Woakes, Milne set the tone as Invincibles lose their unbeaten record – and Cox to injury

ECB Reporters Network13-Aug-2023

Birmingham Phoenix turned the Men’s Hundred table upside down by thrashing leaders Oval Invincibles by 41 runs at Edgbaston.Without a victory in the tournament before tonight, Phoenix had to win to stay alive in the competition and responded with a vastly-improved display assisted by the availability of England star Chris Woakes, who made his long-awaited debut.Phoenix posted 160 for 8 after Jamie Smith’s high-class 60 off 33 balls lifted them out of early trouble. Their new-ball pair Woakes and Adam Milne then began brilliantly, restricting Invincibles to 12 for one from 20 balls.The visitors never recovered. They managed 119 to suffer their first defeat of the campaign, with a further blow coming from the loss of batter Jordan Cox, who retired hurt in great pain after being hit on the hand by a rising ball from Milne.After Phoenix were put in they at first stuttered in familiar fashion as Will Smeed chipped Zak Chappell to extra cover, Ben Duckett skied a slog-sweep at Nathan Sowter and Liam Livingstone pulled Sowter to long leg where Heinrich Klaasen made a difficult catch look easy.At 44 for 3 from 35 balls, the innings was wobbling but Smith heaved it into motion by smashing 20 from four balls from Sowter and Sunil Narine. Smith and Moeen AIi rebuilt the innings with a stand of 75 in 46 balls before the latter went for an optimistic bye to wicketkeeper Sam Billings and was run out by the direct hit.Moeen Ali slashes one over point•ECB/Getty Images

Smith heaved Chappell into the hands of Jason Roy at long-off but Dan Mousley, Chris Benjamin and Milne all cleared the ropes to ensure a challenging target. Less productive was Woakes’ return to Edgbaston with the bat after he hoiked his first ball to deep mid-wicket to become the final victim in Chappell’s 4 for 33.Woakes was spot on with the ball, though, conceding just three runs from his first set when Invincibles replied. Milne then struck with his first ball, which Will Jacks edged to slip, and the Kiwi inflicted a different type of damage with his sixth which rose into Cox’s hand, forcing him off the field.After Woakes had Klaasen caught at slip, the visitors were 21 for 2 from 25 balls with another batter down and clearly in too much pain to return. More evidence that this was Phoenix’s night arrived when Roy feathered a reverse-sweep at Benny Howell’s second ball and the ball bounced off wicketkeeper Chris Benjamin’s grille and down into his gloves; Benjamin was only keeping because Smith was off the field after sustaining a niggle while batting.Only a flailing miracle could preserve Invincibles’ unbeaten record but the middle and lower order flailed in vain against a Phoenix side which will face Southern Brave in Southampton on Wednesday with confidence well and truly rebooted.Shadab Khan was missing for Phoenix through illness and will be replaced by Tanveer Sangha for the rest of the tournament after leaving on international duty.This was Narine’s final game of the season for Invincibles, but they have a high-class replacement in Adam Zampa and hope that Gus Atkinson and Tom Curran will return from shoulder niggles when they play London Spirit on Tuesday.

Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies left hander, could return to the BBL after he was announced among six batters who have nominated for the overseas draft next month.Pooran’s one previous stint in the BBL came in the 2020-21 season where he made six appearances for Melbourne Stars, smashing 65 off 26 balls with eight sixes in his second outing against Sydney Sixers although Stars lost a thriller by one wicket.His is an eye-catching inclusion on the draft list given his recent form where he hammered 137 off 55 balls in the MLC final to carry MI New York to the title which has been followed by runs in the T20I series against India.Related

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• When, where, how? All you need to know about the BBL and WBBL overseas players draft

• MLC final week: Nicholas Pooran, and a bit of this and that

• Alex Hales: I would 'do a Will Smeed' if I were 21 again now

English batter Laurie Evans could also head back to the league after he was forced to miss last season with Perth Scorchers after being provisionally suspended following a positive doping test.The suspension was lifted in March and Evans is currently playing in the Hundred for Manchester Originals having also been part of the T20 Blast for Surrey. However, he still faces a hearing later this year.Nicholas Pooran played one spectacular innings during his previous BBL stint•Getty Images

