Jude Bellingham has been handed a 2026 World Cup boost, with Nigel Winterburn exclusively telling GOAL that he does not expect Thomas Tuchel to overlook any “big names” when it comes to piecing together his England squad. There will inevitably be some disappointed performers when a 26-man group is named, but said selection will be loaded with talent.
Strength in depth: Who will make England's 2026 World Cup squad?
The Three Lions boast strength in depth across just about every department, with quality cover able to step in and counter any untimely form and fitness issues. Tuchel finds himself in the enviable position of dipping into a star-studded talent pool.
The odd question has been asked of England’s defensive options – particularly at left-back, where nobody has nailed down that role – but there is an abundance of options heading forward.
Harry Kane is the undisputed No.9 for his country, and the man in charge of the captain’s armband, with nobody breathing heavily down his neck just yet. When it comes to playmaking berths and wide attacking posts, picks become a little trickier to settle upon.
Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham and Morgan Gibbs-White all harbour dreams of making the plane heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
They cannot all get the nod. Questions have been asked of whether Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Bellingham could be left behind, with Tuchel making it clear that he will not bring any divisive characters with him that threaten to disturb collective harmony.
Advertisement
Bellingham under threat: Will Real Madrid star make the cut?
Quizzed on whether he can see Tuchel leaving a so-called ‘big name’ behind, ex-Three Lions defender Winterburn – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “No, I don’t. It would depend on who considers what player to be a big name. We are already seeing that Thomas Tuchel is about the team. He’s not afraid to make decisions, it doesn’t look like he is going to pamper anybody. You could flip it round a bit and say there are some players that we think might be there but due to form or injury won’t make the squad. Our attacking talent out wide is huge. I would suggest that there may be one or two of those players that may not make the squad. That is simply because of the amount of numbers we have got in those positions.”
Getty Images
Tuchel warning & encouraging words from Henderson
Tuchel said when warning the likes of Bellingham and Palmer – who have missed games due to injury – that nobody is guaranteed a place in his squad: “For this moment we stick with our choice and the radical statement is that we don’t collect the most talented players. We collect the guys who have the glue and cohesion to be the best team. Because we need to arrive as the best team. We will arrive as underdogs at the World Cup because we haven’t won it for decades and we will play against teams who have repeatedly won it during that time. So we have to arrive as a team or we will have no chance.”
Those that work alongside Bellingham remain adamant that he is a positive presence in the England squad. Jordan Henderson has said of a player that he struck up a close bond with at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar: “He is very special, very special. We have a few special players in this squad, to be fair. But, with Jude, I think we all knew he was a very special player when he first came into the squad. The way he trains, the way he lives his life around football, loves the game, wants to improve and there is the ability that he has on the pitch. He is a world-class player and I know there will be a lot of stories and a lot of headlines, but for him, it is just about focusing on football.”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images Sport
World Cup draw date: When England will discover group stage opponents
There will be another international break in March, as Bellingham and Co get a final opportunity to prove their worth to Tuchel. For now, though, everyone connected with the England camp is waiting to discover who they will face in the 2026 World Cup group stage – with that draw set to take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on December 5.
When Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman entered Game 7 of the World Series in the eighth inning on Saturday night, Toronto was up 4-3 over the Dodgers. He needed four outs to seal the championship win for his team—that’s a lot of pressure.
In the ninth inning He delivered a quick strikeout of Enrique Hernández for the first out, then on a 3-2 count, Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas hit a 387-foot home run to tie the game. Hoffman then got the final two outs of the inning to give Toronto the opportunity to win in the bottom of the ninth, but he still felt like he failed in his closing position.
The Dodgers went on to win 5-4 in the 11th inning, and Hoffman felt the weight of the loss, telling reporters afterward that he feels like he “cost” the team the World Series title.
“It sucks,” Hoffman said after the game. “Supposed to end differently. Was just one pitch. I cost everybody here a World Series ring. It feels pretty s—ty.”
Obviously the loss can’t be blamed on just one person, there were plenty of late mistakes made by the Blue Jays in Game 7, but Hoffman was understandably emotional after the loss. It’s going to be a tough inning to sit with all offseason.
