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Coach retains optimism after South Africa administer a thumping at Lord’s

Vithushan Ehantharajah20-Aug-2022″Over the next while you’ll probably get used to my optimism as well,” Brendon McCullum said with a smile. “I don’t tend to overreact about anything.”England men’s Test coach was speaking next to the Lord’s Pavilion after the first defeat of his tenure. One of his provisos on media engagements since taking over in May was a preference to speaking after losses than wins: to let the players take the glory while he can front up for the slack. And after South Africa triumphed by an innings and 12 runs, there was plenty of slack going around.Coming after three wins against New Zealand and one against India earlier this summer, the management team are in no mood to overreact. Their foundations of attacking cricket were not installed to be dug up at the first sign of instability. And after Ben Stokes was unequivocal in his stance that commitment to the brand was the issue rather than the brand itself, McCullum reinforced his captain’s view by similarly doubling down.”I guess one of the messages we will be talking about is ‘did we go hard enough with our approach? Could we maybe go a little harder and try turn some pressure back on the opposition as well?'”There’s not much point in hitting the nets as such. For us, we’ve got very good cricketers and they’ve had a lot of cricket over their careers and they know what they’re doing. We just need to tidy up a couple of areas. And one message will be ‘can we go a little harder?'”The idea of going harder when you’ve lost a game inside six sessions, and your 20 wickets inside 83 overs, will naturally jar. The context, which McCullum went on to offer, pertained to the situation England found themselves in from the moment Dean Elgar won the toss on Wednesday – batting first.Victories this season have come through chasing targets of 277, 299, 296 and 378. But the precursors to those were going out in their first innings of these matches after their opponents had their first go. In those first three success, England only trailed by New Zealand once going into the third innings (by 14 runs at Trent Bridge after the Blackcaps posted 553). The 130 they ceded to India during this period of the Edgbaston Test was made up for by dismissing India for 245 in their second effort.In essence, they “chased” throughout the match, not just in the final innings. Their opponents set the pace, and anyone with an appreciation of pursuit, ranging from track running to Mario Kart, will know hunting down the one in front draws a little more focus than constantly looking over your shoulder.The burden of setting the pace, dishing out the banana peels rather than the turtle shells, is an altogether different challenge for this group. Something that England have struggled with for years, long before this first match of three against South Africa when they were skittled for 165 before the visitors established an insurmountable 161-run lead in their one and only bat.Related

• Jon Lewis: 'You don't coach gender, you coach people'

• Ben Stokes' madcap methods enter acid test amidst mixed results with the bat

• Go hard when it suits but dig deep when the force is with those who oppose you

• Dean Elgar revels in South Africa's 'positivity' after winning Lord's Test in style

