599 plays 599 as honours finish exactly even in Division One relegation clash

ECB Reporters Network13-Jul-2023

Northamptonshire 219 (Zaib 49, Higgins 2-33) and 380 (Whiteman 114, Gay 89) drew with Middlesex 277 (Higgins 64*, Stoneman 51, Keogh 3-52) and 322 for 6 (Robson 126*, Simpson 75) Sam Robson became Middlesex’s first centurion of the season – but it was not quite enough to seal a much-needed LV= Insurance County Championship victory in a breathtaking finish against Northamptonshire.Robson struck 126 not out, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of exactly 150 with John Simpson to boost the home side’s chances of chasing down 323 against their fellow Division One strugglers. Middlesex needed 10 from the final over, bowled by Tom Taylor – and three from the last ball – but Robson could only steer it to mid-on and scrambled back for two, meaning the scores finished level.The resulting draw did little to help either side’s prospects in the battle to avoid relegation, with Northamptonshire staying bottom of the table and Middlesex now 16 points above them in ninth.Northamptonshire’s players took to the field wearing black armbands as a mark of respect for county stalwart Tony Kingston, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 83, having served as their scorer for 32 years up to last season.Surprisingly, the visitors – who were 372 for seven overnight – opted to continue batting, but extended their innings by just 11 deliveries as the last three wickets tumbled for the addition of eight more runs. Tom Helm collected two in three deliveries to finish with three for 75, while Emilio Gay was last man out for 89, sent back attempting to snatch an ambitious single and failing to beat the throw to the bowler’s end.Middlesex gave notice of their intent by promoting white-ball specialist Stephen Eskinazi to open, but the move fell flat as a recurrence of the finger injury he sustained while fielding on the first day forced him to retire just two overs into the chase. With a number of deliveries keeping low, the batting side found it hard to gain traction and they were pegged back even further when Ben Sanderson’s consistent opening spell yielded wickets in successive balls.Mark Stoneman was first to depart, adjudged lbw to one that might have drifted down the leg side – but there could be no dispute about the next, which ripped out Pieter Malan’s off stump. Middlesex might have been three down soon afterwards when Max Holden drove a ball to square leg and non-striker Robson eventually aborted his bid for a single halfway down the pitch, but Sam Whiteman’s throw whistled just over the stumps.Holden began brightly after lunch, cutting Sanderson for two boundaries and looked nicely set, contributing 37 to a partnership of 63 with Robson until off-spinner Rob Keogh castled him with a ball that turned and clipped the bails. Keogh bowled tidily throughout an initial 11-over stint, although Simpson drove him off the back foot for four to raise the Seaxes’ total beyond three figures as he and Robson kept the scoreboard ticking along.Robson inched towards his second half-century of the season by steering Tom Taylor for three, but the required rate had already drifted above five an over by the time Middlesex reached tea at 147 for three.The first seven overs after the interval brought just a single boundary. The Seaxes were still struggling to accelerate when the partnership finally ended, with Luke Procter keeping his balance in front of the rope at long off to take the catch that removed Simpson for 75.Procter also dismissed Ryan Higgins, who miscued to midwicket, but Roland-Jones launched a feisty assault with 34 from just 18 deliveries, including three sixes, to steer his side within 40 of the target.Josh de Caires, with an unbeaten 17, did his best to help Robson haul them across the line, but Sanderson conceded only four from the penultimate over and that proved crucial as Northamptonshire did enough to deny their rivals victory.

كشفت الشرطة الإسبانية عن النتائج الأولية للتحقيقات في حادث مصرع لاعب ليفربول السابق، ديوجو جوتا، وشقيقه أندريه سيلفا، الذي وقع يوم الخميس الماضي.

وتوفى جوتا وشقيقه في حادث سيارة، أسفر عن مصرعهما خلال تواجده في إسبانيا، استعدادًا للعودة إلى إنجلترا للتوجه لمعسكر ليفربول التدريبي.

وبحسب ما ذكرت “سكاي سبورتس”، أسفرت نتائج تحقيقات الشرطة الإسبانية الأولية، أن الحادث وقع بسبب السرعة الزائدة عن الحد المسموح به.

يذكر التقرير أيضًا أنه وفقًا للتحقيقات الجارية، كان جوتا هو من يقود السيارة أثناء وقوع الحادث، وترى أن السيارة تجاوزت الحد الأقصى للسرعة على الطريق السريع بشكل ملحوظ.