كشفت تقارير صحفية أن نجم ريق ليفربول، محمد صلاح، مستعد لخطوة جريئة في إطار مستقبله مع بطل الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بعد التصريحات النارية التي أدلى بها قبل أيام.
كان محمد صلاح قد صب غضبه على إدارة ليفربول والمدرب آرني سلوت، في تصريحات نارية يوم السبت الماضي، بعد تهميشه من جانب المدير الفني الهولندي في 3 مباريات متتالية.
وانتشرت التكهنات منذ ذلك الوقت حول مستقبل محمد صلاح، حيث يمتلك عقدًا ساريًا مع ليفربول حتى يونيو 2027، وأفادت تقارير صحفية بأن إدارة النادي لا تفكر في مسألة بيعه في يناير المقبل.
على العكس من ذلك، ذكرت شبكة “teamtalk” الإنجليزية أن ممثلي محمد صلاح مستعدون لطلب فسخ عقده بالتراضي مع ليفربول، ربما في يناير القادم، بينما من المتوقع وصول عرض مذهل قريبًا لصاحب الـ33 عامًا.
وأوضحت أنه رغم التوقيع على أكبر عقد في تاريخ ليفربول، في أبريل الماضي، مقابل 400 ألف جنيه إسترليني أسبوعيًا، يبدو الانفصال بين الطرفين، بعد أكثر من 6 أشهر، أمرًا واردًا بعد هجوم محمد صلاح المفاجئ مؤخرًا.
اقرأ أيضًا.. كاراجر يقسو على محمد صلاح: لم تفز بأي بطولة مع مصر.. وليفربول جعل منك نجمًا
وأفادت بأنه بينما لا يغلق سلوت الباب أمام عودة محمد صلاح إلى الفريق، ويبدو أنه ترك الباب مفتوحًا لعودته قبل مباراة الدوري الإنجليزي ضد برايتون في أنفيلد، فإن ليفربول يتصارع داخليًا مع قضية صعبة للغاية خلف الأبواب المغلقة.
وحاول النادي في البداية التقليل من شأن التكهنات حول محمد صلاح، وأجرى محادثات مطولة مساء السبت والأحد قبل اتخاذ قرار باستبعاده من التشكيلة التي سافرت لمواجهة إنتر ميلان يوم الثلاثاء، لكن مصادر مقربة من معسكره أخبرت الشبكة نفسها أن الأسطورة المصري لا يشعر بمستقبله في الفريق.
وأشارت إلى أن المصادر أكدت أن محمد صلاح يصر على كون الأمر لا يتعلق بالمال، وأنه منفتح تمامًا على مغادرة ليفربول حال التوصل إلى اتفاق.
ويجب التأكيد على أنه لم يُذكر أي شيء يشير إلى أن ليفربول، سيكون مستعدًا بالفعل لقبول رحيله في يناير، ويظل ريتشارد هيوز، رئيس مجلس إدارة ليفربول التنفيذي والمدير الرياضي للنادي، مالكي النادي، على اطلاع دائم بالوضع.
كما يتواصل الطرفان باستمرار في إطار علاقتهما العملية، مع التأكيد على كون موضوع محمد صلاح هو بلا شك القضية المُلحة.
A Confederação Brasileira de Futebol informou que a retomada da Série A do Brasileirão se dará a partir da 7ª rodada, que será disputada em 01 e 02 de junho. Tanto a 7ª quanto 8ª rodadas da competição haviam sido adiadas pela tragédia que vem assolando o Rio Grande do Sul.
continua após a publicidade
➡️ Vai dar Brasil? Aposte no Lance! Betting e fature com a Copa América
VEJA DATAS, HORÁRIOS E LOCAL DOS JOGOS DA 7ª RODADA DO BRASILEIRÃO
01/07 – 16:00 Grêmio x Red Bull Bragantino – Couto Pereira
01/06 – 16:00 Vitória x Atlético-GO – Barradão
01/06 – 18:30 Fluminense x Juventude – Maracanã
01/06 – 18:30 Cuiabá x Internacional Arena Pantanal
01/06 – 21:00 Corinthians x Botafogo – Neo Quimica Arena
02/06 – 16:00 Atlético-MG x Bahia – Arena MRV
02/06 – 16:00 Vasco da Gama x Flamengo – Maracanã
02/06 – 16:00 Criciúma x Palmeiras – Heriberto Hulse
02/06 – 18:30 São Paulo x Cruzeiro – Morumbis
02/06 – 18:30 Fortaleza x Athletico-PR – Arena Castelão
➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão
Quanto às partidas canceladas de Grêmio, Internacional e Juventude de rodadas anteriores e de outras competições organizadas pela CBF, a entidade reitera que serão remanejadas para datas futuras e de acordo com disponibilidade de datas no calendário.
