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The Argentine relishes intimidating his opponents, and his imposing character would restore a winning mentality at Old Trafford

If Manchester United end up signing Emiliano Martinez, then the goalkeeper might need to apologise to the Old Trafford faithful given the relationship between them. After seeing Bruno Fernandes hammer a stoppage-time penalty over the bar to confirm Aston Villa's 1-0 win in 2021, Martinez began dancing in front of the Stretford End, deliberately goading the supporters.

Though he did not directly save the penalty, Martinez was effectively claiming the assist, and for good reason: the Argentine wound up Fernandes by telling him that Cristiano Ronaldo should take the spot-kick, and the mind games worked as Fernandes missed only his second of 23 penalties for the Red Devils, handing Villa a first win at Old Trafford for 12 years.

United fans have also seen Martinez lose his head to their benefit, when he was sent off in the final game of last season for rushing out of his area and clattering into Rasmus Hojlund. Both sides of Martinez's mentality will be being pored over by United's coaching staff and recruitment team as the club weighs up whether or not to sign him from Villa, but what they will be most interested in is his ability to make saves. The ex-Arsenal man is the best in the world when it comes to that particular skill, one that has been devalued in football lately, especially by United.

And that is why the Red Devils should make signing Martinez their next priority after completing a deal to secure Bryan Mbeumo, as they would be getting a world-beating goalkeeper who is renowned primarily for keeping the ball out of the net.

gettyWeakness exposed

When United signed Andre Onana in 2023, all the talk was about the Cameroonian's skill with the ball at his feet and how his arrival would help Erik ten Hag finally implement the possession-based football he wanted his United team to play to take them to the next level. Not much analysis was done on Onana's shot-stopping ability, and his shortcomings in that area were brutally exposed soon after his £47m ($64m) arrival from Inter.

Onana was lobbed from the halfway line in a friendly against Lens on his Old Trafford debut before enduring a truly torrid time in the Champions League, as he made ghastly errors against Bayern Munich and in both matches against Galatasaray which directly led to United being dumped out of Europe's elite competition. He has continued to make high-profile errors ever since, most notably in April's Europa League clash with Lyon after being dragged into a war of words with Nemanja Matic.

His footwork has barely compensated for all those errors, and after two years there has been no noticeable improvement in United's ability to play out from the back. Onana has even cost them infuriating goals when trying to play out, such as when he failed to communicate with Patrick Dorgu against Ipswich Town in February. The goalkeeper has mostly abandoned short passing and has resorted to hoofing the ball downfield, more often than not hitting it out of play or to the opposition.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesChange in priorities

Onana's litany of mistakes have evidently frustrated Ruben Amorim, and the Portuguese even dropped the goalkeeper for one game after the Lyon debacle. When asked in a press conference whether he needed to replace Onana in the long term, Amorim did get into a heated argument with a reporter, but what was most telling was that he did not defend his No.1 nor talk up his qualities. "We need to improve every position on the field" was his response; not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Just as the season was winding down, it was reported that Amorim had grown so frustrated with Onana's mistakes that he had tweaked the team's style of play to discourage the ex-Ajax man from playing out from the back. It was also reported that the coach primarily wanted a goalkeeper who could give 'peace of mind' and 'reduce the sense of volatility' that had defined the team's defensive displays.

The search for a potential Onana replacement would focus on ' fundamental traits like shot-stopping, catching, and minimising errors rather than building play from the back'. If that report is accurate, then Martinez and Amorim are speaking the same language.

GettyFrom the bottom to the very top

Martinez has taken the long road to superstardom after joining Arsenal as a 17-year-old. He spent time up and down England playing in the unglamorous lower leagues, dropping as low as fourth-tier League Two to play for Oxford United as well as taking in Championship stints with Wolves, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United.

Playing out from the back is rarely a priority in such surroundings, and Martinez thus focused on the basics of goalkeeping. He maintained that focus when his career began to finally take off back at Arsenal and then at Villa, as well as when he became Argentina's No.1 as he played a pivotal role in them winning the World Cup and two Copas America.