Having been on Scorchers’ original list last season he will be eligible for retention, whereby a club has one opportunity to prevent another team signing a player who was in their squad the previous season. Evans played a starring role in their 2021-22 title success with 76 off 41 balls in the final.Other names heading into the draft, which will take place on September 3 following the inaugural WBBL overseas draft, are Alex Hales, Rilee Rossouw, Faf du Plessis and Colin Munro.Hales, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, is eligible for retention by Sydney Thunder as is Rossouw. Du Plessis was originally an unpicked platinum player in last year’s draft before getting a replacement deal with Scorchers so he could also be retained.Munro, the New Zealand left hander, was part of Brisbane Heat last season where he made 278 runs at a strike-rate of 150.27, so they would have the option of bringing him back.This year’s BBL, which will start on December 7, has been shortened to a 43-game season although there is still likely to be an overlap with the ILT20 in the UAE and the SA20 which may affect player availability.Overseas players can nominate in three categories for the draft – gold (AUD$300,000), silver (AUD$200,000) and bronze (AUD$100,000) – with the BBL then selecting a group of the biggest names to the platinum picks on AUD$420,000 if they are available for the whole tournament.How retention picks work

• Have been in a Big Bash squad for a minimum of two seasons and haven’t been contracted to another team since
• Have been in a Big Bash squad the previous season
• Was in a team squad last season but did not play in the starting 13 and have been approved by the Big Bash Technical Committee
• Is otherwise approved by the Big Bash Technical Committee due to exceptional circumstances

Chelsea have already recovered the £30 million ($40m) transfer fee they spent to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town by progressing to the round of 16 of the Club World Cup. The Blues finished second in their group, behind Flamengo, with six points from three matches and reached the knockout stage, where they will now lock horns against Portuguese giants Benfica.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Chelsea have already recovered Delap's fee
• Progressed to CWC round of 16
• Will face Benfica on Saturday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After impressing for an Ipswich side that suffered relegation out of the Premier League in the 2024-25 campaign, Delap quickly became a man in demand once the summer transfer window opened. He was linked with a number of English top-flight clubs, but Chelsea eventually secured the transfer.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  According to , the West London outfit have already recovered the amount they spent on Delap's transfer. By reaching the Club World Cup round of 16 stage, Chelsea have already earned £36.5 million ($49m), which is £6.5m more than Delap's transfer fee.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 22-year-old English forward made his debut against LAFC in the Club World Cup when he came on as a substitute. In the remaining two matches, Enzo Maresca slotted him in the starting lineups and in three appearances, he has scored one goal and provided an assist.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  The Europa Conference League winners will now aim to further progress in the tournament by beating Benfica on Saturday in Charlotte.

Matt Taylor five-for does early damage but Jack Carson, Sean Hunt seize momentum

ECB Reporters Network26-Sep-2023Gloucestershire, looking for their first Championship victory of the season, did much of the hard work at the 1st Central County Ground, Hove, when they had Sussex rocking at 117 for 8. But then Jack Carson (56) and Sean Hunt, with a career best 22, added 71 for the ninth wicket in 21 overs, the best partnership of the innings.Sussex reached 202, with left-arm seamer Matt Taylor taking 5 for 24. Sussex maintained their momentum, dismissing both Gloucestershire’s openers in the first four overs, and at the close of the first day the home side were edging the match, with Gloucestershire 136 for 6.Sussex are also looking for an upbeat end to the season. Two weeks ago they nurtured far-fetched hopes of promotion after a dramatic victory over Leicestershire. But then they were docked 12 points because of their behaviour in that match, and that was followed by a rainy draw at Derby.Gloucestershire had comfortably the better of the first session after choosing to bowl under heavy clouds and on a green-tinged pitch. They took four Sussex wickets and should also have had Tom Haines caught in the slips when he had made just 22 of his 62 runs.Sussex, who welcomed back Haines and Carson – who were stood down for the last match – as well as Brad Currie, moved to 40 without loss. Then, as the clouds parted, the sun came out and batting suddenly began to look easier, they lost two wickets in three balls. Towards the end of his probing opening spell from the sea end, Taylor moved one away from Tom Clark, who edged low to first slip for 12. Then, two balls later, Tom Alsop edged a wide one from Taylor to the wicketkeeper.Next, Gloucestershire turned to their slow bowlers who found immediate encouragement. In just his second over, the slow left-armer Zafar Gohar made one bounce and turn and James Coles, on the back foot, edged to first slip to make it 64 for 3. It was 89 for 4 in the 22nd when Ali Orr, who had struck Zafar for six over backward square-leg in the course of an unconvincing 16, was bowled by the off-spinner Ollie Price as he played forward defensively.Gloucestershire were bossing the game at lunch, with Sussex 114 for 4 and they looked in total control after the break when they took four more wickets for three runs as Oli Carter, Fynn Hudson-Prentice (who made a duck on the day he was awarded his county cap) Haines and Henry Crocombe tumbled in three overs.But then Carson and Hunt turned the match. Carson was dropped on 12 with the score 139 for 8 but pulled Josh Shaw for four to raise the 150. The fifty partnership came in 56 minutes and then Carson on-drove the aggressive Zaman Akhter for another boundary to reach his own half-century, his third of the season.When Gloucestershire batted, Currie broke through in the third over as Ben Charlesworth was caught low down at first slip and then Chris Dent pulled Hunt to midwicket. James Bracey, caught at third slip off Currie, was third out at 42 and Sussex missed three more difficult chances (two from Ollie Price and one from Miles Hammond) before Hammond was well caught by Crocombe in Carson’s first over. Hunt then had Price caught at third slip for 27 and finally Graeme van Buuren pulled Haines to Carson at long leg.