A CBF também comunicou que o Conselho Técnico, com representantes dos 20 clubes da Série A do Brasileirão, está mantido para segunda-feira (27).
continua após a publicidade
➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão
LOS ANGELES — In a star-studded World Series, attended by royalty and played by baseball royalty, with a pair of rosters that combine to cost $876 million, in which the faces of two or three nations compete nightly for camera time, it was a young man who basically lives out of his Toyota Tundra who sent the Dodgers’ season to the brink.
The Blue Jays’ Trey Yesavage baffled the Los Angeles lineup in a 6–1 victory in Game 5 of the World Series to send his team back to Toronto one win from glory. He produced seven sparkling, 12-strikeout innings; allowed one run; and broke the hearts of the 52,175 in attendance who by the end were all but silent despite the exhortations of the preposterously loud speaker system. As he trotted from the bullpen to the mound to begin the game, he thought about how he had opened his season pitching in front of 327 people against the Jupiter Hammerheads. He hoped to send this crowd home upset.
“It’s a crazy world,” Yesavage said. “Hollywood couldn’t have made it this good.”
It would be hard to cast the first return to the World Series by a defending champion since the Phillies did it in 2009 as a failure, but the level of talent on this roster—and the money spent on it—means anything short of a dynasty will be a disappointment.
Blake Snell falls short
The Dodgers felt well equipped to leave Los Angeles with a series lead. Game 5 marked a rematch of Game 1, between the Dodgers’ Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner pitching in his 10th season and second World Series, and the Blue Jays’ Trey Yesavage, a 22-year-old who began the year at Single A and has three regular-season major league appearances to his name. Yesavage took the first matchup, going only four innings but allowing only two runs; Snell, who had opened the National League Championship Series against the Brewers with eight one-hit, scoreless innings, allowed five runs in five frames and took the loss.
Recently, his agent, Scott Boras, sent him a study he’d commissioned about October at Dodger Stadium. Boras’s team found that hitters struggle to see breaking balls during the first four or so innings of the 5 p.m. postseason starts.
Perhaps Snell should have studied it more closely: His first pitch was a 97-mph fastball that Davis Schneider whacked over the left field wall.
Two pitches later, Snell threw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a 96-mph fastball, and Guerrero did the same thing.
It marked the first back-to-back leadoff home runs in World Series history, and the first time in this one that the Blue Jays scored first.
Dodgers’ offense has disappointed in October
In April or June, two runs would not have been insurmountable for the vaunted Dodgers’ offense, the best in the National League in most metrics. But the bats have largely gone cold in October.
The Dodgers had a .768 regular-season OPS; in the first four games of the World Series, that figure was .693. Only DH Shohei Ohtani and first baseman Freddie Freeman had an OPS over .800. L.A. was 5-for-29 with runners in scoring position.
So after running out the same lineup for most of the postseason, Roberts finally made a change Wednesday. He moved shortstop Mookie Betts from second to third in the batting order and Freeman from third to fourth, slotting catcher Will Smith in second. Roberts also swapped in outfielder Alex Call for Andy Pages in the nine hole.
Betts had not batted lower than second in the Dodgers’ order since September 2021, but he entered the night hitting .147 with one extra-base hit over his last eight games. With Pages going 4-for-October, Ohtani, leading off, did not really have anyone to drive in or anyone to drive him in.
Roberts, often expansive in his scouting reports on his own players, said simply, “I feel that that’s the best way to win the game tonight.”