• Dean Elgar's quiet achievers lay another marker for resurgent South Africa

But McCullum sees no reason why the characteristics exhibited so far can’t be applied from the off: “Sometimes, when I think the scoreboard dictates what you’re chasing, we can be a little braver as well. So maybe that’s something for us batting first, maybe we can be a little braver, maybe we can go a little harder than what we did in this Test match.”We did what we could in those conditions but weren’t quite able to get enough runs in that first innings.”He referenced “a few times” during the innings of 165 and 149 where he felt England could have gone “harder”.”We could maybe have been a little braver to be able to turn some pressure back on the opposition – in both innings. But it’s always the way, right? You have to try to absorb pressure at times and get yourself back to a position of parity to then put some pressure back on the opposition. We weren’t able to do that.”Given how exceptional South Africa’s attack was in both innings, it’s hard to pinpoint those exact moments. Perhaps when Ollie Pope and Stokes were a little cautious up to lunch on Wednesday? Maybe when Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes were relatively flat-footed to their respective dismissals on Friday, even if Bairstow was able to lay a couple on Nortje.Indeed, Nortje felt like a different proposition to anything England have faced so far. He served up the fastest deliveries sent down this summer as part of a sharp foursome alongside Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen. As such, 34.4 percent of the deliveries sent down by South Africa in this match were above 87mph. Given England’s percentage was just 0.2 per cent, and with all the possible options to match that pace consistently out injured, the onus is on the home batters working out how to counter rather than expecting the bowlers to mimic.”He’s [Nortje] a very good bowler who bowls good pace,” McCullum said. “But there have been games when our guys have been able to combat that and have done it previously against some of the best bowling attacks in the world. On this occasion we weren’t able to.”I am not going to give any secrets away because we play them again next week, but there were some conversations and we should have been able to react to it.”Anrich Nortje was the main source of discomfort for England in the second innings•PA Photos/Getty ImagesA surprise weekend off is a silver lining ahead of what now is a slightly longer turnaround ahead of the second Test at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday. There won’t be any extra training, with some players using the extra time off to return home while others will remain in London and attend the premiere of Stokes’ documentary, “Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes”, which takes place in the capital. The squad as a whole will report to Manchester on Tuesday morning.One of those will be Zak Crawley, who returned scores of nine and 13 to continue what has been a dispiriting summer for the 24-year-old. His average this summer sits at 16.40, with a highest score of 46 as part of a 107-run stand in the victorious chase against India, the only time he has exuded the panache and game-changing qualities the group speak so often about.McCullum felt Crawley’s innings of 13 showed a degree of composure before he was lbw sweeping against Keshav Maharaj. And he reiterated his view that he does not expect a steady run of form from the Kent opener, which will irk some fans as it will top-order batters chalking up scores in domestic first-class cricket, like Rory Burns and Ben Duckett.”I look at a guy like Zak and his skill set is not to be a consistent cricketer,” McCullum said. “He’s not that type of player but he is put in that situation because he has a game which means, when he gets going, he can win matches for England.”We have got to be really positive around the language we use with him and be really consistent with the selections around that as well, and keep giving guys opportunities.”He’s a talent, and there are not too many of those guys floating around. He’s still learning his game at this level and that’s okay, that’s going to take a bit of patience and a bit of persistence as well. There have been some fine players over the years who have had periods where they haven’t quite nailed it as well, but then have ended up as great commodities for their sides. We have just got to work that out but I believe in him, that’s for sure.”It is beginning to feel like the most sensible thing for Crawley is getting him out of the firing line rather than continuously pumping up his morale. The encouragement will soon just be white noise to the right-hander, and perhaps that point has come already. McCullum disagrees, both at the sentiment and the notion Crawley is in any kind of mental turmoil.”He’s a tough fella, Zak. He loves doing what he’s doing, playing for England and you will see him around the group and with the contributions he makes inside the dressing room, there’s stuff that goes beyond runs too. And also, I think selection loyalty is really important because not only does it build loyalty with the guys that are in the side but also it builds loyalty for the guys on the outside, knowing that when their time and their opportunity does come they are going to be afforded the same sort of loyalty.”As for McCullum, the upbeat disposition comes so naturally that the sincerity of his words behind closed doors can no doubt lift those under his care in a short space of time, especially as they have already bought in to this new era. Quite how those same words resonate outside those four walls remains to be seen.”I know we are judged by our results, but for us it’s bigger than that and the approach we try to take to the game,” he added. “The language we use in the dressing room and the confidence that we try to build amongst the group for the style of cricket we want to play. It gives us, we think – the skipper and myself – our greatest chance of being able to win Test matches and become a very good Test side.”But we’re still going to lose Test matches occasionally. And that hurts. We’ve just got to crack on and get yourselves up for the next one.”

Set pieces in the Premier League are back in fashion, with teams looking to exploit corners, free kicks and long throw ins once again after a period of tiki-taka football inspired by Pep Guardiola.

Now, plenty of the 20 top-flight clubs have set-piece coaches, with title contenders Arsenal arguably the best in the world at dead-ball situations, led by Nicolas Jover.

If used correctly, teams can cause havoc from corners, throw-ins and free kicks, leaving no stone unturned. Here you can find a live ranking of every Premier League club in the 2025/2026 season, with every goal scored from set-pieces updated weekly.

20

Man City

Set-Piece Goals Scored – 0

Surprisingly, Man City are rock bottom of the set-piece goal table and are yet to register from a corner, free-kick or throw in.

Pep Guardiola’s side were awarded their first penalty of the season against Liverpool, however, Erling Haaland failed to convert. That hasn’t stopped the striker leading the way in the goalscoring charts, though.

19

Wolves

Set-Piece Goals Scored – 2

Rock bottom of the league table, Wolves don’t fare much better in the set-piece table, registering two goals from dead-ball situations.