اقرأ أيضًا | إيان راش يكشف سبب غيابه عن جنازة جوتا وشقيقه

البيان صادر عن الحرس المدني في زامورا يوم الثلاثاء، أوضح: “يجري إعداد تقرير الخبراء ووضع اللمسات الأخيرة عليه، ويجري، من بين أمور أخرى، فحص العلامات التي تركتها إحدى عجلات السيارة”.

مضيفًا: “تشير جميع الأدلة حتى الآن إلى أن سائق السيارة المحطمة هو ديوجو جوتا، لم يكتمل تقرير الخبير بعد، ولكن بما أنه يخضع للمراجعة القضائية، فسيتم تقديمه إلى محكمة بويبلا دي سانابريا”.

وأُقيمت جنازة جوتا وشقيقه سيلفا في بلدة جوندومار، بالقرب من بورتو، يوم السبت الماضي، بحضور أفراد أسرته وعدد كبير من لاعبي كرة القدم بين ليفربول ومنتخب البرتغال.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has become the 17th India batter to score a century on Test debut, and the first to do so outside Asia in more than 21 years. The 21-year-old reached the milestone on the second afternoon of the Dominica Test, bringing it up with a standing sweep for a single off the part-time bowling of fellow debutant Alick Athanaze.Jaiswal opened the batting alongside captain Rohit Sharma, with Shubman Gill moving down to the No. 3 spot vacated by Cheteshwar Pujara’s axing. When he reached his hundred, off 215 balls, India were 205 for no loss after they had bowled West Indies out for 150 on day one.”It was an emotional moment for me,” Jaiswal said after the day’s play. “I enjoyed it quite a bit. I am still batting so I will try to play for as long as possible. This is just the start of my career, so now it will be about how focused and disciplined I can be going forward.”My effort [on the third day] will just be on how I can give a good start to the team. I will just focus on my process and trust on what I have practiced. I just have to go and keep playing.”Jaiswal has shown a remarkable appetite for runs in every format he has played. When he was called up for this West Indies tour as part of an India side picked with an eye on the future, he had scored 1845 first-class runs at an average of 80.21, with nine hundreds in just 26 innings. His List A career of 32 games already includes a double-hundred. And he was the fifth highest run-getter in IPL 2023, with his 625 runs coming at a strike rate of 163.61. Jaiswal has now brought that appetite to Test cricket.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“I thinks it’s about how I prepare mentally,” Jaiswal said when asked about his preparations. “Of course, fitness is very important. I try to follow my diet and discipline and try to stay in good shape. And I practice the way I need to prepare. I keep trying to bat according to possible scenarios and how I can do well on the team. The effort is to just try and play match-winning knocks.”I spoke to Rohit quite a bit while batting. He kept telling me how we can play on this wicket and where the runs can come from. And even before the game, the way he told me ‘you have to do it, you are the only person’, I kept thinking about that and how I can get my runs.”West Indies tested both openers even as they struggled to separate them, on a slow pitch that offered the spinners both turn and bounce. Right through his innings, Jaiswal was happy to show the patience he required to earn his run-scoring opportunities. He took 16 balls to get off the mark on the first evening, and began the second morning by shouldering arms five times in a row to Jason Holder. By the time he reached his hundred, he had left or defended 56 of the 104 balls he faced from West Indies’ fast bowlers.At the same time, he was also prepared to exploit gaps in the field with unorthodox shots. He got off the mark in Test cricket with an uppercut for four, and he reverse-swept Jomel Warrican against the turn for a boundary in the last over of day one.When required to, Jaiswal was able to shift a gear down and see out difficult periods. Having hit seven fours while scoring his first 51 runs off 104 balls, he hit no boundaries and scored just 19 runs off his next 80 balls, a period during which spinners Rahkeem Cornwall and Jomel Warrican beat both openers multiple times with sharp turn.Having got through that testing spell, though, and with Cornwall off the field with a chest infection, Jaiswal opened up after lunch: he rushed from 70 to 100 in just 31 balls, hitting four fours in that period including a dancing, inside-out drive off Warrican.Of the 16 previous India batters to score centuries on Test debut, only two – Shikhar Dhawan in 2013 and Prithvi Shaw in 2018 – opened the batting. And only five scored their debut hundreds outside Asia, with Virender Sehwag the last to do so, in Bloemfontein back in November 2001.Jaiswal’s innings also extended a proud run for players representing his Ranji Trophy team: the last four Test-debut centurions for India have all been Mumbai batters, with Rohit, Shaw and Shreyas Iyer the three before Jaiswal.