Mookie Betts went 0-for-4 on Wednesday night despite being moved to No. 3 in the order. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Yesavage gave Dodgers a new look
Roberts’s tweaks were not enough. Yesavage is a difficult matchup in part because of his inexperience; he has the highest release point in the majors, at 7.1 feet in the air (compared to the average of 5.8 feet), and his split-fingered fastball, which he throws in the low 80s, resembles basically no one else’s. So the Dodgers were confident that they could take advantage of the familiarity of a second meeting. But Yesavage lacked feel for his splitter in Game 1 and threw it only 13% of the time; it was back to its devastating best in Game 5, so he was a new pitcher after all.
In fairness, nearly everything he does is new. The Blue Jays took Yesavage with the 20th overall pick in last year’s draft out of East Carolina University, and no one expected this meteoric rise from him. Toronto manager John Schneider vaguely remembered a “Hey, nice to meet you, kid. Welcome to the organization,” interaction in spring training; L.A. manager Dave Roberts hadn’t heard of the kid until he blanked the Yankees for 5 ⅓ innings in Game 2 of the ALDS. Yesavage was called up so late in the year that it did not occur to him to try to find an apartment; instead he stores most of his belongings in his truck (“It looks like a mobile home,” he said) and packs and unpacks a suitcase to stay in a hotel each time the Blue Jays change cities.
“This playoff paycheck is going to be nice whenever it hits,” Yesavage said.
Maybe the naivete helps, or maybe he’s just really good. In any case, he set down the first seven in order, including five straight strikeouts, before allowing a solo home run to Kiké Hernández in the third. Then Yesavage quickly went back to mowing them down, with 10 strikeouts and only two hits through five innings. Even as his pitch count rose and the third time through the order loomed, Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who has learned to manage more with his eyes than with his clipboard in the postseason, just kept sending him out there. In the sixth, Schneider turned to pitching coach Pete Walker and said, “I don’t think there’s anyone better in our bullpen right now.”
The kid rewarded him with absolute dominance. Yesavage’s 12 K, in the seventh, was the most by a rookie in World Series history.
“He’s just completely composed,” said righty Chris Bassitt. “The moment’s not too big for him, which is crazy for how young he is.” He added, “Some guys mentally are just built different, and the fact that he had the utmost confidence walking into this place—he’s pitched a lot at home, but coming into this place, it’s like, ”
Yesavage simply beat the Dodgers on the mound, but the Dodgers often beat themselves in the field. Betts threw wide on a potential double-play ball in the third to cost Snell seven pitches. Teoscar Hernández cost more an inning later, when Daulton Varsho scorched a ball to right field. Hernández took a bad route, slid, came up short and watched helplessly as Varsho scampered to third. The next batter, Ernie Clement, flied to center to drive in the run. In the seventh, Addison Barger singled, took second on a wild pitch (Snell’s), took third on a second wild pitch (Snell’s again) and scored on yet another wild pitch (this one by righty Edgardo Henriquez). An inning later, the Dodgers added a fourth wild pitch, this one by lefty Anthony Banda; that one, too, advanced a runner who later scored.
“Giving up bases, it changes the lineup as far as who comes up, and it affects the game going forward,” said Roberts. “Things certainly get magnified in games like this, especially when you’re not swinging the bats.”
It was almost a relief when Teoscar Hernández struck out swinging to put the game out of its misery.
Dodgers have no more room for error
The Dodgers may carry a slight advantage into Game 6; their scheduled starter, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, is coming off two consecutive complete games, the first time someone has done that in the postseason in 25 years. On the other hand, the Blue Jays will be at home, they will need to win only one game and they will counter with Kevin Gausman, who matched Yamamoto through six last week before making two mistakes.
But Los Angeles has no margin for error. The team will fly to Canada late Wednesday, ahead of Thursday’s off-day and Friday’s game, knowing that another offensive performance like this will almost certainly end the season. Thanks in part to the kid who spent more time this season with the Dunedin Blue Jays than the Toronto Blue Jays, the Dodgers may only have two more nights in a hotel this year.
Manchester United dropped more valuable points at home as they squandered a second-half lead to draw 1-1 with West Ham, blowing the chance to move into the Premier League's top five. Diogo Dalot gave the underwhelming Red Devils the lead in the second half but they could not hold on to it, with Soungoutou Magassa levelling late in the game as United failed to properly defend a corner.