Vitor Pereira lost his job after 10 games without a win, with those at Molineux facing a huge task to remain in the Premier League in 2026.

18

Liverpool

Set-Piece Goals Scored – 2

Defending champions Liverpool haven’t been at their best so far this season, and are also struggling at set-pieces, netting just twice from dead-ball situations.

Excluding penalties, the Reds only scored five times from corners, free-kicks and throw-ins last season, showing a side of the game Arne Slot’s side could do with improving.

17

Fulham

Set-Piece Goals Scored – 2

Now an established Premier League team, Fulham, under Marco Silva, have the likes of Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez in attack looking to get on the end of any set piece.

The Cottagers have also benefited more from own goals than any other side in the top flight so far with three.

16

Aston Villa

Set-Piece Goals Scored – 2

Aston Villa netted 14 times from set pieces in 2024/25, however, Unai Emery’s side have only registered two goals from dead-ball scenarios so far this season.

On the up after a poor start, Villa will be looking to increase their set-piece tally while also balancing Europa League football at Villa Park.

15

Nottingham Forest

Set-Piece Goals Scored – 3

Nottingham Forest, who netted 12 times from corners, free-kicks and throw-ins in 2024/25 under Nuno Espirito Santo, are on three set-piece goals.

After sacking Nuno and his replacement Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche is the man in charge at the City Ground, so Forest’s set-piece record could quickly improve.

14

Burnley

Set-Piece Goals Scored – 3

Burnley have so far scored six Premier League goals, three of which have come from dead-ball situations.

The Clarets under Scott Parker, could rely heavily on set pieces if they are to avoid the drop back to the Championship.

13

West Ham

Set-Piece Goals Scored – 4

Struggling at the bottom of both tables are West Ham. The Hammers were among first to make a managerial change, with Nuno replacing Graham Potter at the London Stadium.

He’s improved on the Irons’ poor record from set pieces with four goals, which has helped them record some crucial wins.

12

Everton

Set-Piece Goals Scored – 4

Everton, under David Moyes, appear to be settling in to their new Hill Dickinson Stadium and will be looking to avoid another relegation battle.

Iliman Ndiaye scored the first penalty at Everton’s new stadium in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, and the Toffees have scored three more from corners, free-kicks or throw-ins.

11

Newcastle

Set-Piece Goals Scored – 4

With Champions League football back on offer at St James’ Park, Newcastle have struggled by their recent standards in the Premier League.

The Magpies have managed to score three goals from corners, free-kicks and throw-ins, with the other among from the spot, so they are on track to surpass their 24/25 tally of nine excluding penalties.

Last season, Celtic reached the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in 12 years, agonisingly ousted by Bayern Munich, but now their hopes of Europa League progression are already in the balance.

After two league phase fixtures, Brendan Rodgers’ side have just a solitary point on the board, with Kelechi Iheanacho on target during a 1-1 draw with Crvena zvezda in Belgrade, before Braga prevailed 2-0 at Parkhead eight days later.

On Thursday night, Austrian champions Sturm Graz will be the latest visitors to Glasgow’s East End, fresh from beating Rangers 2-1 at Liebenauer Stadium earlier this month.

After this, the Celts’ remaining fixtures at Midtjylland (A), Feyenoord (A), Roma (H), Bologna (A) and Utrecht (H), none of which will be easy, underlining the importance of getting their European campaign up and running against die Schwoazn.

If the Hoops are to claim a first European win of the season, at the fifth attempt, Rodgers must make changes to his attack.

Why Yang Hyun-jun needs to be dropped

On Sunday, Celtic suffered their first domestic defeat of the season, beaten 2-0 by Dundee at Dens Park, both goals coming in the first 45.

Thus, at half-time, a clearly frustrated Rodgers made a double substitution, one which saw Yang Hyun-jun replaced by James Forrest.

The South Korean international registered just 25 touches and attempted zero dribbles, leading to Chris Sutton, speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage at the break, exclaiming “just get him off”, asserting that he’d offered absolutely nothing.

In total, since arriving from Gangwon FC in July 2023, Yang has scored just eight goals and accumulated only nine assists in 74 Celtic appearances, his sole strike of this season coming against Partick Thistle in the League Cup at Firhill.