Donovan says Pochettino's impact is starting to manifest itself after the team's dominant performance against Trinidad and Tobago

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Donovan, Lalas have bought in on Poch's decisionsDonovan pointed to Diego Luna as an example of Poch playerFreese has a chance to win GK competition, Donovan saysFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Following an impressive 5-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago in the 2025 Gold Cup opener, former USMNT star Landon Donovan pointed to the performance as a sign that coach Mauricio Pochettino is starting to have a real impact on the squad.

Pochettino opted to start the exact same XI against Saudi Arabia on Thursday night as he did in Sunday's Gold Cup win over T&T.

"He elected to change the culture," Donovan said on FOX Sports. "With his decisions, the same starting XI, with his press conferences, what he said about players not picking and choosing which games they come into, how he's used Diego Luna as an example of what he wants his players to be – he's changing the culture, and he's saying this is what I expect. If you want to play for me, this is how it goes."

Donovan was referring to the controversial back-and-forth between Pochettino and U.S. star Christian Pulisic over the past month. He also said Pochettino is sending a message to 2022 World Cup starter in goal, Matt Turner, with his decision to turn to NYCFC star Matt Freese in the first two Gold Cup matches.

"Look at Matt Freese now in goal," Donovan said. "He said 'Matt Turner, you've been great,' but he had a statement like 'Matt Freese, let's see if you can be No. 1.' He's showing with his words and actions that he's changing the culture slowly."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Fellow ex-USMNT star Alexi Lalas said the message Pochettino is sending affects the entire national team pool, not just the players participating at the Gold Cup.

"That message gets out to the players who are there, but it also gets out to the players who aren't there," Lalas said. "When you look at this team now, it's about winning back hearts and minds. It's about clawing back, it's a process. It's not going to happen overnight. What you want to avoid – now that the stakes are higher, the competition gets higher – you take that step forward, and you take two steps back. Now you grab it with both hands, as a team you progress and you mature, or as a player you plant that seed in the mind of Mauricio Pochettino."

Prior to the match against Saudi Arabia, Pochettino acknowledged he was proud of the strides the national team has made. The team had lost four straight matches entering the Gold Cup.

"Despite the results, the evolution is good," Pochettino said on FOX. "I think we are progressing in different areas. We need to keep this progression and with positive results, I think it's better. But yeah, so happy. The few weeks that we are working with that group, we are evolving really well."

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite the controversy over Pulisic's decision to skip this summer's tournament, it's nothing new. The last Gold Cup Pulisic participated in was in 2019. That said, with the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, some expected the USMNT to have a more experienced roster for this tournament.

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WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

The U.S. will conclude the Gold Cup group stage phase with a matchup against Haiti on Sunday.

West Ham managed a point against Bournemouth, having gone 1-0 down in the first half. Graham Potter’s side came out fighting in the second half, scoring in the 61st and 68th minute to take a 2-1 lead at the London Stadium.

However, Evanilson did manage to salvage a point for the Cherries, netting his second of the game to make it 2-2 in the 79th minute, with the points being shared.

Despite having more of the ball with 56% possession, West Ham only generated 0.65 xG in the match, creating one “big chance” and taking nine shots. In comparison, Andoni Iraola’s side generated 2.15 xG in the game, creating two “big chances” and taking 11 shots.

The second-half performance was much stronger by the Hammers, having seven of their nine shots in that second half, and it was the goalscorers, Niclas Füllkrug and Jarrod Bowen, who spurred the comeback.

Bowen's performance vs Bournemouth

Bowen scored the second goal, putting West Ham 2-1 up in the match. Whilst he started the game as a centre-forward, having a license to roam into both channels, Fullkrug’s introduction saw Bowen move to his natural right side, where he really began to come into his own.

The 28-year-old Hammers captain managed 52 touches in the game, taking four shots (only one on target) and completing two of his four dribble attempts. Bowen also won seven of his 15 ground duels in the game, working hard for his side, winning two tackles and making two interceptions.

Bowen’s goal was his ninth of the season, also providing seven assists in his 2,539 minutes played. But today’s game made one thing apparent, and it feels like West Ham could have one man who is even more undroppable than their captain at this point in time.

Why James Ward-Prowse is undroppable

James Ward-Prowse was recalled from his loan at the end of the January transfer window, having made just 10 appearances for Nottingham Forest. West Ham stated his return would offer “experience, depth and quality” to Potter’s side.