Martinez saved three penalties in the semi-final shootout triumph over Colombia in the 2021 Copa America, playing incredible mind games with his opponents which could be easily heard in a stadium that was empty due to Covid-19 rules. His shootout heroics continued into both the 2022 World Cup quarter-final win over the Netherlands and the final victory against France, as well as in the 2024 Copa America quarters against Ecuador. He collected the Golden Glove at all three tournaments and was subsequently named the top goalkeeper in the world, winning the Yashin Trophy (part of the Ballon d'Or awards) in 2023 and 2024 while scooping the FIFA Best Goalkeeper prize in 2022 and 2024.

Getty'By saving, I win titles'

Martinez celebrates the fact that he is known above all for his ability to make saves. He told 'Sports Center': "Now in the football world the first question they ask about a goalkeeper is 'Is he good with his feet?'. Sometimes clubs maybe sign a goalkeeper who's skilled with their feet but doesn't save much. I always focus on needing to save better than I play with my feet. I focus on saving, saving, saving. By saving, I win titles."

Signing Martinez would signal United going back to their roots for having a goalkeeper who is adept at making saves. David de Gea was an incredible shot-stopper and that is why he went on to become the goalkeeper with both the most appearances and clean sheets in the club's history. That ability was ultimately under-appreciated by the club amid their bid to modernise and find their own version of Ederson, but signing Martinez would be a step back in the right direction.

The 32-year-old is a figure who intimidates opposition players. In his own words, he likes to "create chaos" for his rivals, and he shares many traits with United's most legendary goalkeeper of all, Peter Schmeichel.

Wolves have made contact over the signing of a “brilliant” Manchester United player on a free transfer this summer, according to a new report.

Man Utd circling for Cunha after Wolves win at Old Trafford

Wanderers are sweating over the future of star man Mathues Cunha, with United looking like they are leading the race to sign him at the end of this season. The Brazilian has been such an impressive performer for Wolves, in what has largely been an underwhelming season for too many players, scoring 14 goals in the Premier League and once again shining in the recent 1-0 win at United.

If Cunha does leave Wanderers this summer, a top-quality player needs to come in and replace him, and Chelsea’s Joao Felix has been mentioned as a loan target. The Portuguese hasn’t reached his potential, having won the European Golden Boy award back in 2019, but he could still be an exciting addition.

Aside from Cunha, there could be other exits at Wolves in the coming months, with Tommy Doyle expected to move on to pastures new, in order enjoy more regular playing time. Now, a well-known central defender has been backed to head to Molineux in the next transfer window.

Wolves make contact with Man Utd's Lindelof

According to the latest from Caught Offside, Wolves have “been in contact” with United centre-back Victor Lindelof over a summer move to Molineux. The 30-year-old is expected to leave the Reds Devils on a free transfer at the end of the season, and Wanderers are among a host of clubs who are keen on snapping him up. Fulham, Everton and West Ham are all mentioned in the report, too.

The £120,000-a-week Lindelof could be a shrewd signing by Wolves, even though his best days may arguably be behind him, hence United being willing to lose him on a free. The defender is a hugely experienced figure, making 277 appearances for the Red Devils and winning 71 caps for Sweden, while Fraizer Campbell lauded a performance against Everton last season.

“He was brilliant. He’s not let his man have time or space, [Jack] Harrison, who started on the right fot them, he’s a good player, he could have caused us a lot of problems, he snuffed that out. He did really well. That’s exactly what the manager wants. He wants people he can trust when he picks them, whatever position they play in, to do a job for him. He’s demonstrating that by playing left-back.”

There is a certain gamble Wolves would be taking in signing Lindelof, especially as he has had lots of injury problems at United, but the free aspect of the transfer would take out some of the risk element.