With star attacker Daizen Maeda still sidelined, there is a void to fill in the Celtic forward line, but Rodgers must look elsewhere and make a change on Thursday night.

Rodgers must start Celtic's "terrific talent" vs Sturm Graz

As mentioned, it was Forrest who replaced Yang at the interval at Dens, with Michel-Ange Balikwisha not introduced until the 64th minute.

Despite limited minutes, he registered a shot on target and accumulated 20 touches, only one fewer than Iheanacho, who played the full 90 minutes, showing glimpses of what he’s capable of so far, certainly enough to warrant a start.

During his time at previous club Royal Antwerp, Balikwisha scored 30 goals and registered 17 assists in 145 games, at his best during the 2023/24 Jupiler Pro League season, his most recent campaign blighted by injuries, as the table below documents.

As the statistics outline, Balikwisha is a high-volume dribbler who is also capable of producing end-product, highlighted by the fact he ranked highly when it came to goal-creating actions, key passes and accurate crosses in the Belgian top-flight.

Journalist António Mango was certainly impressed, labelling him a “terrific talent”, while former Celtic player and manager Neil Lennon is “looking forward to seeing” what he can produce, optimistic he could be the club’s next “really good winger”.

Meantime, upon his arrival in Glasgow, Rodgers described him as a “really talented, exciting player” who “will be an important player for us moving forward”, noting that he “can play both sides of the pitch”, which makes him extra useful.

So, ahead of a pivotal fortnight of fixtures, in the absence of Maeda, Iheanacho will be the first-choice centre-forward, while fellow new recruit Sebastian Tounekti has cemented his spot in the starting lineup, impressing since arriving from Hammarby.

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This leaves one position up for grabs and Balikwisha definitely deserves the opportunity to stake a claim, likely to get the nod on the right, with Yang and veteran Forrest the alternative options, so the Belgian surely has to be in the XI come Thursday’s must win match.

Not just Yang & Scales: 18-touch Celtic dud must be dropped by Rodgers

Celtic suffered their first Premiership defeat of the season at Dundee on Sunday, and one flop, not Liam Scales or Yang Hyun-Jun, must be dropped.

By
Ben Gray

Oct 20, 2025

The Chicago Cubs were blown out by the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night, losing 12-3 at Oracle Park.

During the loss the Cubs gave up one of the weirdest runs of the season on a play that had the Giants' announcers chuckling in disbelief.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Matt Chapman hit a single to right field. Then as he stood on first base he was hit in the head by Kyle Tucker's throw from the outfield. The ball bounced off his helmet and went flying over the catcher before landing behind home plate, which allowed Dominic Smith to score from third base.

Here's how that played out:

Now that is using your head, Matt Chapman.

The Cubs, who have lost two straight to the Giants, will try to avoid being swept when they square off in the series finale on Thursday afternoon.

As Clayton Kershaw struck out Chicago White Sox third baseman Vinny Capra to close the top of the sixth inning and record the 3,000th strikeout of his career, the crowd at Dodger Stadium erupted in celebration. Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000 career strikeouts, and was met with a standing ovation from the crowd and congratulatory hugs from his teammates.

Among the teammates to embrace Kershaw after reaching this special milestone was Freddie Freeman, who has been counting down the number of strikeouts Kershaw needed to reach 3,000 all season. Since Kershaw returned from injury earlier this year, Freeman has diligently reminded Kershaw after every single start of how many more strikeouts he needs to reach 3,000.

When Kershaw finally reached 3,000 strikeouts, Freeman congratulated him and simply told him, "zero more," via SportsNet LA.

"Freddie does a good job of making me uncomfortable," Kershaw said after the game. "It does show that he cares though and shows that he's happy for me."

"That was special. To be able to do it at home, 18 years he's spent here in front of these fans it's just special," Freeman told Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA. "… For Clayton to do it here, 3,000 strikeouts we might never see that again. we got to witness history and we got him a win out of it too."

Freeman ensured that Kershaw's special accomplishment ended with a win for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who trailed 4-2 entering the bottom of the ninth inning. The Dodgers mounted a ninth inning comeback, and Freeman sealed the victory with a walk-off RBI single, capping off an overall storied night.