Kent’s cushion above relegation zone cut to one point by Middlesex but Denly remains 105*

Vithushan Ehantharajah27-Sep-2023

It sums up the state of the English schedule that Wednesday at Canterbury began in earnest on Tuesday afternoon in Bristol.Zak Crawley, England’s captain for the ODIs against Ireland, gave a debrief after the most forgettable of three-match series ended with a second washout. With the help of a good legal team, you could argue the most important information to glean was whether he would be coming into Kent’s final Division One match against Lancashire from day two.Preservation of top-flight status was high on the agenda, and the return of an international calibre opener, the only Kent batter to register more than one Championship hundred coming into this round, was only going to be a boost. Yet despite being the nominated player to sub into this fixture, along with Lancashire’s spinning allrounder Tom Hartley, Crawley was “not certain” if he would be parachuting in.That uncertainty remained as day two began, with Kent starting their first innings after dismissing Lancashire for 327. Full bowling points meant they led second-bottom Middlesex by four points with Crawley nowhere to be seen. Maybe he’d be around from day three? Spitfire fans have had much to rue all season, but positive vibes were a must ahead of their most important three days of the summer.Fast forward to 2.39pm, and the fear had returned. Official news came that Crawley would not play any part in the match due to illness, meaning Kent would stick with the same XI. By then, their cushion above the relegation zone was cut to a single point after Ryan Higgins’ 137 powered Middlesex beyond 350.The situation, the broader game, the wider world – all worthy of lament at that juncture. At the other end of the table, Surrey’s own stars for the understudy series had returned – Will Jacks immediately, with Jamie Smith due in for Ryan Patel from the third innings.Related

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On social media and in the stands, Kent fans asked questions, and cursed their luck. And all the while, Ben Compton, the man Crawley would have replaced, scratched his guard, got behind the ball, walked away, came back, scratched his guard some more, then left the next one.Mr Keep Calm And Grind It Out was doing just that on his way to a 95, inching his team to safety. By stumps, Kent were leading by 18 through Joe Denly’s first century of the season, accrued off the back of Compton’s graft, even if the man who fashioned the foundations with his bare hands could not reach three figures himself.It leaves the hosts in with a shout of two more bonus points to extend the overnight three-point lead they hold over their relegation rivals. All thanks to one of their great modern survivalists.In a world where the slow burners are quickly going out of fashion, there remains a lot to respect about Compton’s methods. Yet even amid the defiance, impressive concentration and the odd soft-handed edge just short of the cordon, there were moments you wondered how the ghost at this feast would have played the various scenarios that emerged throughout the day.Sure, Crawley would have scored quicker, particularly on a surface that started reliably enough for Tawana Muyeye to provide 46 of the opening stand’s 64 from just 61 deliveries. Compton had 15 off 51 when Muyeye was superbly caught by Keaton Jennings, one-handed, diving to his right, off seamer George Balderson.Crawley would probably have not let left-arm spinner Jack Morley settle into a comfortable groove that saw him stitch together an impressive spell for his brace of wickets. Turn and bounce did for Daniel Bell-Drummond, before Jack Leaning lost his off stump with a delivery from around the wicket that drew him forward before spinning sharply past the outside edge. That may well be Morley’s last act if Hartley comes into the XI from day three.In fact, Compton’s approach to the turning ball was such that Tom Bailey decided to park his seam for some off spin when the left-hander was on strike. Others might have lost their heads at the disarming sight of a 6-foot-4 quick twirling away with shades on, Compton never lost sight of the bigger picture.Ben Compton fell five runs shy of his century•Getty Images

