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Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed Marquinhos' injury, which will rule the defender out of next week's Champions League clash with Newcastle.

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Marquinhos injured with BrazilHas a "small" hamstring issueWill be out for close to 10 daysWHAT HAPPENED?

The centre-back had to be replaced by Nino at half-time after he complained of muscle discomfort during Brazil's recent 1-0 defeat to Argentina in an ill-tempered 2026 World Cup qualifier. Marquinhos had admitted after the match that he felt a "strain on his hamstring" which forced him to come off. The defender returned to Paris on Thursday and after undergoing further tests the extent of the injury was ascertained.

AdvertisementWHAT PSG SAID ABOUT MARQUINHOS

PSG put out a statement that read: "Victim of a small injury to his right hamstring, Marquinhos will remain in treatment for 10 days."

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PSG find themselves in a spot of bother as they face Monaco at Parc des Princes on Friday night before hosting Newcastle on Tuesday evening. They will also miss Warren Zaire-Emery with an ankle injury and the midfielder is not expected to be back until 2024. However, Presnel Kimpembe has been training with the group and is nearing recovery which should relieve manager Luis Enrique.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR PSG?

PSG can hardly afford to drop their guard against Monaco as Adi Hutter's men are just three points behind the league leaders and have the potential to cause an upset in Paris. Whereas, the Magpies will be out to get a win to revive their European fortunes after two consecutive defeats. Eddie Howe knows that another loss could virtually put them out of contention for a spot in the knockouts and will be eager to repeat their heroics on foreign soil after they beat the Parisians 4-1 at St. James Park earlier in the season.

With 2020 approaching, Goal picked out the greatest players to wear the blue shirt at the Etihad Stadium over the past 10 years

GK: Joe Hart

The latter part of the decade has been tough for Joe Hart, so it’s easy to forget what a huge part he played in much of Man City’s earlier success.

Signed from Shrewsbury Town as a 19-year-old, he spent 10 years at the club, amassing 348 appearances.

Hart was first-choice goalkeeper for both Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, playing a played a key role in two Premier League title triumphs, in 2012 and 2014.

Along the way there were some remarkable individual performances, not least in a 1-0 loss at Barcelona in 2015, when Lionel Messi shook his head in amazement at some of the saves pulled off by a man he described as "a phenomenon”.

Ultimately, Hart didn’t fit in with Pep Guardiola’s philosophy, but his contribution to a golden decade for the club should not be overlooked.

AdvertisementRB: Pablo Zabaleta

Pablo Zabaleta could not hold back the tears when he said an emotional farewell after nine years at City in 2017.

The Argentine built a remarkable bond with the fans over the course of 333 appearances for the club.

He was an adopted Mancunian, electing to live in the city while many of his team-mates chose rural Cheshire, and was regularly spotted at his local fish and chip shop.

But it was his warrior spirit that endeared him most to the fans, as he often seemed to finish matches with a bandage wrapped around his head or cotton wool shoved up a bloody nose.

While there have been more gifted players at City over the past decade, none were more committed to the cause than Zabaleta.

Getty ImagesCB: Vincent Kompany

Every successful team of the Premier League era has had a leader that sets the example on and off the pitch. At City, that man was Vincent Kompany.

His intelligence away from the field was matched his cleverness on it, and he played a pivotal role in four title-winning campaigns.

Kompany was a masterful defender but also demonstrated incredible determination in overcoming the persistent muscle injuries that blighted his final years at the club to make 360 appearances in total.

He was also the man for the big occasion.

Kompany scored the only goal in the 1-0 victory over rivals Manchester United in the tight 2012 title race and an incredible 25-yard strike in his final game at the Etihad Stadium, against Leicester City, just as City looked like to lose top spot to Liverpool.

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CB: Aymeric Laporte

The French defender has been at City for fewer than two years but has made a huge impression during that time.

After initially declining a switch to the Etihad, his quality and potential prompted a rare u-turn from Guardiola by making a second move for a player that had turned him down.

Neither the manager nor the player regretted the decision and he played a key part in both of Guardiola’s title-winning seasons with his strong defending and controlled passing out from the back.

With a contract that runs until 2025, Laporte is set to have an even bigger future at the club.

The only question is, will French national manager Didier Deschamps finally see what everyone else sees and finally give him an international cap.

The Chelsea star was inexplicably sent off before the European champions came through the last 16 by the skin of their teeth

England made it through to the Women's World Cup quarter-finals by the skin of their teeth on Monday, beating Nigeria on penalties after being second-best to the Super Falcons all evening in Brisbane. A stupid red card from Lauren James made their task even harder, but nerves of steel were shown in the shootout to avoid an embarrassing last-16 exit.