Bruno Fernandes has been accused of playing out of his usual position because he wants to do "too much" as Manchester United captain. Former United defender Patrice Evra said Fernandes had carried United on his back in recent years with the numbers of goals and assists he has contributed to the Red Devils but he believes he could do with exerting more control on the team.

• Fernandes having mixed season with Man Utd

  Fernandes rejected a highly-lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in the summer to stay at United but has experienced mixed fortunes in a hit-and-miss season for the Red Devils. Fernandes has contributed to 10 of the team's 26 goals in the Premier League, scoring twice and getting an assist in their last game against Wolves. 

  The captain, however, has been blamed for United's inconsistent results such as losing at home to 10-man Everton and failing to beat a poor West Ham side in the last three weeks, having pulled off impressive wins over the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

  And former United left-back Evra said Fernandes' tendency to play all over the pitch rather than focus on his central midfield role is preventing him from controlling the team's play as he should.

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  Evra: Hard to tell where Fernandes is playing

  Evra told GOAL, via : "It’s always sensitive to talk about Bruno. It depends what people call a real captain. With a captain, sometimes you can have someone like Roy Keane or a different one. Bruno is giving assists and scoring goals, this has never been the issue. The issue for me is for him to control the team and the tempo when he gets the ball.

  "You couldn't tell me where he's playing because he's everywhere. So sometimes maybe as a captain, you want to do extra, you want to do too much. And at the end, you're not even at your right position. But United wouldn't be where they are in the table if Bruno wasn't playing."

• Evra: Maguire a better player since losing captaincy

  Evra said he has no issues with Fernandes being United's skipper. But he noted how Harry Maguire had a burden lifted from him when he had the captaincy taken off him by Erik ten Hag in 2023. Maguire – who is currently out injured – has changed the narrative around him in the last two seasons with much-improved performances in defence, proving well-suited to Amorim's back three. 

  He has scored six goals since the start of last season, including handing United their first victory at Anfield in 10 seasons and grabbing the famous last-gasp winner against Lyon in the Europa League. 

  Evra explained: "I don't question the fact about Bruno being a captain – he deserves to be captain because Amorim has chosen him. Look at what's happening to Maguire. They got rid of the armband and he now plays like a United player. You saw how people were bullying him on social media or whatever. But he said, I'm staying here."

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  United can't afford to not return to UCL

  United climbed into sixth place in the Premier League after beating Wolves and the challenge is to move into the top four and return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. Evra said United should have no excuse for not qualifying for Europe's top competition, which they did in all but one of his nine seasons at Old Trafford as a player.

  "Under the previous manager, we won the FA Cup and EFL Cup, but you lose a lot by not being in the Champions League," Evra said. "It’s going to be tough. You’ve got Arsenal, City, Chelsea and Aston Villa giving it a real go. If United do not finish in the top four then it’ll be a massive disappointment – a failure. 

  "When I played for United, the goal was winning four trophies per season and now we’re talking about qualifying for the Champions League. Our wages went down by 30 per cent if we didn’t qualify for the Champions League, but we never had that issue."

It might not have been vintage Bruno Fernandes this season, yet, even so, the Manchester United skipper is still the heartbeat of Ruben Amorim’s side, as was evident again on Monday night.

Up against an undoubtedly poor Wolverhampton Wanderers side, the 31-year-old was arguably the deciding factor, netting twice himself, while providing a delicious assist for Mason Mount to convert for United’s third.

Two missed penalties earlier in the campaign may have highlighted a drop in standards, although Fernandes still ranks third in the Premier League for goals and assists in 2025/26, while leading the way again for chances created (45).

The hope will be that the Portugal star can replicate last season’s heroics, which saw him overcome a slow start – having failed to score until Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim appointment – before going on to rack up 38 goals and assists in all competitions.

Suitable for a midfield two or not, the ex-Sporting CP playmaker remains so influential to United’s fortunes – but what will happen if the club are left to make do without him?

Latest on Man Utd's search for a midfielder

It’s worth noting that Fernandes, speaking ahead of his 300th United appearance earlier this season, gave no suggestion that he was angling for a move away from Old Trafford, having openly discussed the decision to turn down a move to Saudi side Al Hilal over the summer.

Nor, however, did the £300k-per-week sensation completely shut down the topic of his long-term future, having relayed that he won’t discuss any potential plans until after the World Cup, with just 18 months left to run on his existing deal.