That he was unable to cash in fully, pulling Jack Blatherwick around the corner to fine leg at the start of the 70th over was a shame, though not the first time he has been undone by the short ball this summer. And it would have stung that the umpires called the players off for bad light two deliveries later.But the ball before the stoppage, Denly’s wearing of a Blatherwick bouncer ran away beyond the wicketkeeper to take Kent to their first batting point. And upon the return after a 25-minute delay, two beamers from Blatherwick resulted in him being pulled out of the attack, unable to bowl for the rest of the innings. Luke Wells delivered the final ball of the over.Sandwiched in between both above-the-waist no balls was Denly’s pull through square leg to take him to fifty from 86 deliveries. It was his second successive half-century after 73 against Somerset last week.A bowler down, with the seamers worn down, not unrelated to Comtpon’s belligerence, Lancashire lost the thread of the match, a point backed up by the 38 extras they’d eventually send down by stumps.Denly cashed in, smashing over the midwicket fence then driving powerfully through covers for four in successive balls as Wells continued from the Nackington Road End. The 50 stand duly arrived for the fifth wicket, with Harry Finch providing just 10 before the 300 was brought up to huge applause from around the ground.Those were bettered when Denly drove aerially through the off side for the three that took him to a 28th century for his home county, with his former club Middlesex indirectly on the receiving end. The extra decibels on the ovation solely to the man, even with the improvement of the state of play.This was the 37-year-old’s first hundred in 18 innings, a sequence that includes five ducks and five single-figure scores. His 2023 red ball average coming into this final round was 13.08, but the fluency here – the second fifty took just 51 deliveries – was a reminder of the talent that remains within.There was time to tick off the century stand (Finch with 24) and get ahead before bad light brought a permanent end to the day at 5:52pm. The scope for Thursday will be quick runs before 110 overs and then any runs as the side quests of bonus points move aside and the match result comes into view. At this juncture, Kent are just about favourites.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman grinned sheepishly. Nobody at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala was quite sure what he was waiting for. But as Mujeeb undid the drawstring on his trousers, it became clear. It was about the item in substitute fielder Abdul Rahman’s hand as he ran out and gave it away for good – Mujeeb had forgotten to wear his box.It was a light moment, one which drew smiles from players on both sides and laughter in the commentary box. Yet it also served as an encapsulation of Afghanistan’s six-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in their opening match of the 2023 World Cup: for all their talent, this was a side short on attention to detail.There were passages of this game where Afghanistan competed well. At the first drinks break, they had seen off the opening spells of Bangladesh’s seamers, and while Ibrahim Zadran had top-edged a sweep to deep backward square leg, they were ticking along nicely at 83 for 1 off 15 overs.Related

• Shoriful hopes memories of U-19 WC triumph spur Bangladesh

• Mehidy is the impact allrounder Bangladesh didn't know they had

• Mehidy, with a little help from Shakib and Shanto, takes Bangladesh past Afghanistan