Nigeria settled well in the first half and were incredibly close to breaking the deadlock when Ashleigh Plumptre hit the woodwork with a fierce strike, with her forcing a good stop out of Mary Earps moments later, too.

But England had chances, too, most notably when Alessia Russo forced a great save out of Chiamaka Nnadozie, who needed to deny Rachel Daly from a corner not long after. The Lionesses thought they had their biggest chance yet to break the deadlock when a penalty was given against Rasheedat Ajibade for a push on Daly, but it was overturned.

It was the African side that always looked the more likely to win it, though, with England regularly riding their luck until a moment of madness from James reduced them to 10. The Chelsea star stupidly stepped on Michelle Alozie and was dismissed in the 87th minute. Fortunately for them, Nigeria could not capitalise and it was Chloe Kelly who was the hero in the penalty shootout, smashing home her spot-kick to send the Lionesses through.

GOAL rates England's players from Lang Park in Brisbane…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Mary Earps (6/10):

Made a great stop to deny Plumptre in the first half. Was the only thing she had to do, really.

Jess Carter (4/10):

Struggled to play out from the back, often hitting hopeless long balls.

Millie Bright (6/10):

Kept the ball well and was strong in her duels.

Alex Greenwood (6/10):

Did her defensive work well but wasn't as influential on the ball as usual. Scored her penalty.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Lucy Bronze (5/10):

Some poor touches meant she gave the ball away a lot more than usual.

Keira Walsh (4/10):

Had good moments in possession when she got on the ball but wasn't allowed to be influential by Nigeria's pressure. Completely marked out of the game.

Georgia Stanway (4/10):

Battled well in midfield but lacked incision on the attack. Missed her penalty.

Lauren James (1/10):

What on earth was she thinking?! Couldn't get involved in the game and then had a moment of madness that saw her sent off. Incredible.

Rachel Daly (4/10):

Decision-making going forward was slow and poor. Had a couple of chances she could've done better with. Took a great penalty.

Getty ImagesAttack

Alessia Russo (4/10):

Made a good defensive intervention to block an Alozie header but was very ineffective in the final third, unable to put away a great early chance after a defensive error.

Lauren Hemp (4/10):

Couldn't get anything going in the final third.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Chloe Kelly (6/10):

Replaced Russo in the final moments of regulation time but couldn't get involved at all with England down to 10 players. Showed absolute nerves of steel to win it in the shootout though with a superb penalty.

Beth England (N/A):

Came on for the final 15 minutes of extra-time. Showed good energy and desire to make things happen, even if it was tough to do so when England were down to 10. Scored her penalty.

Katie Zelem (N/A):

Came on in the final moments for Walsh.

Sarina Wiegman (3/10):

In-game management was really poor. Did little to combat how well Nigeria's press was working and the fact that players like James and Walsh were being marked out of the game, while her substitutions were also incredibly late. Got away with one, here.

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai drank a shot of Palinka with Hungary fans to celebrate their Euro 2024 qualification – after a two-goal showing.

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Szoboszlai seen drinking a shot of Palinka with Hungary fansHungary beat Montenegro 3-1 having already qualified for Euro 2024Liverpool star scored twiceWHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool midfielder and Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai was seen enjoying a shot of Palinka, one of the most popular spirits in his country, while celebrating the team's qualification for Euro 2024 next summer. Hungary had already booked their spot at the tournament in Germany after a 2-2 draw with Bulgaria on Thursday, but that didn't stop them putting on a superb display in their dead-rubber against Montenegro.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Hungary defeated Montenegro 3-1 in their final Euro 2024 qualification game, with the Reds midfielder bagging himself a brace in the second-half. Hungary finished at the top of Group G with five wins and three draws in their ten games to take their points tally to 18 points.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR SZOBOSZLAI?

The 23-year-old will return to action for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp's men look to stay in a tight title race with the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham. The summer signing has been a superb addition to Liverpool's engine room this season, and will hope for another start when they face champions City on November 25.