Wolves must rue selling sensational star who is worth £40m more than Cunha

Wolves sold a player in 2022 who is now worth around £100m

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 21, 2025

The Swede can come in and be a strong squad option for Vitor Pereira, putting his experience to good use and adding the much-needed depth that Wanderers crave ahead of what is hopefully a more positive 2025/26 campaign.

The Central American side edged Suriname 4-3 in a dramatic Gold Cup opener with thrilling comeback

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Costa Rica blew an early 2-0 lead and trailed 3-2They now face the Dominican RepublicThe group stage finale will be against MexicoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

Miguel “Piojo” Herrera made his return to the Gold Cup – this time on the bench for Costa Rica – and did so with a rollercoaster victory. In his tournament debut with , the Mexican manager saw his team claim a wild 4-3 win over Suriname in a match full of momentum swings.

Costa Rica jumped out to a 2-0 lead, only to fall behind 3-2 before salvaging the win with a stoppage-time penalty in the 90+13 minute on Sunday night.

True to his trademark confidence, Herrera didn't hold back after the match, saying, "We have a team capable of winning the tournament. We’re here to win it. The dream is alive, and it’s up to us to make it real. We have a squad that can compete with anyone.”

AdvertisementAFPWHAT MIGUEL HERRERA SAID

Herrera emphasized that his belief in winning the Gold Cup is based on what he’s seen from his players so far, adding, “I wouldn’t be saying this if I didn’t see it reflected on the pitch. Technically, we’re in a good place. If we stay focused, we can go all the way.”

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

The 2025 Gold Cup features three Mexican head coaches. In addition to Javier Aguirre, who leads the Mexican national team, and Miguel Herrera, now at the helm of Costa Rica, Guatemala is coached by another familiar name in Mexican football – Luis Fernando Tena.

The veteran manager guided Guatemala to the quarterfinals in the 2023 edition of the tournament and currently has the team in contention for a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

WHAT NEXT FOR COSTA RICA?

Costa Rica will face the Dominican Republic Wednesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, before closing the group stage with a much-anticipated clash against Mexico on June 22 – a match likely to decide the top spot in Group A.

Manchester United have made “aggressive” £40 million star a top target ahead of this summer but face competition from Chelsea, who are also readying a bid, according to a new report.

Onana calls for Man Utd to stick together as summer window approaches

It was a Manchester derby to forget for both sides on Sunday afternoon, as while the Red Devils will consider themselves unlucky not to score, neither did enough to win the game. United goalkeeper Andre Onana wasn’t called into much action during the 90 minutes, and he believes the club needs to take positives in what is “not an easy situation” at this moment.

“We have to take positives [from the match] as it is not an easy situation at the moment, and we have to stick together,” Onana told BBC Radio Manchester.

The goalkeeper then went on to say that they know the priority is the Europa League and winning that competition. United know winning that competition would not only bring Ruben Amorim his first trophy at Old Trafford, but it would also place them in next season’s Champions League.

Man Utd now submit £64m bid for "powerhouse" who's told Arsenal to sign him

INEOS are looking to beat Arsenal and Chelsea to the signing of a star player this summer.

2 ByBrett Worthington Apr 7, 2025 Man Utd make £40m Ipswich star Delap their top transfer target

As the current United team have their eyes set on victory in the Europa League, the club’s board are slowly turning their attention to the summer and what business they wish to conclude. According to ESPN, Man United have made Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap their preferred target for the centre-forward position this summer.

The report states that United have placed Delap, who bagged his 12th goal in the Premier League over the weekend, over the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko when it comes to signing a new striker this summer.

That is because the Red Devils will be able to sign Delap for around £40-50 million this summer if Ipswich were to be relegated to the Championship. That means he would be a cheaper option than what Sporting CP want for Gyokeres or what Napoli want for Osimhen.

However, United are not alone in the race to sign Delap, as Chelsea are also considered to be interested in the striker, and it’s been reported that the Blues already have a £50 million bid ready ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

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Signing a new striker is considered a priority for United, and Delap, who has been dubbed “aggressive” by former United captain Roy Keane, would be a risk for the Premier League side, as he’s not played for a big team before despite coming through the ranks at Man City.

