at Chelsea, and I wanted to see something else. When they called me, I studied up about the club, and I’m really happy to be here today.”

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Koulibaly added: “When I came, I was thinking this league would be easier than others, but I was surprised about the standard of my team-mates, and surprised at the level of the league. Even clubs that don’t have big, big-name players are very good – it’s difficult to play against them all. The level is not quite the same as Europe, but over time it will get there because the players will want to come and improve the league.”

Tottenham have been dealt a blow after it emerged that one of their key depth pieces is set for time on the sidelines with a serious injury.

Spurs thriving despite injuries

Despite the departure of Harry Kane over the summer in a mega-money move to Bayern Munich, Tottenham are loving life under new boss Ange Postecoglou. The Australian has bought exciting football back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the very thing that Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho tried to stamp out of the Tottenham DNA.

More importantly though, he has bought results too. As things stand, Spurs sit fourth in the Premier League, seven points off top spot and occupying one of the illustrious Champions League qualification spots for next season. In a campaign where many thought the departure of Kane would send them backwards, they have shot forwards remarkably despite their injury woes that have seen the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Mickey Van de Ven and James Maddison all miss large parts of the campaign.

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ByAngus Sinclair Feb 16, 2024 Ange reveals fresh concern over "fractured foot"

Quizzed on his team news ahead of Tottenham's clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ange revealed that he had quite a lengthly absentee list to deal with, and goalkeeper Fraser Forster is the latest to be added to the squad members sidelined in north London, expected to miss around 7 games.

Forster is yet to make a Premier League appearance so far this campaign, with his sole showing coming in the Carabao Cup Third Round where his side fell to a penalty shoot-out defeat to London rivals Fulham, but he remains the Tottenham number two.

Now, he may not be seen again for some time after picking up a foot injury in training that is set to keep him off the substitutes bench for several weeks. Quizzed on it, Postecoglou revealed (via Fabrizio Romano): "He picked up a knock in training – a fracture in his foot – he's longer-term, a couple of months. Yeah, disappointing."

His £75,000-per-week contract runs out at the end of the campaign and Postecoglou's side are yet to show any sign of wishing to extend his time in north London, meaning that the former Celtic man may well have played his final game for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham injuries

Injury type

Expected return

Pedro Porro

Groin

March

Destiny Udogie

Knee

March

Manor Solomon

Knee

Unknown

Fraser Forster

Foot

April

Ryan Sessegnon

Thigh

Unknown

It means that should first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario be forced to miss a game through any issue, whether it be injury or suspension, Postecoglou will have a major headache on his hands. As it stands, his options are Alfie Whiteman or Brandon Austin, but neither will inspire confidence among the Lilywhite faithful.

Whiteman spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Swedish top flight side Degerfors and has only played for the Spurs senior side on one occasion, while Brandon Austin has been at the club since 2016 but is yet to make his debut for his boyhood side.

With Vicario having been incredibly impressive since his summer arrival, and Hugo Lloris having departed the club in January for pastures new, Tottenham fans will be holding their breath any time the Italian shot-stopper goes down in the final stint of the campaign.

Sussex beaten for only the second time this season as Essex keep faint knockout hopes alive