There have been suggestions that INEOS could even look to cash in on their talisman in order to help fund a midfield overhaul in 2026, with potential replacements seemingly being eyed up.

With that in mind, reports in Spain have claimed that the Red Devils are among the clubs pursuing a move for Real Madrid sensation, Arda Guler, with both Arsenal and Liverpool also in the frame.

The report suggests that United have already ‘accelerated initial contacts’ regarding a possible swoop, with the 20-year-old’s ‘versatility’ noted as a selling point for Amorim and co.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Whether the LaLiga giants would be willing to sell the Turkish starlet remains to be seen, although prior reports indicate he could command a fee of around £88m.

Why Guler could be the perfect successor to Fernandes

It was a moment that epitomised the genius of Bruno Fernandes.

Picking the ball up just outside the Wolves box, the midfielder – who had been sent off at Molineux just over a year ago – had the vision and the quality to pick out Mount with a stunning dinked pass, building on the two inventive assists he produced at Selhurst Park late last month.

Even when not at his free-flowing best, the majestic talent can still unlock a defence in an instant, possessing the type of creative quality that few can match across the global game.

Finding a successor to such a figure thus appears almost impossible, if not improbable, yet Guler would be a more than worthy option, having been hailed as the “best CM/AM prospect in world football right now” by writer Neal Gardner.

That praise is not without merit, with Como’s Nico Paz the only attacking midfielder under the age of 21 to have registered more goals and assists (ten) than Guler in Europe’s top five leagues this season, as per Transfermarkt.

A key beneficiary of Xabi Alonso’s arrival at the Bernabeu, the rising star has already chalked up ten goals and assists in 22 games in all competitions this term, the same number of goal involvements that Fernandes has achieved back in Manchester.

Like Fernandes, the former Fenerbahce man has the flexibility to flourish in a more advanced role, or on the flanks, although he has blossomed in a slightly deeper role of late, averaging 2.3 key passes per game and creating eight ‘big chances’ in LaLiga this season, as per Sofascore.

For context, back at United, Fernandes has created seven ‘big chances’, albeit while averaging three key passes per game, with the pair both representing the creative hubs for their respective sides.

Interestingly, too, the Red Devils skipper is noted as the fifth most similar midfielder to Guler across Europe’s top five leagues, with regard to their stylistic and statistical likeness, as per FBref, further reinforcing why the Madrid man could fill that possible void in Amorim’s future side.

As indicated above, the pair – across the last 365 days – have enjoyed a particularly similar record with regard to assists, shot-creating actions, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, all key attributes for a playmaking midfielder in their pomp.

In truth, United have rarely seen a side without Fernandes in it, such is his remarkable reliability and availability, although if the day comes where he opts to move on to pastures new, Guler must surely be at the top of the list with regard to replacements.

Prising him from the Spanish capital might not be easy, although with Alonso’s place at Los Blancos seemingly under threat, now could be the time to pounce.

He's like Caicedo: Man Utd ready bid to sign England's "best CM since Scholes"

Manchester United look set to make a huge January move for one English sensation.

By
Ethan Lamb

4 days ago

The MLB season is at the midway point and the top two teams from preseason remain the betting favorites. There are some new contenders making a move up the oddsboard, however. 

The Dodgers remain the betting favorite at FanDuel Sportsbooks with +210 odds. They were +240 before the season began and currently have the best record in baseball at 52-31. 

The Yankees, who were +900 to start the year, are now +650. They are 47-34 and lead the AL East by 1.5 games over the Tampa Bay Rays, who are one of the big movers up the oddsboard with +2500 odds at FanDuel after starting the year +5000. 

The Tigers, who have the second-best record in baseball, are another big mover. They’re currently +850 at FD after opening the year at +3000. 

The Phillies are tied with the Dodgers for the second-best odds at +850. They were +1000 before the season began. 

The Braves are one of the biggest movers down the oddsboard. They opened at +850 but are now +4000. The Braves are 37-44 and in third place in the NL East behind the Phillies and Mets. 

The Mets are +1200 after opening the year +1100. They’ve been going through a cold streak, having won just three of their last 10 games. 

The Orioles are the biggest movers down the oddsboard. They opened the season at +1600 but now find themselves at +21000 after starting the year 35-46 and being in last place in the AL East. 