• Sandy outfield raises concerns about remaining World Cup matches in Dharamsala

And in Bangladesh’s chase, they struck early. Najibullah Zadran’s direct hit from backward point found Tanzim Hasan just short of his ground at the non-striker’s end, while Fazalhaq Farooqi induced a chop-on from Litton Das. At 27 for 2 in the seventh over – and with Rashid Khan yet to bowl – Afghanistan had Bangladesh under some pressure, even if the target was only 157.But first with the bat and then in the field, they brought about their own demise. Rahmat Shah’s dismissal, miscuing a slog sweep against the spin off the first ball after drinks, set about a capitulation of 9 for 73. Perhaps surprised by a slower pitch than most had anticipated, nobody in their middle order managed more than 22.Hashmatullah Shahidi, their captain, personified a collective failure to find the right tempo with the bat. He had pledged on the eve of their tournament opener to play positively, but struggled painfully to 5 off 22 at one stage, rendered shotless by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib. Shahidi eventually started to shift through the gears, then lurched into the sixth one without the clutch down, hoicking Mehidy up to mid-on for 18 off 38.”We just had soft dismissals, really,” Jonathan Trott, their head coach, said. “Guys giving their wicket away, and going against what we had as a game plan. We got close to where we wanted to be, playing in the warm-up games, but it’s about dealing with the pressure of World Cup cricket and playing in major tournaments. That’s where we fell short today.Afghanistan played fewer ODIs between World Cups than any other team at this tournament•Associated Press

“The middle order needs to take more responsibility; but also, if there’s momentum in the game, try and wrestle it back. It just seemed to go all Bangladesh’s way. No one stayed there and tried to absorb some pressure. It seemed to be one-dimensional, a little bit. That’s something we’ve got to work on.”In the field, there were moments of brilliance: Najibullah’s direct hit, and Rahmat’s spectacular catch at mid-off to dismiss Mehidy for 57. And yet Mehidy had already had two lives, dropped by Najibullah at point on 16 and by Mujeeb at deep third on 23. And neither was a difficult chance.The moment of defeat told the story: having plucked the ball out of the sky and held onto a screamer six overs previously, Rahmat misfielded Najmul Hossain Shanto’s off drive on the bounce, and the ball spilled away to the boundary for four. Afghanistan’s moments of brilliance were not underpinned by the basics.”We’ve seen it in spurts,” Trott said. “We just need to do it more consistently – over longer periods of time. Certainly over 100 overs for an ODI. It’s a long day, and you need to be on all the time. Being more consistent in our basics is what’s going to look after us going forward in this tournament. I’m looking forward to seeing how they respond.”This was Afghanistan’s 13th World Cup defeat in a row, spanning three editions, and Sunday marks three months since their most recent ODI win. Heading into this tournament, they were perceived to be a dangerous team in these conditions, but with their next two fixtures against India and England – both in Delhi – they could soon be out of semi-final contention before the World Cup is two weeks old.Perhaps they simply do not play this format enough. A relative dearth of recent 50-over fixtures is a theme across teams at this tournament, but most sides have named squads that have extensive experience to fall back on. Afghanistan are a young side, and played fewer ODIs (29) between World Cups than any other team at this tournament.”We know the areas we need to improve,” Trott said. “We’ve got two big games in Delhi now against India and England. We travel to Delhi tomorrow, have a couple of practices, and then a big match against India [on Wednesday] which is going to be a great spectacle, and I know the boys will be really, really up for it.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Em seus últimos meses vestindo a camisa do Palmeiras, Gustavo Scarpa está cravando cada vez mais seu nome da história do clube. Além de estar brigando por mais um título, ele segue atingindo marcas individuais que vão eternizá-lo entre os palestrinos. Diante do Botafogo, ele fincou mais um pouco esse seu status na história.

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Autor do primeiro gol palmeirense na vitória por 3 a 1 sobre o Botafogo, no Nilton Santos, o meia superou o chileno Valdivia e se isolou na sexta posição dos maiores goleadores do clube neste século, com 42 bolas na rede. Scarpa comemorou o feito “gratificante”.

-Não sou um artilheiro nato, mas fico muito feliz toda vez que marco um gol. Para mim, é uma honra alcançar mais um número tão expressivo com a camisa do Palmeiras, poder ultrapassar um cara que tem uma história gigante aqui no clube, um ídolo para a torcida. É gratificante, fico muito feliz e dou graças a Deus porque tudo tem dado certo – declarou para a TV oficial do Alviverde.

O camisa 14 agora está na nona posição entre os jogadores com mais jogos pelo clube no século (225 partidas, ao lado de Felipe Melo). Ele ainda alcançou a vice-liderança do elenco em participações em gols nesta temporada: 24 ações (11 tentos e 13 assistências).

Campeão brasileiro pelo Palmeiras em 2018, Scarpa fez questão de comemorar a virada sobre o Botafogo na última segunda-feira, quando o time perdia por 1 a 0, e precisou correr atrás do resultado para garantir os três pontos com o placar de 3 a 1 no Nilton Santos.