But his performance against Bournemouth proved exactly why he is more than extra depth and experience, as the midfielder controlled proceedings in the middle of the park, provided the assist for Fullkrug’s equaliser, and protected the Hammers back line, winning two of his three ground duels.

In recent weeks, Potter has shown faith in Ward-Prowse, quickly making him a regular starter in his side, giving the team a more progressive passer in the midfield, someone who can keep things ticking, but also a set-piece specialist, which can be an invaluable tool in the modern era of Premier League football.

Whilst Bowen is the club captain and top goalscorer, Ward-Prowse has shown his importance to the side, making them less predictable in their build-up, offering slightly more mobility in midfield (whilst it isn’t his biggest strength) and, of course, adding that set-piece threat.

Therefore, the former Southampton man should keep his place in the side and be considered undroppable by the manager heading into the final matches of the season.

أعطى الألماني هانز فليك، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، الضوء الأخضر للتعاقد مع بديل صفقة نيكو ويليامز نجم أتلتيك بلباو، التي تعثر إتمامها خلال فترة الانقاالات الصيفية الحالية.

وحدد نادي مانشستر يونايتد سعر لاعبه الدولي الإنجليزي، في حال رغبت أندية للتعاقد معه خلال الميركاتو الحالي.

ولعب راشفورد، 17 مباراة مع أستون فيلا الذي انضم له على سبيل الإعارة منذ يناير الماضي، استطاع أن يسجل 4 أهداف وقدم 6 تمريرات حاسمة.

ويعتبر الجناح الإنجليزي خارج حسابات مدربه البرتغالي روبن أموريم، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بناد مانشستر يونايتد، لذلك أصبح بيعه شيئًا أساسيًا خلال فترة الميركاتو الحالي نظرًا لعدم الاستفادة من خدماته بجانب التخلص من راتبه الكبير.

اقرأ أيضًا | راشفورد يواصل تلميحاته الخفية بشأن انتقاله إلى برشلونة

ويعتبر نادي برشلونة الأبرز في سباق التعاقد مع راشفورد، لتعزيز مركز الجناح في تشكيل الفريق الأول استعدادًا للموسم المقبل ولاستمرار النجاحات التي تحققت بالموسم الماضي والتتويج بالثلاثية المحلية (الدوري وكأس الملك والسوبر).

ووفقًا لصحيفة “آس” الإسبانية، فإن هانز فليك، المدير الفني لـ برشلونة قد أعطى الضوء الأخضر للتعاقد مع ماركوس راشفورد، خلال الميركاتو الحالي بعد فشل التعاقد مع نيكو ويليامز وصعوبة المفاوضات مع ليفربول من أجل لويس دياز.

الصحيفة ذكرت أن إدارة النادي الإسباني لجأت إلى راشفورد نظرًا لأنه أرخص سعرًا من دياز، إذ حدد مان يونايتد 48 مليون يورو لبيع اللاعب خلال فترة الانتقالات الحالية.

يُذكر أن راشفورد، قد ألمح من قبل لرغبته في الانتقال إلى برشلونة واللعب بجانب الإسباني الشاب لامين يامال، واصفًا إياه بأن ما يفعله في كرة القدم صعبًا للغاية نظرًا لبلوغه السابعة عشر من عمره فقط.

Provisional World Cup squad due to be named soon with allrounder reportedly set to be included

Matt Roller15-Aug-2023

Ben Stokes’ mooted return to ODI cricket will be top of the agenda as England’s selectors meet on Tuesday to pick a provisional squad for the upcoming World Cup in India.Matthew Mott, England’s white-ball coach, said in an interview with the that Jos Buttler, their captain, would “lead the way” on communication with Stokes, adding: “We will see if he’s keen. There has not been a clear direction on what he’s going to do yet, but we are still hopeful.”The reported on Monday that Stokes has indicated to England that he is willing to reverse his ODI retirement – which he announced last July – in order to help them defend their 50-over title in October-November, and he is now expected to be named among their provisional squad.England’s selectors meet on Tuesday and will select squads for upcoming T20I and ODI series against New Zealand, and an ODI series against Ireland. They hope to be close to full strength during the New Zealand ODIs, but will use the other series as an opportunity to test their depth. The ECB plan to name squads for the New Zealand series on Wednesday morning.They are not expected to announce their World Cup squad alongside it. The ICC requires teams to select a provisional squad by September 5 and to finalise their squads by September 28, leaving teams scope to make late changes. While England’s final squad will consist of 15 players, along with three travelling reserves, they may follow Australia’s lead in naming an initial 18-man group which they then trim down to 15 names closer to the start of the tournament.If Stokes does return, the main question facing England is whether his inclusion should come at the cost of a spare batter or a spare seamer.All of their main white-ball seamers – including Jofra Archer, who is expected to be named in the provisional squad – have suffered injuries at some stage in the last two years, and picking Stokes alongside only five frontline seam options would be a risk.Stokes has struggled with a chronic left-knee injury and seems unlikely to be relied upon as a bowler in India, but even a part-time role with the ball would add further flexibility to a versatile squad that is likely to include several other allrounders in Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes.