The MLB All-Star break is July 15 and the trade deadline is July 31. Much will change in these odds between now and then and we’ll be sure to provide an update around those events. But it felt apt to take a look at the odds with most teams either at or just past the midway point of the 162-game season. 

Here are the World Series odds for every team at FanDuel Sportsbook. 

2025 World Series Odds

• Los Angeles Dodgers +210
• New York Yankees +650
• Philadelphia Phillies +850
• Detroit Tigers +850
• Houston Astros +1100
• New York Mets +1200
• Chicago Cubs +1400
• Tampa Bay Rays +2500
• Seattle Mariners +3200
• San Diego Padres +3300
• San Francisco Giants +3400
• Toronto Blue Jays +3700
• Atlanta Braves +4000
• Milwaukee Brewers +4400
• Texas Rangers +4500
• Boston Red Sox +6000
• Minnesota Twins +6000
• St. Louis Cardinals +6000
• Arizona Diamondbacks +7500
• Cleveland Guardians +9000
• Kansas City Royals +11000
• Cincinnati Reds +11000
• Baltimore Orioles +21000
• Los Angeles Angels +34000
• Colorado Rockies +50000
• Washington Nationals +50000
• Pittsburgh Pirates +50000
• Chicago White Sox +50000
• Miami Marlins +50000
• Athletics +50000

Eric Garcia has committed his long-term future to Barcelona, signing a new deal that keeps him at Camp Nou until 2031. The defender, who has established himself as a key starter since his return from a successful loan spell at Girona, admitted his "dream" is to spend his entire career at the club after overcoming a difficult start to life in Catalonia.

• Garcia commits future to Barcelona

  Barcelona have officially secured the services of Garcia for the next six years, with the centre-back putting pen to paper on a contract renewal that runs until June 2031. The agreement marks a significant turnaround for the 24-year-old, whose career at his boyhood club appeared to be in jeopardy just eighteen months ago.

  Having returned to the club from Manchester City in 2021, Garcia struggled to nail down a permanent spot in the starting XI during his initial two seasons, eventually leading to a loan move to Girona. However, after playing a pivotal role in Girona’s historic qualification for the Champions League, Garcia returned to Barcelona with renewed confidence. He has since become an integral part of the defensive setup, prompting the club's hierarchy to reward him with a long-term extension.

  The renewal is seen as a vote of confidence from the coaching staff, who have been impressed by Garcia's ability to play both in central defence and as a holding midfielder and his ability to bring the ball out from the back, a trait ingrained in him during his time at La Masia.

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  'Dream to play my whole life here'

  Addressing the media after the signing, an emotional Garcia opened up about his journey, which he describes as achieving his dream "at the third time of asking." After leaving La Masia for City as a teenager, returning to Barcelona, and then leaving again for Girona, he feels he has finally established himself where he belongs.

  "The dream before leaving [for City] was to triumph at Barca," Garcia said. "When you return, the dream starts again. I had to go to Girona, but my dream was to triumph here, to play my whole life here."

  The defender believes that the experience of playing regular football in a high-performing team allowed him to mature, ensuring that when he reintegrated into the Barcelona squad in 2024, he was ready to seize his opportunity.

  "I have always believed that I could be a starter, whether I played or not," he added. "I am enjoying the starts. But if one day the manager doesn't play me, I will keep believing."

• Ignoring the noise and finding consistency

  Garcia also addressed the heavy criticism he faced during his first stint in the Barcelona first team. Arriving during a tumultuous period for the club, both financially and on the pitch, the young defender often found himself the scapegoat for defensive frailties. He admitted that the pressure was immense but insisted that the experience has given him a thicker skin.

  "When I came back I was very young, we all know how this goes," Garcia reflected. "You go from being the best to the worst. I arrived in a difficult era in which the club demanded results. It kept me calm. Now, neither by playing well am I the best, nor when I mess up will I be the worst.

  "That consistency makes great players," he said. "One has to be calm when things get tough, keep your head down. Afterwards, everything comes."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Garcia aiming to keep the dream alive

  With his future now secure, Garcia will look to continue his run in the starting lineup as Barcelona aim to consolidate their position at the top of the La Liga table. The Catalan giants are currently enjoying a strong run of form, and Garcia's partnership in defence has been a cornerstone of that success.