United made a sluggish start to the game and there were shades of the previous home game against 10-man Everton as West Ham made the better start. Casemiro did well to slide in and turn a Mateus Fernandes shot over the bar which was going in. It took 24 minutes for the Red Devils to win their first corner but they slowly grew more hungry and confident. Joshua Zirkzee saw a shot with his thigh cleared off the line by former United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka and then Bruno Fernandes shaved the post on the rebound.
Amorim mercilessly took off Ayden Heaven at half-time after a shaky display from the 19-year-old, reinstating Leny Yoro after dropping him from the starting line-up. United continued to search for the first goal and found it through a stroke of luck and class. Casemiro's shot was going wide but it ended up at the feet of Dalot, who kept a cool head to finish from close range.
United were heading for fifth in the table but couldn't see out the win as weak defending from a corner allowed Magassa to pounce on the rebound in the 83rd minute. The hosts had enough time to conjure a winner but rarely looked like finding it, Fernandes blasting a desperate attempt wide deep in added time. So instead of sleeping in the Champions League spots, United were left in eighth, on course to miss out on European football once again.
GOAL rates United's players from Old Trafford…
Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Senne Lammens (6/10):
Shanked one kick into the stands but he was cleaning up Heaven's mess. Didn't have to deal with very much but could be questioned for not showing more authority from the corner leading to the equaliser.
Noussair Mazraoui (7/10):
A very competent performance which makes the case for him to be the starting right-centre-back. Reacted quickly to snuff out danger and put out fires. Hacked a shot off the line before Magassa struck.
Ayden Heaven (4/10):
Had a real tough time in his first Premier League start of the season. Made a clumsy and late tackle on Bowen which earned him an early booking then a sloppy backpass forced Lammens to come out of his area. Brutally, but not undeservedly, hooked at half-time for Yoro.
Luke Shaw (7/10):
Showed his experience and put in a strong defensive display. Made a series of good blocks, including a brave one on Callum Wilson.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield
Amad Diallo (7/10):
Caused West Ham plenty of headaches with his twisting runs and had a good understanding with Mazraoui and Mbeumo.
Bruno Fernandes (5/10):
Licked the post with one effort which he should have scored from and overall struggled to provide the spark United needed against a mediocre opponent. As if to prove this point, he shanked a shot wide in added time.
Casemiro (6/10):
Made an important slide tackle on Mateus Fernandes but let West Ham have too much space and dominance in midfield. Played his part in the goal, albeit courtesy of a wayward shot which happened to land at Dalot's feet.
Diogo Dalot (6/10):
Didn't ask many questions of West Ham, again struggling to cause any damage on his weaker left side. But he popped up in the right place at the right time and when he left the pitch United were heading for victory.
AFPAttack
Bryan Mbeumo (6/10):
Provided some excitement with the help of Amad but didn't have any clear openings.
Joshua Zirkzee (5/10):
Close to scoring with his thigh but overall he failed to provide a box threat or create any promising moves.
Matheus Cunha (5/10):
An underwhelming return to action after two games out. Having a bicycle kick blocked summed up the gap between his potential and what he is delivering.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportSubs & Manager
Leny Yoro (6/10):
Gave the defence more stability after replacing Heaven.
Patrick Dorgu (5/10):
Brought on to bring more potency to the attack but lacked precision when he got down the flank.
Mason Mount (5/10):
Not much of an improvement on Zirkzee.
Manuel Ugarte (5/10):
Couldn't put any fear into West Ham after replacing Cunha.
Lisandro Martinez (N/A):
Got two minutes plus added time to continue his slow return to action after so long out.
Ruben Amorim (5/10):
Another huge opportunity missed at home. Deserves some credit for overseeing an improved performance as game progressed but equally has questions to answer about their lousy start and failure to see out their advantage.
The India captain has been in the spotlight off the field, but his returns on it are dwindling
Shashank Kishore27-Sep-20252:05
Is captaincy affecting SKY’s form?