David Hopps22-Aug-2019Sussex supporters packed into the tight confines of Hove on another sell-out T20 night had relished news of the Ashes exploits of Jofra Archer, but for once they had to make do with vicarious pleasures as they watched their side’s hold at the top of South Group weakened by a nine-run defeat against Essex.The South Group is now as congested as, well, most of the south, with Essex, who began the night in eighth place, still retaining hopes of a late rush into the top four. Only Glamorgan and Surrey can be discounted.Essex’s 168 for 5 represented a challenging target for a side that bases its success around a powerful bowling attack, but David Wiese’s 66 from 36 balls – with Laurie Evans his most productive sidekick – took them within 39 with 28 balls remaining when he was sixth out, sweeping at Simon Harmer.Wiese, one of T20s most experienced campaigners, has entered his Tarantino villain phase with vigorous beard, long hair and determined chew. His free-flowing straight six off Aaron Beard, backed up by two boundaries from misfields, had just taken 17 off Beard’s last over, but he was unable to rescue the game.Essex have the worst T20 record in the country in recent seasons (Sussex have the best), but they dug in well here, despite some shoddy fielding. All their bowlers played a part from Cameron Delport, who had bowled only three overs of medium-paced mix-ups all season but who slipped in two overs without much damage, and the diminutive Australian leggie Adam Zampa, complete with perfectly matching yellow headband, who had Will Beer caught at extra cover at the start of his last over with 23 needed off 18.But it was Mohammad Amir, whose return of 4 for 29 stood out for Essex: another fine over, the 19th, included the dismissal of Chris Jordan, a flat-bat to Ravi Bopara at deep midwicket when the game was still there for the winning.Sussex’s openers, Phil Salt and Luke Wright, were also picked off during Amir’s first two overs. Salt is a batting roulette wheel, capable of extravagant success and failure, and he toe-ended to mid-on. Wright could not control a pull at a ball he might have cut and spliced to mid-off.Alex Carey has claims to be Australia’s best batsman-keeper, but can’t get in the side even though they are picking two of them: he fell to Beard as Bopara fell backwards at cover to take a catch that he claimed more confidently than he caught.Poor old Harry Finch is having a season to forget. He has made a pair in his last two Championship matches, divided by a prolonged spell in the 2nd XI. His first T20 outing of the summer with Delray Rawlins absent with Bermuda brought another duck, first ball, as he was lbw trying to reverse-sweep Harmer.Essex’s general lack of success is hard to understand, especially now that Delport adds a rough-hewn power to the top of their order. They were looking sacrificial at 84 for 4 in the 12th over, but a stand of 82 in eight overs between Dan Lawrence and Bopara ensured a score to be reckoned with.Sussex are not just managing without Archer. Tymal Mills is expected to miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture and legspinner Rashid Khan has moved on, but their ambition has been seen in the short-term acquisition of the Australian Jason Behrendorff, who took five wickets against England in a World Cup group game in June, for their last four group matches.Behrendorff did not take a wicket but made his mark instead with the run out of Adam Wheater and a straightforward catch at long-off when Tom Westley, after making 34 from 25 balls, tried to get after the legspin of Beer. Beer is not quite the regular he was but his record in 107 T20s is a strong one and he followed up an impressive return of 3 for 22 against Surrey with 2 for 19.Lawrence and Bopara broke Sussex’s grip, however, with a stand of 82 in eight overs. Lawrence does not possess prodigious strength and his attempts at innovation did not always come off – especially against the wiles of Reece Topley – but his unbeaten 59 from 43 dominated Essex’s innings, helped for four sixes, more or less straight, against Wiese and Danny Briggs.Even more energising was Bopara’s 45 from 24 balls. One six over the off side against Topley had him grinning with the umpire Alex Wharf about the audacity of a shot that he would have found wondrous enough at his peak. It took a magnificent tumbling catch at long-off by Jordan to silence him with two balls remaining.

Gio Reyna not thinking about club future, but admits a decision will need to be made after Copa America

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Reyna not worried about club future just yetMidfielder wants to feel 'valued'U.S. set to open Copa America against BoliviaGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Gio Reyna is heading into the Copa America after a difficult club season that saw him struggle to earn minutes at two different stops. After failing to crack the Dortmund XI in the first half of the season, the American star was loaned to Nottingham Forest. Unfortunately, the 21-year-old midfielder was used sparingly by Forest as well, playing just under 250 total minutes across 10 appearances.

It remains to be seen where Reyna ends up this summer, particularly with Dortmund set for a coaching change following Edin Terzic's exit. Wherever he lands, Reyna wants it to be a club where he can play big minutes as he looks to continue his development.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT REYNA SAID

"As of right now, I'm very focused here," Reyna told reporters in Dallas ahead of the USMNT's Copa America Sunday night opener against Bolivia. "Obviously, just looking forward to next season, I just want to go somewhere where I'm valued and get to play a lot and have an important role on the team. Whether it's at Dortmund or somewhere else, I just want to find the best solution for myself.

"I haven't really looked into it and of course, my team is working slowly behind the scenes. It's still early but all my focus right now is on Sunday and obviously the tournament coming up."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Reyna recently experienced a big moment in his personal life as he became engaged to his long-time girlfriend. It was a notable high after a difficult season for Reyna, one that he's eager to put behind him ahead of the Copa America.

Reyna credits his now-fiancee with helping him navigate some of the difficulties, and his personal happiness has helped him find some perspective as he heads into a massive summer for both his club and national team careers.

"it's hard at times," he admitted. "I'm a soccer junkie. I go to training and after training, I'm thinking about soccer. I'm watching games, viewing film. I get pretty deep into it there. I'm not somebody who just goes to train and then forgets about it the rest of the day. I wish I could!

"I've learned over time to separate the two and obviously credit goes to my now fiancee. It was a pretty easy decision for me. We've been together for a while now. It's something that I've definitely worked on and she's helped me a lot in just trying to separate the two because it can be draining at times. It's a long season to be soccer, soccer, soccer all the time.

"We're trying to learn new things. We're trying to think of different hobbies and we're just trying to grow together and expand as we go forward."

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Despite his issues at the club level, Reyna has never been in better form for his country. He won the Golden Ball after leading the U.S. to a third-consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title in the spring by assisting on two goals against Jamaica in the semifinal before scoring against Mexico in the finale.

Prior to that, Reyna netted his first international brace in October with two goals in a 4-0 win over Ghana.