Ian Bell could not quite make the same early statement as Gary Ballance managed in Abu Dhabi but a lower-order fightback lifted the MCC to a first-innings lead against Yorkshire

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Mar-2016
ScorecardKarl Carver celebrates dismissing Ian Bell•Getty ImagesIan Bell could not quite make the same early statement as Gary Ballance managed in Abu Dhabi but a lower-order fightback by Ben Foakes and Rikki Clarke lifted the MCC to a first-innings lead against Yorkshire.Bell was dropped from the England Test side after the series against Pakistan in the UAE – the Sheikh Zayed Stadium is the scene of his most recent international half-century – and like Ballance, who scored a century on the opening day, is eyeing a strong early-season push to state his credentials for a recall to what remains an flimsy England top order.However, having eased to 44 with seven fours and a six he fell to Karl Carver, the 19-year-old left-arm spinner, when he tried to clear the infield and was caught at mid-on having earlier deposited the spinner over the ropes.Bell was one of three middle-order wickets to fall for 11 runs in four overs as the MCC slipped to 114 for 5 following a third-wicket stand of 89 between Bell and Rory Burns. Tim Bresnan, who finished the day with 3 for 51, had Burns caught behind for 51 and after Bell departed he trapped Samit Patel lbw to add to his early scalp of Nick Browne.When Tom Westley edged Steven Patterson, Yorkshire were well-placed for a lead but an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 131 in 37 overs between Foakes, the Surrey wicketkeeper-batsman, and Warwickshire allrounder Clarke turned the day around for the MCC.Clarke bided his time – he was 1 off 34 balls at the tea interval – but during the final session the scoring rate increased and he brought up his fifty from 103 deliveries.Foakes was initially given out on 17 before the umpires, Neil Mallender and David Millns, conferred and the decision was reversed – his dismissal would have left the MCC 152 for 7 – and he brought up his half-century from 132 balls with boundary off Bresnan as both batsmen profited against the second new ball until bad light ended play.

Winning a second FIFA Best Women’s Player award is no priority for Lucy Bronze, with the England international focused on collective glory.

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Best player on the planet in 2020European Championship winnerDetermined to land World CupWHAT HAPPENED?

The Euro 2022 winner earned the honour of being named best player on the planet back in 2020. She finished as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or Feminin vote a few months prior to that and has continued to star for club and country in the years since.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT BRONZE SAID

Bronze is now on the books of Barcelona, having bid farewell to the WSL, and graced the Women’s World Cup final in 2023. She sits among the global elite, but has told FIFA’s official website of placing little emphasis on individual recognition: “I think everyone has an ambition to be the best player in the world. But right now I just want to be the best player that I can be. I'm very fortunate that ‘the best player I can be’ was at that level (of The Best), and that gets a little bit more difficult when you're carrying more injuries and things like that. For me, I just want to keep producing for my club and for England, and to keep winning things. Recognition is fantastic. But I would trade every single one of those individual awards, as lovely as they are, for a World Cup.”

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Bronze was named in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 for 2023, making that selection for the sixth time, and added on earning recognition from her peers: “The awards that are voted for by players you play with, or you play against, always feel the best. I think players have a different point of view to fans or media, or even to managers. You come off the pitch and you think, ‘That was a tough game. She's hard to play against.’ Or you say to the other girls: ‘How good was she today?’ They’re the conversations we have as players, and it’s great to think that you’ve maybe been talked about that way in other dressing rooms. That’s what makes this such a special accolade for me.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BRONZE?

Helping to put England in contention for more major honours will keep Bronze at the very top of the game, while domestic and continental trophies are expected to fall within reach while forming part of the star-studded Barcelona squad that continues to sweep aside all before it.

Islami Bank East Zone became inaugural champions of the Bangladesh Cricket League’s One-Day competition after a thrilling three-wicket win over BCB North Zone in Mirpur

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-2015
ScorecardThe East Zone players celebrate their three-wicket victory•BCBIslami Bank East Zone became inaugural champions of the Bangladesh Cricket League’s One-Day competition after a thrilling three-wicket win over BCB North Zone in Mirpur. Despite rain stopping play for 78 minutes during East Zone’s chase and being set a stiff revised target, they won with an over to spare.The final flourish was provided by Abul Hasan and Arafat Sunny, who added the last 40 runs off just 2.4 overs. Both struck three fours and a six each, with Abul making 39 off 35 balls while Sunny blazed 18 off just seven balls.East Zone’s chase started with a jolt when Tamim Iqbal holed out to Taijul Islam at mid-off in the second over. But the counterattack was spectacular from Litton Das and Mominul Haque who added 102 runs off just 13.3 overs to restore the balance of the contest. Litton struck two sixes and six fours in his 37-ball 50. He teed off in Taijul’s first over, blasting the left-arm spinner for three fours in a row and then a six after a dot ball. The tenth over cost 18 runs, and East Zone were in tune with the chase.Mominul, who got out in the 27th over, made 78 off 77 balls with ten fours, his first fifty in any competitive match since the Zimbabwe series last year. It will be an innings that would give him some confidence going into the ODI series against Pakistan. After the rain break, East Zone needed a further 147 runs in 26 overs.Their chase was derailed when they lost Tasamul Haque, Alok Kapali, Mominul and Nazmul Hossain Milon in quick succession, but Asif Ahmed struck a 52-ball 46 with four fours and a six to keep them in the game. When he left in the 43rd over, North Zone had a sniff but were blazed away by the Abul-Sunny unbroken eighth-wicket partnership. Taijul took three wickets for 56 runs while Farhad Reza picked up two wickets.Earlier East Zone’s decision to bowl first looked justified. Junaid Siddique and Naeem Islam fell early and when Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed in the 19th over, North Zone had slipped to 88 for 3.Thereafer, Mahmudul Hasan added 140 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Nasir Hossain. It was a stroke-filled passage of play that lasted 23.2 overs and completely transformed the North Zone innings. Mahmudul reached his maiden List-A century, off 127 balls with 10 fours, by rushing for a second run after pushing towards long-on. His innings ended in the 43rd over when Asif Ahmed picked up his wicket for 110 runs off 132 balls, which included eleven fours.Nasir fell in the 47th over for 96 off 84 balls with eight fours and two sixes. Ariful Haque and Delwar Hossain made 17 each, but their efforts were not enough to push their score past the 300-run mark in the end overs. Asif Ahmed and Arafat Sunny picked up two wickets each.