However, he has 12 top flight goals to his name this season, two of which have come in the last two games against AFC Bournemouth and Wolves, and that has been achieved in a side that looks destined for relegation, so Amorim will believe his scoring instinct and ability to be a threat in the air can excel further at Old Trafford.

Forget the rules, just enjoy watching athletes smash balls out of the park, soar and dive to take catches, and live out some of the most dramatic stories in all of sport

Text by Dustin Silgardo and Illustrations by Ishita Mazumder29-May-2019The game is more explosive than ever beforeHave you heard cricket is slow? That a bunch of guys stand around on a field not doing much and then break for tea? Well, this is the new age of cricket, and the game is now all about sixes. That’s when the batsman hits the ball out of the field, like a home run, except you get six runs instead of one. Take that, baseball!ESPNcricinfo LtdSixes used to be a bit of a rarity in cricket, but these days, thanks to a bunch of changes in the game, they’re flying all over the place. And this World Cup is expected to be the World Cup of sixes.The best part about sixes: you can hit them anywhere and in all sorts of ways. You can switch from right-handed to left-handed mid-shot and hit one. You can play something called the ramp shot. You can get down on your knees and hit a six straight over your head, like this guy…Getty ImagesYou can even hit a six while falling over, like this…2:08

WATCH – What happened after Najibullah Zadran lost his footing?

There’s even something called a helicopter shot, which is when the batsman hires a private helicopter to swoop down as the bowler releases the ball and suck it into its vortex. Okay, it’s not. But it’s pretty bloody exciting. So tune in. You don’t even need to know the rules. It’s just fun watching players whack balls into the stands repeatedly.ESPNcricinfo LtdAfghanistanAfghanistan, that’s right, Afghanistan, a team from a country that hasn’t seen anything resembling peace in forty years, are playing at this World Cup. Get this, they’ve only had an official team since 2008, and it was born out of men seeking asylum from war, in Pakistan. And now they’re in the World Cup, for the second time.It’s not like they’ve got in on a sympathy ticket either. Just ten teams have qualified for this World Cup, so Afghanistan have had to beat much more established teams to get in. Have you heard a more romantic story in all of sport? Leicester City, meh. Jamie Vardy never fixed any toilets in refugee camps. So the Chicago Cubs won a World Series after 108 years. Just 30 years ago, the Taliban were insisting no one in Afghanistan play any sport since it might involve breaking the regime’s dress code.Afghanistan have one of the best bowlers in the world, they’ve got big hitters, they play with passion, and, win or lose, they’ll probably perform their famous Attan dance.If you’re not a soulless ghoul, then find out more about Afghanistan’s incredible story through this illustrated story.ESPNcricinfo LtdIndia v PakistanEvery sport’s got rivalries. But there’s none quite like cricket’s India-Pakistan. The last time these two teams played in a World Cup, 500 million people tuned in to watch. The finale of Game of Thrones had just 19.3 million viewers. Do you really want to be 25 times less cool than people who don’t watch Game of Thrones?So why is this match such a big deal? These are two neighbouring countries that were basically one before 1947 but have since been in near-constant political conflict, and cricket is the biggest sport in both. Since 2013, tensions between the nations have increased, and the teams no longer play each other unless it’s at a world tournament. And the rarity of the derby match has only increased its popularity. The last two contests between these sides were at the Asia Cup last year in the UAE.Talk to any cricket fan about India-Pakistan and they’ll tell you about crazy matches that went all the way to the last ball, controversial moments that led to stadium riots, heated confrontations between players, ugly taunting by fans on both sides. But they’ll also tell you about touching moments involving fans from both sides of the border showing each other hospitality, and opposing fans putting aside the rivalry to show opposition players respect for incredible performances.ESPNcricinfo LtdCricketers actually look like athletes nowSo one of the things that might have put non-cricket fans off cricket in the past was that a lot of them looked like this:ESPNcricinfo LtdNot that there’s anything wrong with looking like that, and some of those guys were incredible players, by the way, but if you’re used to a sport in which muscles bulge out of jerseys and where players celebrate by baring their chiselled eight-packs, you might have found cricket a little lacking in testosterone.All that’s changed. The modern cricketer looks more like this:ESPNcricinfo LtdAnd it’s not just about the looks. These guys run, jump, slide and dive like real top-level athletes. Watch this World Cup and you’ll see players flinging themselves into the sky to take catches, bowling with javelin-thrower actions, taking catches while nearly falling over the rope but somehow chucking the ball to a team-mate, diving full-length despite wearing a helmet and padding on their legs. Just look at the guy in the photo above. Tell us he couldn’t hit home runs, or tackle running backs, or fight in a cage.ESPNcricinfo LtdEngland might actually win at a sport they inventedSo this cricket World Cup is being played in England. It’s an awesome country. Big Ben, London Bridge, One Direction. But when it comes to sport, England have sometimes been, how do we put this, a bit of a laughing stock. See, the country invented a lot of the sports that are played across the world today but have since proceeded to suck at quite a few of them. The last time they reached a big football final was more than 50 years ago, they’ve been overtaken in rugby by a country one-tenth their size, and, in tennis, they’ve been desperately trying to lay claim to a Scotsman just so they can say they have a Grand Slam winner in this century.In cricket, it’s been no different. England have never won a World Cup. They’ve lost three finals. And last time out, they didn’t even make it out of the group stage. But this time, England are actually the No.1 ranked team in the world and are favourites to win on home soil. Even more surprising, they’ve actually become the best by playing what some of them call a “F**k it” brand of cricket. No, seriously, one of their best players actually had that written on his bat during a game. Basically, they’re fearless. They try to hit sixes (remember how exciting those are?) and take risks. What a ride for the country, to watch a team go for the cup while actually playing attractively. They’ll probably mess it up in the end, but it should be a fun ride regardless.