Suryakumar Yadav’s last act on the field against Sri Lanka on Friday was a punch through the covers to seal India’s victory in the Super Over. But before that moment of assurance at the finish, he had seemed like a man just beginning to be affected by his poor form.During India’s first innings, Suryakumar had chosen to review an lbw decision against him despite knowing that it was almost certainly out. One of T20 cricket’s most feared batters had scores of only 0, 5 and 12 in his last three innings at the Asia Cup.His performance in this tournament is in keeping with a pool of scores that is hard-hitting. In ten innings this year, India’s T20I captain has managed just 99 runs with three ducks, while striking at 110. Go back further, from just after India’s T20 World Cup win in June 2024 to now, his numbers get only marginally better: 329 runs in 19 innings with two half-centuries.Related
Suryakumar found guilty of breaching code of conduct
Suryakumar: India vs Pakistan isn't a rivalry anymore
Arshdeep's masterclass helps India pull off heist
There doesn’t seem to be an apparent weakness or loophole in his game, though his propensity to premeditate – like that pick-up flick he plays nonchalantly – has caused his downfall a few times in this Asia Cup alone. Away from the glare of the game, there seems to be no issue with Suryakumar’s batting. He’s striking the ball sweetly at training, but that fluency has been missing on match days. This lean run has come at a time when the spotlight is on him for different reasons – for his gestures, expressions, comments, press conference quips, and the biggest of them all, handshake-gate. There have been disciplinary hearings off the field and drastic batting-order shuffles on it.On Friday, Suryakumar had an opportunity to find his rhythm in a dead rubber, but he flickered before fizzling out for 12 off 13 balls. An on-the-up cover drive for four off Maheesh Theekshana was as good as it got. He kept getting beaten while playing down the wrong line. A nip backer from Dushmantha Chameera beat his inside edge, and he got a leading edge over point off a slower one.Suryakumar Yadav fell for another low score against Sri Lanka•AFP/Getty ImagesSuryakumar’s first attempt at a sweep also resulted in a leading edge on to the grille of his helmet as he misread the length. He was lbw in the same over, premeditating a sweep against Wanindu Hasaraga, getting caught in a tangle and hit flush on the pad by a full delivery. He walked off tossing his bat, with a rueful look up to the sky.His only significant innings in this tournament was in the group game against Pakistan, when he struck an unbeaten 47, finishing the chase with a six and walking off with his usual gum-chewing swagger. That knock barely registered because the discourse was dominated by handshake-gate.Through all this, his commitment to his team’s needs has not wavered. He’s been the loudest advocate for flexibility in batting roles, that everyone below the openers must be ready to move up or down. Against Oman, Suryakumar chose to push himself down to No. 11, giving the likes of Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav time in the middle instead.Thirteen T20I innings without a fifty is uncharted territory. Suryakumar endured barren series in South Africa and at home against England, but had a blazing IPL before this Asia Cup. He amassed 717 runs at a strike rate of 167.91 for Mumbai Indians, scoring 25-plus in 16 consecutive innings, which is why the continued downturn in international cricket is a surprise.After the Super Four game against Pakistan, Suryakumar made headlines for his proclamation that India vs Pakistan is no longer a rivalry. For all his chatter and quips, nothing will speak louder than runs in Sunday’s Asia Cup final against Pakistan.
Virat Kohli has the most centuries in ODI history, and yet, each time one sees him bat in the only format he is still active in internationally, thoughts turn to the 2027 World Cup. Kohli is 37 now. Will he still be playing two years on? For Sitanshu Kotak, India’s batting coach, “there’s no point talking about all this” and fans should stay in the moment.”I don’t know why we need to look at all this – he’s really batting well, and I don’t see any reason we need to talk about his future,” Kotak said after Kohli’s 135 from 120 balls took India to victory in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday.”Just the way he’s batting, it’s just brilliant. The way he’s performing, [and] his fitness – there are no questions about anything,” Kotak said. “I feel such things [the 2027 World Cup] shouldn’t even be spoken about after the way he plays and performs. That is something which is two years away. There’s no point talking about all this. For us, once the team arrives and we start practice, we just enjoy.”Related
Harshit takes the first step in fast bowlers' race for 2027 World Cup
Kohli, Harshit, Kuldeep star to give India 1-0 lead
Stats – Kohli and Rohit smash records in Ranchi run-fest
Kohli dictates South Africa's reality from within his bubble
Vastly experienced players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who is a year older at 38, add value to the dressing room even otherwise, Kotak pointed out. And it’s not like they aren’t performing. Rohit’s last three innings in ODIs have been worth 73, 121* and 57.”Obviously, they do share their experience with others,” Kotak said. “I don’t think we’re talking anything about the 2027 World Cup. They are just brilliant, and they are performing. They are contributing to the team, which is a great thing for us.”Like Kohli, Rohit is also active only in ODIs internationally. That leaves both of them with very limited game time. But, despite that, for the second successive match, Kohli and Rohit showed good form while stitching together a match-winning century stand.After adding an unbeaten 168 against Australia in Sydney last month, they had a stand of 136 in the first ODI against South Africa. While Kohli followed 74* in Sydney with 135 in Ranchi, Rohit scored 57 at better than a-run-a-ball against South Africa after hitting 121* in a win over Australia.”They are such experienced players; it’s always great to have them,” Kotak said. “The way they bat – like today also, that partnership – it makes a huge difference. Obviously, they batted really well.”