Newcastle United are in dreamland after claiming the Carabao Cup before the international break and Eddie Howe is now set to enter the market for summer reinforcements.

Newcastle United look to build on success in the transfer market

Following their historic victory over Liverpool at Wembley, Newcastle have designs on capping the season with a trophy and Champions League qualification — a sentence that would’ve been inconceivable just a matter of years ago.

With the club firmly on an upward trajectory, Howe is likely to leverage their recent success by looking to pull off some ambitious deals at St James’ Park. For example, Lille striker Jonathan David is on the radar in the North East amid his availability on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.

At the other end of the field, Roma stopper Mile Slivar is a target between the sticks for Newcastle alongside Chelsea and Manchester City. Valued at £29 million, the 25-year-old has passed up the chance to extend his deal in the Italian capital despite attempts to do so from his current employers.

Understandably, there are senior players at the club that could depart on a high after several years of distinguished service. Supporters will be sad to see them go, given the part they have played in helping Howe’s men compete with the Premier League elite.

Newcastle stars that could leave under freedom of contract

Jamaal Lascelles

No option

Jamal Lewis

No option

Fabian Schar

No option

Callum Wilson

No option

John Ruddy

No option

Mark Gillespie

No option

However, new assets are the key to elevating Newcastle’s position in seasons to come. Speaking of which, the Magpies now have their eye on one of the most in-form wingers in the country.

Newcastle United in talks to sign Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara

According to Africa Foot, Newcastle have opened talks to sign Bournemouth winger Dango Ouattara, with both clubs in negotiations over the potential of a £33.4 million deal.

Aston Villa, Napoli and AC Milan are also on the case and want to bring in the Burkina Faso international. Still, the Magpies appear to be well in contention and view him as a priority signing ahead of next season.

As good as Gordon: Newcastle join hectic race to sign "superb" £33m winger

The Magpies could make their move.

ByTom Cunningham Mar 29, 2025

Proving to be a menace for opposition backlines, the 23-year-old has scored nine times and laid on four assists in 30 appearances this term. Despite his primary role out wide, he has also featured through the middle for Bournemouth on several occasions.

Ouattara has been commended for his “incredible” performances as a striker by Joe Partington. Versatility could be key for Newcastle moving forward, especially when considering that Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon have spent time on the sidelines due to either injury or suspension in 2024/25.

Now, the onus is on Howe and PIF to put forward an attractive proposal to the attacker that convinces him St James’ Park is the best place to continue his development.

Game over when Derbyshire collapse to 14 for 4, despite Anuj Dal’s maiden white-ball ton