Shreyas Iyer will be available for only the last two games

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Nov-2023With Hardik Pandya yet to recover from his ankle injury, Suryakumar Yadav will lead India in the five-match T20I series against Australia, starting November 23. Ruturaj Gaikwad will be the vice-captain for the first three games before handing over the responsibility to Shreyas Iyer who will join the squad for the last two matches.The series starts just four days after India lost to Australia in the ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad. But with the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA roughly six months away, the focus will now shift to T20Is.From the ODI World Cup squad, Suryakumar, Ishan Kishan and Prasidh Krishna are the only ones named for the whole series, while Axar Patel, who was ruled out of the World Cup with quadriceps strain, is back.ESPNcricinfo LtdHowever, there was no room for Sanju Samson and Shahbaz Ahmed, who were part of the squad for the Ireland T20Is in August. Riyan Parag, who almost single-handedly carried Assam to the semi-final of the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and Abhishek Sharma, the Player of the Tournament, could not find a place either.Apart from Axar, Washington Sundar is the other allrounder. Shivam Dube, too, is in the mix, but he has bowled only sporadically of late, sending down just four overs in eight games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Ravi Bishnoi is the only wristspinner in the squad.This is the first time Suryakumar will be leading India. Previously, he has led Mumbai in 36 matches across formats in domestic cricket. Earlier this year, he also captained Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.Related

New format, new teams, a bit more India vs Australia

Wade to captain Australia in T20I series against India

Hardik Pandya not fit to play T20Is against Australia

Borovec to coach Australia for India T20Is

VVS Laxman, who had coached the India men’s team to the gold medal at the Asian Games, will be in charge of the team for the five T20Is. The first match will be played in Visakhapatnam before the caravan moves to Thiruvananthapuram (November 26), Guwahati (November 28), Raipur (December 1), and Bengaluru (December 3).India’s squad for Australia T20Is: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vice-capt), Ishan Kishan (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt, available only for last two T20Is)

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero is attracting major interest from Atlético Madrid ahead of the looming summer transfer window, and it has now been revealed what their manager, Diego Simeone, has communicated to the Argentine in recent contacts.