Their team Timor-Leste has had a tough start to international cricket
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2025Timor-Leste’s Suhail Sattar, 50, and Yahya Suhail, 17, are the first father and son duo to play together in an international match. They achieved the unique feat, and batted together, in Timor-Leste’s first international match, against hosts Indonesia in Bali on November 6.Yahya and Sattar, though, are not the first parent and child to play together in an international match. The Switzerland women’s team had a mother-daughter duo – Metty Fernandes and Naina Metty Saju – playing six T20Is together this year.There are other instances of father-son duos playing with each other – as well as against each other – in domestic cricket. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and his son Tagenarine played 11 first-class games together for Guyana, with Shivnarine even captaining his son in a game against Windward Islands at Providence Stadium in March 2014.More recently, in the 2025 Shpageeza Cricket League final, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi played against his son Hassan Eisakhil.Timor-Leste have had a rough start to international cricket, suffering ten-wicket defeats in each of their first three games.
Canada got the rub of the green as preparations for the 2026 World Cup kicked into full gear. Les Rouges will face Switzerland, Qatar and the winner of a European playoff to open the tournament next summer. On paper, it’s a winnable group – but if the playoff unfolds as expected, Jesse Marsch’s team could be staring down global giants Italy in the early stages.
Getty Images
Draw: Switzerland, Qatar, TBD
The World Cup draw brought a kind set of matchups for Canada as they prepare for their first World Cup with Jesse Marsch at the helm. The American coach has repeatedly called for his team to be tested in big moments, and Group B will give him plenty to work with. Switzerland (17), Qatar (51) and the winner of European playoff A tie don’t offer anything particularly easy – but nor do they feel overwhelming.
Crucially, Canada seem to have avoided the biggest names expected to cause damage in Pot 2 and 3. Pot 4, however, is less forgiving. The winner of European playoff A could be former world champions Italy.
Beyond the group, the bracket could also get tricky. An early knockout matchup with Brazil is possible if Les Rouges finish second. Still, the immediate focus is on the group – and this looks surprisingly winnable.
Their Pot 2 opponent is Switzerland, a mixed side of late. They struggled in European qualifying, but beat both Mexico and the USMNT in pre-Gold Cup friendlies in June. Pot 3 produced Qatar, which also feels relatively friendly given the recent drop in form – a run that included defeats to Palestine and Zimbabwe. Pot 4 is where it could unravel. If they win their playoff, Italy (12) would be formidable. Other possibilities include Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and Wales.
Advertisement
Getty Images Sport
Must-watch TV: Italy
The Canadians will be an excellent watch regardless of who they play. But a fixture with Italy would truly be wonderful. They are a little more expansive under manager Gennaro Gattuso, and uncharacteristically leaky at the back. Tournament games are supposed to be cagey. This might not be that. Should the unexpected happen and Wales advance, their fans would certainly make that fixture good watching.
Getty Images Sport
Dangerous matchup: Switzerland
The UEFA playoffs are still to be determined, but Switzerland will be a tricky Pot 2 team. Even if their results have been mixed, they are still an experienced side, with Granit Xhaka pulling the strings in center midfield.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images Sport
Key opposition player: Manuel Akanji
It's an admittedly star-light group. But Switzerland's Manuel Akanji, a two-time Premier League winner with Man City, will make things tricky for Canada's attack.