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U-19 CWC: Young Lions get senior team ‘boost’ ahead of Afghanistan semis clash

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England Under-19 skipper Tom Prest is tapping into the knowledge of the past and present cricket stalwarts of his country as he looks to guide the team to its maiden ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final since 1998.

England go into the Super League semifinal against Afghanistan later on Tuesday having won all four of their games so far, sweeping past South Africa by six wickets in the quarterfinal having topped Group A.

England’s progress has been followed by the senior side, which has just finished a five-match T20 series in Bridgetown , while former cricketer Graeme Swann has also been offering his advice as the current crop looks to emulate the achievements of a squad the 42-year-old spinner was part of 24 years ago.

“Before the quarterfinal, we had a few messages from the guys out here (England T20 team),” Prest was quoted as saying by ICC. “Knowing they are taking an interest and following what we’re doing gives us that extra confidence. It would be an unbelievable honour to captain a side in a World Cup final. Graeme Swann (working as part of the media covering the tournament) was playing in the team that won it in 1998, so he’s chatted to us a couple of times about what it takes to get through tournament cricket.

“He’s just been telling us to continue what we’re doing, not be complacent and compete through the 100 overs, regardless of the score. We’ve played some really good, positive cricket in the group games and the quarterfinal. It’s been brilliant so far and we came here with the intention of winning the competition, so to get to the final would be amazing,” said Prest.

Prest has has so far compiled scores of 93 and 154 not out in the group stage, while Jacob Bethell starred against South Africa with a fine 42-ball 88. With the ball, Rehan Ahmed is again set to play a vital role having taken four wickets in each of his two matches, though Prest knows Afghanistan have spinners of their own who can cause his side problems.

“It will be a great challenge for us, we’ve not played them (Afghanistan) before,” he said. “We’ve seen a bit of footage and they have some good mystery spinners, so it’ll be a good experience. We’ve done some good training sessions on methods against spin and hopefully that’ll stand us in good stead.

“Rehan has been huge for us since coming back in, and he’s a great asset for us as he can spin it both ways. Jacob’s knock obviously gives him a lot of confidence. He’s been threatening to do something like that for a while and it’s pretty amazing to watch from the sidelines when he’s in that form.”

Afghanistan also head into the semifinals full of confidence having defended 134 in a thrilling four-run quarterfinal win against Sri Lanka. Noor Ahmad smashed four sixes in his 30 and took 1/20 in his miserly 10 overs, with the left-arm spinner one of several dangerous bowlers looking to cause England’s strong batting line-up problems.

Suliman Safi’s side would become the first ever Afghanistan side to make the final of this competition should they win, going one stage further than the semifinalists of 1998.

“We have a good bowling attack and our spin is very strong. If we get a good total on the board, we feel we can defend it. We’ve had two days of good practice and we are prepared,” said Safi.

“This has been a good experience and a semifinal is a great achievement. Now we are focusing on playing good cricket.”

International

₹136 Crore Per Year To Luxury Suite At Training Ground: All About Kylian Mbappe’s Bumper Deal At Real Madrid

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In a move that has captivated football enthusiasts worldwide, Kylian Mbappe has officially transferred from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid as of Tuesday.

This long-anticipated switch concludes months of speculation and excitement among fans.

Real Madrid’s Exciting Acquisition

Real Madrid announced on Monday that they had secured a deal with the French superstar for the next five seasons, merging one of football’s brightest talents with its most illustrious club.

This deal follows years of interest from Madrid, eager to bring in the player seen as the heir to Lionel Messi’s throne in the sport.

Financial Details of Mbappe’s Move

The 25-year-old Parisian will reportedly earn 15 million Euros net per season at Real Madrid, translating to over ₹136 crores annually. This figure breaks down to an impressive ₹2.6 crore per week.

While this is a significant reduction from the €75 million net per year he received at PSG, the shortfall will be offset by a massive signing bonus. The bonus, around €150 million, will be disbursed over the course of his contract.

Perks and Anticipated Debuts

Aside from his substantial salary, Mbappe will enjoy a private luxury suite at Real Madrid’s training facility and will sport the iconic No.9 jersey, previously worn by legendary striker Karim Benzema.

His anticipated debut for Real Madrid will occur during the preseason, with their first friendly against AC Milan at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 31.

His competitive debut is expected in the UEFA Super Cup, where Real Madrid will take on Europa League winners Atalanta in Warsaw, Poland, on August 14.

Mbappe’s Stellar PSG Legacy

Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 for €180 million and has since become the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Throughout his seven-year tenure in Paris, he consistently demonstrated his scoring prowess, netting at least 30 goals in six of those seasons. His move to Real Madrid marks the next chapter in an already illustrious career, as he aims to further his legacy at one of the world’s most storied football clubs.

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ENG vs ESP, Euro 2024 Final: Spain Become The 1st Four-Time Champions Of Europe After Beating England 2-1 In Berlin

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Match Result:

Spain triumphed over England with a 2-1 victory in the Euro 2024 final, held in Berlin, becoming the first team to win the championship four times.

The match saw a tense first half ending goalless, but Spain took the lead shortly after the break. Williams Jr. netted the opener in the 47th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by England.

England fought back, with Palmer leveling the score in the 73rd minute, igniting hopes for the Three Lions. However, Spain maintained their pressure, and in the 86th minute, Oyarzabal clinched the winner with a decisive strike.

This historic win cements Spain’s status as Europe’s most successful team, while England’s wait for a major international trophy continues. The final was a showcase of high-quality football and strategic mastery, ultimately seeing Spain emerge as deserved champions.

This historic win cements Spain’s status as Europe’s most successful team, while England’s wait for a major international trophy continues. The final was a showcase of high-quality football and strategic mastery, ultimately seeing Spain emerge as deserved champions.

Preview of Euro 2024 Cup final:

A strong Spanish outfit will meet a pesky England side in the final of Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Spain battled France and defeated them by 2-1 in the semi-final, while England overcame the Netherlands by the same margin.

However, it wasn’t without a contentious penalty call that went in England’s favour. Despite not starting the contest as favourites, England’s ability to hang in there could work against Spain, who are seeking a 4th Euro title. By contrast, England are yet to lift the trophy.

A crucial stat which is in favour of England is the head to head battle, which the former lead by 13-10 against Spain in 27 outings.

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Violent Clash Erupts Between Rival Supporters During Argentina vs Brazil 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has been marred in controversy as the match between Brazil and Argentina saw violent clashes between rival supporters before the start of it. The high-profile fixture had to be delayed by 30 minutes as the Marcana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro witnessed ugly scenes, with disturbing visuals emerging on social media.

With the Brazilian and Argentinian players lining up for national anthems, the camera turned towards the stands as a section of rival fans exchanged blows. The local police officials could be seen beating up a section of Argentinian fans with batons and it did not go well with the tourists. By pointing at the violent scenes, Messi and co. decided to walk off the pitch.

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