Retiring an iconic player's shirt number is quite common practice Italy, but not so much Spain – and Goal has rounded up the most memorable instances

GettyBobby Moore | West Ham | #8The West Ham legend had his number at the London side retired, having captained the club for 10 years. Moore was also captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup and is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all-time.AdvertisementGetty ImagesAC Milan | Paolo Maldini | #3Technically, the shirt isn't retired. AC Milan made the decision to retire the number following the Italy legend's final game, but Maldini has allowed for his sons to inherit the number three should either of them play for the club.Getty ImagesEmiliano Sala | Nantes | #9The Argentine had his shirt number at Ligue 1 side Nantes retired after he died tragically in a plane crash in January 2019.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesDiego Maradona | Napoli | #10The Argentina icon is one of the greatest footballers to have ever graced the pitch, and had a glittering seven-year career at Napoli where he won numerous titles and awards.

The Dutch made it to the quarter-finals in Qatar but with plenty of talent coming through, they could do even better in four years' time.

After failing to qualify in 2018, the Netherlands made a strong return to the World Cup stage under Louis van Gaal, reaching the quarter-finals before losing on penalties to Argentina in one of the tournament's most dramatic matches.

Van Gaal brought together a squad that paired some experienced heads with some vibrant young talents, and leaves the team in a good place as he steps aside to let Ronald Koeman take over ahead of the European Championship in 2024.

Koeman, of course, knows a lot of the current squad from his previous stint in charge and given he enjoyed decent success with the Oranje before leaving to join Barcelona, there is confidence that Dutch football is on its way back up after a disappointing second half of the 2010s.

But while the Euros are next on the agenda, it's hard not to look ahead to the next World Cup, which takes place in 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

How many of the current Netherlands players will still be in and around the team, and who might have played for the last time on the game's grandest stage?

GOAL has tried to answer those questions and more by selecting the team we think the Netherlands will put out in 2026…

Getty ImagesGK: Justin Bijlow

Louis van Gaal sprung a surprise by picking the previously uncapped Andries Noppert to start between the sticks in Qatar, and he certainly did nothing to suggest that was the wrong call.

However, Noppert will be 32 when the next World Cup kicks-off, and although age shouldn't represent a barrier to the continuation of his international career, we are instead opting for Bijlow, who was also in the 2022 squad and is four years Noppert's junior.

Feyenoord goalkeeper Bijlow already has six caps to his name and we expect him to add plenty more to that tally over the next three-and-a-half years.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesCB: Jurrien Timber

Surprisingly left out of the Netherlands' opener in Qatar, Timber quickly re-established himself in the starting line-up and promises to be a fixture of the team for years to come.

The Ajax centre-back is only 21, and even if the Oranje switch to a back four under incoming coach Ronald Koeman, Timber should be confident of keeping his place.

Getty ImagesCB: Matthijs de Ligt

Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way first: Virgil van Dijk will be 34 by the time the 2026 World Cup begins, meaning he could easily continue in his role as the leader of the Dutch defence if his body holds up.

However, we're going to lean towards the younger man and plump for De Ligt, who will still only be 26.

The Bayern Munich star has not fared well at major tournaments so far in his career after earning himself a red card as the Dutch crashed out of Euro 2020 in the last 16, before being dropped after a poor performance against Senegal in Qatar.