  The defender will likely be in the starting XI again this weekend as Barcelona return to La Liga action against Osasuna at Camp Nou on Saturday, where they will hope to maintain their lead over rivals Real Madrid. Three days later, they face Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey.

Throughout the years, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been truly blessed with the chance to watch numerous elite-level attackers feature for the club.

Players such as Heung-min Son, Teddy Sheringham and Harry Kane all managed to make themselves club-legends in North London, with the latter breaking nearly every record in sight.

The 32-year-old currently sits at the top of the Lilywhites’ all-time scoring charts on 280, which saw 208 of his efforts come in the Premier League – with only Alan Shearer scoring more.

However, Spurs’ lack of success on the pitch ultimately led to his departure in 2023, which has left boss Thomas Frank unable to have the chance to work alongside the talisman.

He will no doubt want his own elite-level talent within the final third, potentially landing a player of that calibre during the upcoming January transfer window.

Spurs’ hunt for new attackers in January

Over the last couple of months, Spurs have been just one Premier League side linked with a potential deal for Porto star Sami Aghehowa in the winter window.

The Spaniard has been in tremendous goalscoring form during the early stages of 2025/26, as seen by his remarkable tally of 13 goals in his first 22 appearances across all competitions.

However, the Portuguese outfit don’t want to lose their star man anytime soon, subsequently slapping an €80m (£70m) asking price onto the 21-year-old’s head.

He’s not the only centre-forward in their sights ahead of the upcoming window, with Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta another player being considered by Fabio Paratici.

According to one Spanish outlet, the Lilywhites are seriously considering tabling a bid for the Frenchman in January, as his contract talks at Selhurst Park look to have stalled in recent weeks.

It also states that the Eagles may be forced to offload the 28-year-old in the near future to avoid losing him for nothing, with his current deal set to expire in June 2027.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s next Mbeumo

During Frank’s time in charge at Brentford before taking the Spurs job, he often had numerous top-level attackers at his disposal, which helped make the Bees an established top-flight club.

The Dane mainly relied on forward Bryan Mbeumo during the latter years of his spell at the GTEC, with the Cameroonian international providing a constant source of goals in the Premier League.

During the 2024/25 season, the 26-year-old netted a career-best 20 league goals, ending the campaign as just one of five players to achieve the feat in the division.

He no doubt thrived under the 52-year-old across the capital, so much so that the manager made a fierce attempt to land his signature after taking the reins in North London.

However, a reunion just wasn’t meant to be, as Mbeumo opted for a move to join Manchester United during the summer, subsequently leading Frank to hunt for a new talisman.

The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison have often provided the goods in attacking areas for Spurs this campaign, but Frank could get his new star forward with a move for Mateta this winter.

The Palace star has registered 30 goals in the last two full seasons in England’s top-flight, whilst already making huge waves during the first 15 games of the new campaign.

Mateta already has seven goals in 2025/26, but it’s his underlying stats from his outings at Selhurst Park that would make him Frank’s next star attacker in the capital.

The French international, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has registered 1.6 shots on target per 90 this season, which such a tally ranking him in the top 7% of all players in the league.

Such a figure showcases his relentless nature in front of goal, handing the Spurs side the constant nuisance and goal threat they have lacked since Kane’s departure.

He’s also completed 53% of his attempted dribbles to date, whilst achieving a 75% cross completion rate – highlighting his all-round nature within the final third.

His biggest asset is his hold-up play, which could allow the Lilywhites to have the needed focal point they’ve craved, with the striker winning 2.5 aerials per 90 so far this season.

It could hand Frank the aerial presence needed to dominate in the 18-yard box, but also an option to help link the play and create intricate moves off a direct ball into the striker.

Whilst he operates in a different role to Mbeumo, the pair have both demonstrated their goalscoring prowess in recent times, with clinical goalscorers often hard to come by in the modern game.

Mateta could provide Frank with exactly what he wants in the January window, with such a move handing the Dane the perfect attacking option to kickstart his career in charge of the Lilywhites.

Their new Son: Spurs have held advanced talks to sign a future £100m player

Tottenham are looking to add fresh quality to their attacking flanks in 2026.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 8, 2025