Tottenham star Cristian Romero wanted by La Liga heavyweights

The centre-back, who was signed by ex-Spurs managing director Fabio Paratici on an initial loan which turned into a £42.5 million permanent deal from Atalanta four years ago, has gone on to impress during his time in north London.

Fabrizio Romano: Tottenham eyeing £169k-p/w title-winning coach with Iraola

Spurs are considering an array of interesting managers.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 2, 2025

Making 115 appearances for the Lilywhites across all competitions since joining in 2021, Romero also formed a stellar partnership with Micky van de Ven at the heart of an Ange Postecoglou high-line defence which managed to secure Europa League qualification last season.

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The World Cup-winning defender hasn’t been able to contribute enough in 2024/2025 due to injuries, though, which have caused him to miss 25 games in total this season.

Tottenham’s league position reflects this, with Postecoglou’s side sitting 14th in the Premier League table after suffering 15 league defeats. The north Londoners have even been forced to deploy teenager Archie Gray as a makeshift centre-back for large periods, with Romero and van de Ven’s absences giving Postecoglou a major headache throughout the campaign.

This has, of course, had a major effect on their overall form. Romero, who’s captained the side on occasion, is seen as a real leader in the squad and one of Postecoglou’s star senior men – so he would be a really sore miss if the 26-year-old were to push for an exit this summer.

“The way our defensive side of the game has come together, the one constant and the rock in that [much-changed defensive unit] has been Romero, with the way he’s taken on that responsibility of guiding those other guys around him so that they look assured,” said Postecoglou last season (via BBC).

“I think they feel security having him beside them.”

It is reliably believed that Atlético are expressing a serious interest in Romero (Sky Sports), while a report from GiveMeSport last week claimed that their cross-town rivals Real Madrid have also held internal talks over a move for the ex-Serie A star.

Romero is very much a wanted man in Spain, and particularly by Simeone.

Diego Simeone's private message to Tottenham star Cristian Romero

According to South American journalist Uriel Lugt, taking to X, Simeone has “already contacted” Romero, where he presented the defender something in a private message.

During these behind-the-scenes talks, Atlético’s head coach explained the club’s sporting project, and it appears to be tempting the Spurs ace, as Romero is now “willing” to make the move to Europe this summer.

However, that being said, Daniel Levy won’t make it easy for the Wanda Metropolitano side, as the Tottenham chairman is set to demand a “high price”.

This follows other reports that Tottenham are now open to selling Romero, so his exit is becoming more and more of a possibility as we slowly approach the end of this season.

El Tri defeated the Dominican Republic 3-2 with goals from Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez and César Montes

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México will face Suriname next WednesdayRaúl Jiménez reached 40 goals with Costa Rica is next for the Dominican Republic in Group A actionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mexico’s 3–2 win over the Dominican Republic in their 2025 Gold Cup opener Saturday night sparked sharp media criticism, with several prominent analysts and former coaches expressing concern about the national team’s performance under Javier Aguirre.

Despite the result, many pointed to a lack of identity, intensity, and tactical coherence against an opponent ranked 139th in the world.

“You can’t allow this to happen. Mexico didn’t impose itself on the Dominican Republic at all – they let them do whatever they wanted,” said José Luis Sánchez Solá said on ESPN’s utbol Picante. “There wasn’t a single clear chance in the first half. I loved what the Dominican Republic did. Mexico frustrated me. This team isn’t working."

Fellow analyst and coach Mario Carrillo agreed, stressing the lack of basic tactical structure and saying, “Mexico must improve tactically. Today, you have to know how to move the ball, create triangles, and manage possession – especially against teams that run a lot. This is CONCACAF. This is the Gold Cup."

Francisco Gabriel de Anda offered a more optimistic but still cautious take, saying: “Aguirre should already have a core lineup with the World Cup less than a year away. You can't still be testing players. I’m optimistic, but he should have 60 percent of the squad defined by now.”