De Ligt is too talented, though, to fade into the background, and there is a realistic chance he replaces Van Dijk as national team captain at some stage in the near future.

Others who could push for selection before the next World Cup include Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven and Ajax's 16-year-old revelation Jorell Hato, who has already captained the Dutch giants' Under-19s side.

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Getty ImagesCB: Sven Botman

Botman is a little unlucky that he is emerging at a time when the Netherlands is rich in talented centre-backs, but it should not be long before he finally makes his international breakthrough.

A strong performer for Newcastle this season, the ex-Lille man is currently behind Nathan Ake and Stefan de Vrij in the pecking order but, at just 22, he definitely has time on his side.

Ake, meanwhile, will be 31 by the time the 2026 World Cup kicks-off, while De Vrij will be 34 and, more than likely, out of the picture.

With Oriol Romeu having just rejoined Barcelona, GOAL runs through the most bizarre deals in football history

The transfer market is a wild and crazy place. It rarely fails to surprise. Time and time again, a player will enrage one club's supporters by joining their most hated rivals.

But we've arguably grown accustomed to such betrayals in an era in which money makes the football world go around. There's also a twisted logic to such transfers. At the end of the day, we're usually talking about top players moving between top clubs. It's not strange.

Sometimes, though, there are deals that seemingly come out of nowhere, involving players and clubs that are just downright bizarre. You know, the ones that leave you scratching your head and wondering, 'How on earth did that happen?!'

Here at GOAL, we'd argue that Oril Romeu's return to Barcelona after a bang-average career is one such transfer, but there are many, many more…

Getty ImagesBebe: Vitoria – Manchester United

Bebe had only just joined Vitoria de Guimaraes from Estrela on a free transfer and had yet to even make a competitive appearance for the Primeira Liga club when Manchester United acquired the 20-year-old for approximately £7.2 million ($9.4m) in August 2010.

It was a truly baffling deal, not least because Red Devils boss Alex Ferguson had never even seen the forward play, admitting that he sanctioned the signing solely on the advice of former assistant manager Carlos Queiroz.

There was even a Portuguese police investigation into the transfer, after it emerged that Jorge Mendes, who became Bebe's agent just days before the move, pocketed Mendes 40 per cent (£2.9m/$3.8m) of the fee, though no charges were pressed against anyone involved.

The only certainty surrounding a mysterious move was that Bebe was nowhere near good enough for United and he left Old Trafford in 2014 for Benfica, after three loan moves and just two Premier League appearances.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesKevin-Prince Boateng: Sassuolo – Barcelona

Following the sale of Munir El Haddadi to Sevilla in January 2019, it was clear that Barcelona needed another attacker. It was also widely known that the Catalans didn't have much money to spend.

In that context, it was hardly surprising that Barca decided to bring in a replacement on loan. What was shocking, though, was that they went for Kevin-Prince Boateng, with a view to a permanent transfer for €8m (£7m/$9m) in the summer.

Then 31, the former AC Milan forward had been plying his trade at Sassuolo when he received the most unexpected of calls from Camp Nou.

In fairness, Boateng had impressed as a 'false 9' during the first half of the 2018-19 campaign but nobody was in the least bit surprised when he returned to Italy at the end of the season, joining Fiorentina after failing to score once in just four outings for Barca.

GettyAndy Carroll: Newcastle – Liverpool

"I wasn't ready to leave," Andy Carroll has admitted. "It came as a shock. Newcastle was my club. I was 22. I could never get a grip at Liverpool."

Indeed, Carroll didn't even know who his new team-mates would be, revealing that he had to Google Liverpool's squad on the helicopter ride down to Merseyside.

Injuries consistently ruined the striker's hopes of striking up a real understanding with Luis Suarez and Co. but the unavoidable truth is that £35m proved a huge waste of money for Carroll, who hit just six Premier League goals in three years at Anfield.

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Getty ImagesSol Campbell: Free agent – Notts County

Sol Campbell learned the hard way that if something seems to good to be true, it probably is. The centre-back couldn't believe his luck when, in 2009, he was offered the most lucrative contract of his career (£40,000 per week) to join League Two side Notts County. 

Director of Football Sven-Goran Eriksson had played a major role in convincing Campbell that the club's owners had sufficient funds to take the oldest club in football into the Premier League. 

However, Campbell realised after one game that they didn't even have the money to pay his wages, so he departed, with early reports claiming that he was not in good enough shape to play for County.

In truth, though, the former England international was disgusted with himself, later revealing that he had been "a mug" to have believed everything he had been told by Eriksson, executive chairman Peter Trembling and Munto Finance, a Middle Eastern consortium owned by Qadbak Investments, had told him.