-De um tempo para cá, essa questão de viradas não tem sido uma novidade. Claro que não gostaríamos que fosse assim, pois queremos sempre ganhar de forma mais tranquila, mas existe um adversário que tem muito mérito. Tivemos uma mentalidade boa, forte, soubemos nos portar bem mesmo depois de tomar um gol e viramos com autoridade. No final, seguramos o resultado, vitória top demais.

O Palmeiras volta a treinar nesta quarta-feira, às 11h. O Alviverde é o líder do torneio com 63 pontos, dez a mais que o Internacional. Além de primeiro colocado, a time ostenta o melhor ataque (48) e a defesa menos vazada (20) da competição após 29 rodadas completadas.

يبدو أن بطولة كأس السوبر السعودي، المقرر إقامتها في هونج كونج خلال أغسطس المقبل، قد تشهد تغييرات غير متوقعة في قائمة الفرق المشاركة، مع اقتراب النادي الأهلي من اتخاذ قرار بالاعتذار عن عدم خوض البطولة، في ظل مستجدات طرأت داخل الفريق خلال الفترة الأخيرة.

ووفقًا لما كشفته صحيفة “الرياضية” السعودية، فإن نادي الهلال تقدّم رسميًا بخطاب إلى اتحاد الكرة السعودي يعتذر فيه عن عدم المشاركة في البطولة، وهو ما تم اعتماده في بيان رسمي، الأمر الذي فتح الباب أمام دخول الأهلي كبديل محتمل.

مصادر الصحيفة أوضحت أن مسؤولي شركة النادي الأهلي يدرسون بجدية عدم خوض السوبر، بعدما جرى استطلاع رأي المدرب الألماني ماتياس يايسله، الذي أبدى تحفظه بسبب عدم الجاهزية الفنية، بالإضافة إلى تأخر حسم الصفقات الجديدة التي يحتاجها الفريق قبل بداية الموسم.

طالع أيضًا | اتحاد الكرة السعودي يرد على اعتذار الهلال ويبدأ تحركاته الرسمية لحسم مصير السوبر

وأشارت إلى أن هذا التوجه يحظى بإجماع كبير داخل أروقة النادي، حيث يفضل مسؤولو الأهلي التركيز على الاستحقاقات الأهم في الموسم الجديد، مثل دوري روشن السعودي، وكأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين، إلى جانب دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة، الذي يسعى الفريق من خلاله للحفاظ على لقبه القاري.

وفي حال صدور القرار الرسمي باعتذار الأهلي، سيتوجه الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم إلى نادي الشباب، الذي أنهى الموسم الماضي في المركز السادس، ليكون المرشح التالي للمشاركة في البطولة، وسط مؤشرات أولية تفيد بموافقة النادي حال تلقيه خطابًا رسميًا.

يذكر أن قرعة نصف نهائي كأس السوبر كانت قد أسفرت عن مواجهة الهلال أمام القادسية يوم 19 أغسطس، تليها مواجهة بين الاتحاد والنصر يوم 20 من الشهر ذاته، فيما تحدد يوم 23 لإقامة المباراة النهائية، لكن الاعتذار الهلالي فتح الباب أمام سيناريوهات بديلة قد تُغيّر شكل البطولة تمامًا.

The Young Lions are European Championship finalists once again, but which of their key players are on course for the senior setup?

England's Under-21s have done it again. Two years after the Young Lions downed Spain to win the European Championship in Georgia, Lee Carsley has guided the next generation to the final of the latest instalment in Slovakia.

Whatever happens in Saturday's showpiece, there will be members of the U21 group who are primed to make the step up to senior level when Thomas Tuchel announces his next squad in September, with no fewer than nine members of Carsley's 2023 contingent earning promotions since that triumph.

But who out of the class of 2025 is most likely to follow in the footsteps of Cole Palmer, Jarrad Branthwaite and Curtis Jones on the back of another successful Euros campaign? GOAL takes a look below…

Getty Images SportJames Beadle (Brighton)

Goalkeeper James Beadle has been England's No.1 at the European Championship having made the position his own in the lead-up to the tournament, starting every game in the run to a second consecutive final for the Young Lions and making some key saves, as well as impressing with his handling.