ECB Reporters Network22-Aug-2023Andy Umeed signed off a prolific Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign with a List A career-best unbeaten 172 from 147 balls as Somerset beat Derbyshire by 72 runs in the Group B match at Derby.Umeed hammered his third century in the tournament, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 167 from 125 balls with skipper Sean Dickson who scored 67 from 52.The pair plundered 111 off the last 10 overs to take Somerset to 333 for 5 with Umeed registering the highest one-day score against Derbyshire at Derby.The Group B game was over as a contest when Derbyshire collapsed to 14 for 4 in the fourth over and although Anuj Dal scored 110, his maiden white ball century , the home side were dismissed for 261 with Josh Davey taking 3 for 18 and Ned Leonard 3 for 40.It had earlier looked promising for Derbyshire when George Thomas aimed a firm footed drive at the third ball of the innings from Sam Conners and was well caught low to his right at first slip by Harry Came.Both Conners and the impressive 16-year-old Harry Moore got some early movement with the latter unlucky to have Lewis Goldsworthy dropped on six by Came in his second over.Umeed began to assert himself, twice driving Conners down the ground for boundaries and pulling Dal to the ropes before swatting Luis Reece back over his head for six.Goldsworthy hoisted off-spinner Alex Thomson over the wide long on boundary and the stand had reached 90 from 110 balls when he drove back a return catch to Reece.James Rew showed his intent with consecutive fours off Reece and a reverse sweep to the ropes against Thomson so Derbyshire were relieved to see the back of the 19-year-old.Rew had scored a run-a-ball 31 when he launched a big drive at Conners and got an inside edge which Brooke Guest did well to hold diving to his right.But Umeed was playing with the assurance of a man who had already scored two hundreds in the tournament and after driving Conners over long off for six, he reached three figures off 106 balls.After passing his previous List A best of 119, he pulled Moore for a four and two sixes with 23 coming off the 43rd over.Although Dickson’s 50 contained only three fours, it had come off 43 balls which showed how good his placement had been on both sides of the wicket with Derbyshire unable to prevent the pair accelerating towards a formidable total.Umeed brought up his 150 with a straight six off Mark Watt and Dickson drove Conners for six before he was lbw to Reece.Reece was pulled by Umeed for another six but the all-rounder at least restricted Somerset to five off the last over although the damage had already been done.Faced with pulling off their highest ever one-day run chase, the home side stumbled from the outset, losing Reece in the first over, given out caught behind by Sue Redfern, the first female umpire to stand in a Derbyshire match.Tom Wood miscued a pull at Ned Leonard, Came drove Davey to extra cover and Matt Lamb skied a pull in the fourth over.Guest was bowled by one that kept low and after pulling Goldsworthy for six, Haider Ali swept the left-arm spinner to deep midwicket.Somerset looked set to wrap up victory early but Dal had other ideas, reaching his hundred from 103 balls,and sharing stands of 81 from 79 balls with Thomson (42) and 88 for the last wicket with Conners to at least restore some Derbyshire pride.

Donovan says Pochettino's impact is starting to manifest itself after the team's dominant performance against Trinidad and Tobago

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• Donovan, Lalas have bought in on Poch's decisions
• Donovan pointed to Diego Luna as an example of Poch player
• Freese has a chance to win GK competition, Donovan says

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following an impressive 5-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago in the 2025 Gold Cup opener, former USMNT star Landon Donovan pointed to the performance as a sign that coach Mauricio Pochettino is starting to have a real impact on the squad.

  Pochettino opted to start the exact same XI against Saudi Arabia on Thursday night as he did in Sunday's Gold Cup win over T&T.

  "He elected to change the culture," Donovan said on FOX Sports. "With his decisions, the same starting XI, with his press conferences, what he said about players not picking and choosing which games they come into, how he's used Diego Luna as an example of what he wants his players to be – he's changing the culture, and he's saying this is what I expect. If you want to play for me, this is how it goes."

  Donovan was referring to the controversial back-and-forth between Pochettino and U.S. star Christian Pulisic over the past month. He also said Pochettino is sending a message to 2022 World Cup starter in goal, Matt Turner, with his decision to turn to NYCFC star Matt Freese in the first two Gold Cup matches.

  "Look at Matt Freese now in goal," Donovan said. "He said 'Matt Turner, you've been great,' but he had a statement like 'Matt Freese, let's see if you can be No. 1.' He's showing with his words and actions that he's changing the culture slowly."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fellow ex-USMNT star Alexi Lalas said the message Pochettino is sending affects the entire national team pool, not just the players participating at the Gold Cup.

  "That message gets out to the players who are there, but it also gets out to the players who aren't there," Lalas said. "When you look at this team now, it's about winning back hearts and minds. It's about clawing back, it's a process. It's not going to happen overnight. What you want to avoid – now that the stakes are higher, the competition gets higher – you take that step forward, and you take two steps back. Now you grab it with both hands, as a team you progress and you mature, or as a player you plant that seed in the mind of Mauricio Pochettino."

  Prior to the match against Saudi Arabia, Pochettino acknowledged he was proud of the strides the national team has made. The team had lost four straight matches entering the Gold Cup.

  "Despite the results, the evolution is good," Pochettino said on FOX. "I think we are progressing in different areas. We need to keep this progression and with positive results, I think it's better. But yeah, so happy. The few weeks that we are working with that group, we are evolving really well."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite the controversy over Pulisic's decision to skip this summer's tournament, it's nothing new. The last Gold Cup Pulisic participated in was in 2019. That said, with the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, some expected the USMNT to have a more experienced roster for this tournament.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

  The U.S. will conclude the Gold Cup group stage phase with a matchup against Haiti on Sunday.