He added that dismissing opponents based on perceived quality is a dangerous mindset: “It’s not always about whether the opponent is too weak or too strong. Mexico won, but it wasn’t convincing.”

On FOX Sports, Cristian “Chaco” Giménez, father of striker Santiago Giménez, noted that Aguirre "adjusted the team’s structure at halftime due to dissatisfaction with the first-half display."

Eduardo de la Torre, a former executive and analyst, criticized Mexico’s offensive setup: “Aguirre has to choose between Raúl Jiménez and Santiago Giménez – this team needs to play with a single striker.”

Rubén Rodríguez, also on FOX, was blunt in his assessment: “Much of what the Dominican Republic accomplished was because Mexico allowed it. There was a huge gap in midfield. The team was reactive, not proactive. That’s something Aguirre never addressed. If the goal is to win, fine – but this team doesn’t function

David Faitelson of TUDN echoed that sentiment: “Less than a year from the World Cup, Mexico inspires no one – absolutely no one. There’s no identity, no style. What we saw today was very poor against a team with limited ability. In the end, Mexico was begging for the final whistle.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT JAVIER AGUIRRE SAID

After the game, Aguirre acknowledged his team was pushed to the limit by an opponent he admitted surprised him.

They stuck to a 5-4-1, and did it well," he said. "It was an attractive game for the fans. There are things to correct -we could’ve scored more, but credit to the opponent. They have players in Europe, they’ve grown a lot. They were clinical. Malagón didn’t face too many shots, but the ones he did came from silly plays that led to goals. It could’ve been 3-0, but then it was 3-1, 3-2… and we were on edge again. We played with intensity, but the opponent took us to the limit."

DID YOU KNOW?

Aguirre has won eight of his 13 matches in his current stint as head coach of the national Team.

Raúl Jiménez reached 40 goals with El Tri, putting him just six behind Jared Borgetti (46) for second place on Mexico’s all-time scoring list. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández remains the national team’s top scorer with 52 goals.

WHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?

The Mexico will face Suriname Wednesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, while the Dominican Republic will take on Costa Rica later that same afternoon at the same venue.

While the PSL continues to churn out Pakistan bowling stars, batsmen are proving much harder to unearth

Danyal Rasool20-Mar-201933-year old Sohail Akhtar has never played for Pakistan, and most likely, never will. He’s too far gone the other side of 30, has never received the sort of media coverage selectors in Pakistan often allow themselves to be led by, and for his age, hasn’t played nearly enough cricket to suggest a wealth of experience. Moreover, Akhtar’s first-class average, both batting and bowling, hovers around 28; he has never managed a hundred and only ever one five-for. Perhaps he simply isn’t good enough to represent Pakistan at international level.This would be a fairly unremarkable story most of the time. After all, there are several cricketers languishing in domestic cricket never destined to rise to the top, and for all the flaws of Pakistan’s domestic structure, most playing their trade domestically are simply playing at the highest level their abilities will allow them to go. This year at the PSL, Akhtar was the 16th highest runscorer at the PSL, scoring 241 at an average of 30 and a strike rate just under 140. So what makes him unique? Well, he was the highest scorer among players Pakistan players who have never played international cricket.And this strikes at the heart of an age-old problem in the country. Bowling talent may be unlocked without seemingly even trying; indeed this year, both Mohammad Hasnain and Umer Khan were amongst the top ten wickettakers at the PSL. One of them will debut next week; for the other, an international cap is merely a matter of time.For all the PSL is doing in Pakistan, for all the national side’s T20 success gets attributed to it and the unarguable role it has played in bringing more cricket back to Pakistan, the asset upon which the success of the whole format globally has been built – big hitting batsmen – is conspicuously absent in Pakistan. It’s something that doesn’t generate as much discussion as it should, for over the years the case can be made the PSL cannot claim a single batsman to have emerged and staked a regular place in the national side.