He is not necessarily set for a first-team breakthrough at Brighton, but another loan in the Championship following his time at Sheffield Wednesday could see the 20-year-old follow James Trafford's pathway into the senior England squad.

September will probably come too soon, but with planning surely under way for Jordan Pickford's succession as the Three Lions' No.1, there could be an opportunity for Beadle to sneak in as third choice in the not-too-distant future.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportJack Hinshelwood (Brighton)

Beadle's Brighton colleague, Jack Hinshelwood is already closing in on a half-century of appearances for the south coast club aged 21, and it's clear he is cut out for the highest level.

What's more, he is a manager's dream; nominally a midfielder, Hinshelwood can also operate in either full-back position and – such is the modern way – he is predictably adept at inverting given he is so comfortable in the middle of the park.

He would certainly fit Tuchel's preferred tactical setup, then, and could perhaps provide a Swiss Army Knife solution to England's dearth of options at left-back behind breakout talent Myles Lewis-Skelly.

GettyCharlie Cresswell (Toulouse)

A veteran of the Young Lions' European Championship triumph in 2023, centre-back Charlie Cresswell has been a stalwart of Carlsey's side this time around, impressing with his defensive work and scoring in the group phase against the Czech Republic.

The 22-year-old is probably closer to a senior call-up than many might realise; having taken a leap of faith by leaving boyhood club Leeds and joining Ligue 1's Toulouse in the summer of 2024 with just a handful of first-team appearances to his name, Cresswell has seriously impressed in France.

Indeed, he is already being linked with a move to the Premier League, as well as Serie A, and there is no doubt Tuchel will have an eye on him amid uncertainty surrounding the long-term future of England's central defence.

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Getty Images SportAlex Scott (Bournemouth)

Former England manager (Sir) Gareth Southgate regularly lamented the country's inability to produce a deep-lying playmaker in the mould of, specifically, Luka Modric – but could Alex Scott be the long-term solution?

The Bournemouth man has shone at the Under-21 Euros in Slovakia despite playing with a broken jaw, demonstrating an aptitude for dictating the play from the base of midfield as well as getting forward to support attacks, assisting against Czechia and scoring himself against Germany.

He will be determined to get more minutes with the Cherries, but he certainly has the technical ability to compete with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton to be that dynamic, creative force in the England senior side.

Joao Felix could be on the verge of a homecoming as Benfica reportedly weigh a £25.6 million offer for the forward, whose form has declined significantly since he left Portuguese shores in 2019. The Chelsea attacker, currently under contract until 2031, endured an uninspiring loan spell at AC Milan last season, and now finds himself at a crossroads once again.

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• Felix's future under the scanner
• Might retrace his steps to Benfica
• Chelsea willing to cut their losses

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After a permanent switch to Chelsea for £45m ($61.75m) following a short stint on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2023, the Portuguese forward managed just one goal in 12 appearances. His performances at Chelsea failed to justify the investment, prompting a loan move to AC Milan. Unfortunately for Felix, his fortunes did not turn around in Italy and was criticised for his attitude and commitment.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to Portuguese outlet despite the struggles, Benfica are considering bringing Felix back to the Estadio da Luz, the club where his professional journey began. They are preparing a £25.6m ($35m) bid for the 25-year-old, hoping a return to familiar surroundings can revive the spark that once made him one of the most exciting talents in world football.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Though Benfica may be keen to facilitate a reunion, reaching a deal will be complicated. Felix is still tied to Chelsea on a lengthy and lucrative contract reportedly worth £130,000 per week until 2031. However, Chelsea and Benfica are scheduled to meet in the Club World Cup Round of 16 this weekend, creating a convenient opportunity for both clubs to hold in-person talks regarding a potential agreement.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR FELIX & CHELSEA?

  Félix's fading relevance in Chelsea’s plans is underscored by the club’s aggressive pursuit of new attackers. Liam Delap has already been brought in for £30 million, while players like Hugo Ekitike, Jamie Gittens, and Malick Fofana are being closely linked with Stamford Bridge moves. Whereas, for Felix, a return to Benfica could represent the chance to reset his turbulent career. Familiar surroundings, a supportive fanbase, and a system tailored to his strengths could offer him the platform he’s lacked since leaving Lisbon.