14/06/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | JUNE 14, 2025

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Apathy, anger cloud team USA

Ű BY WILL CASTLE Van de Ven gives verdict on Postecoglou sacking

away, but he can’t because that’s how it is in international football. “It’s a work in progress and all the lads and the staff and the manager are all confident and happy with the progression. “We have a lot to build on and improve and that’s what we’re going to try to do.” England were accused of not showing the right attitude in their narrow win over minnows Andorra. Asked whether they had shown the right application against Senegal, Gallagher replied: “Yeah, definitely. I think we really wanted to win and I feel like we worked hard. “I don’t think we were great, if I’m being honest. But like I keep saying, it’s a kind of work in progress and we need to improve moving forward and we’re all happy to be doing that.” Gallagher’s focus will now switch to the Club World Cup as he prepares to join up with his Atletico teammates in the United States ahead of their first game against Champions League winners Paris St Germain at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. He said: “It’s really exciting and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be a great tournament. I think it will be really exciting when all the teams are actually there and the tournament starts. “You want to always play against the best players and the “Of course, he is the first coach in a long time who has won a trophy has had success at Spurs. So if you look at it that way, it is of course a strange choice. “It is a choice from the club about which we have little to say, so we will see what happens now. Of course, we see some rumours about the Brentford head coach (Frank), who it will probably be. So yes, a choice from the club about which we have little to say. “I think many of the players got along with (Postecoglou) well. And of course, what I say, he is the first coach who has brought success to Spurs in a long time. “That also shows that he has a certain quality. That also means that he has a winning mentality… 100%. “From that, you would of course say that it is strange that he was fired. What we have shown in the Premier League is, of course, unacceptable. That would, of course, have multiple factors, but that would not only have been the coach.” – The Independent

C ONOR GALLAGHER accepts there is “a lot of improvement” to make following a disappointing international break which saw England slip to a first defeat under Thomas Tuchel. England laboured to an unimpressive 1-0 victory over Andorra, a side ranked 173rd in the world, before slipping to their first defeat to African opposition three days later. Despite Harry Kane’s early goal, the warning signs were there as Dean Henderson made five saves in the first period, but after Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr drew the visitors level, Habib Diarra and Cheikh Sabaly struck in the second half as boos rang around the City Ground. Gallagher, who was substituted in the second half, revealed Tuchel was calm in the dressing room after the game and is frustrated the next international window is three months away. The Atletico Madrid midfielder said: “It was a really tough game, but we’re still building. There’s a lot to improve and there’s a lot to work on and, as a team, we’ll do that. “I’m sure the manager and “He’s calm. He’s obviously disappointed and not happy, but he’s calm with us. He knows we could be a lot better. “It’s a shame because we’re away from each other for a few months now, whereas he would like to kind of fix the problem straight MATHEUS CUNHA said he had “dreamed of wearing the red shirt”of Manchester United after the club confirmed his signing from Wolves yesterday. United effectively sealed the deal, which was subject to the completion of a visa and medical, on June 1 after activating a £62.5 million (RM362m) release clause in the 26-year old’s contract. “It is hard to put into words my feelings about becoming a Manchester United player,” said the Brazil international, who has signed a five-year deal with the option of another year. “Ever since I was a child in Brazil watching A run of four straight losses, including a 4-0 hammering from Switzerland on Thursday, has left Mauricio Pochettino and his USA team feeling the wrath of critics a year out from the World Cup they will co-host. The USA head into their opening game of the Concacaf Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago on Monday (6am Malaysian time) having lost on home soil to Panama and Canada in the Nations League in March before friendly losses to Turkey and the debacle against the Swiss. “I think it is the most embarrassed I have been for the US national team in a long time,” said Kasey Keller, who played in goal for the USA 102 times between 1990 and 2007. While there were plenty of American fans venting similar feelings on social media after the loss, what will perhaps be more concerning for the US Soccer Federation is supporters voting with their feet and not attending games. There were thousands of empty seats in Nashville for the Switzerland defeat after poor turn-outs for March’s games in Los Angeles. “There’s just a sense of apathy around the United States men’s programme and I don’t think that’s a hot take,” former striker Taylor Ű BY SUNNY BADWAL the coaching staff will look back at the game and see where we can be better because there is a lot of improvement to be made, but we’re moving forward.

Twellman told NBC Sports . Alexi Lalas, a star of the USA team the last time they hosted a World Cup in 1994, has built a career in “hot takes” for Fox Sports but even he was struggling to fire himself up for a Star Spangled rant after the latest disappointment. “I’m having a hard time even conjuring up that and that makes a little sad. In the past when I was angry at what was going on, I felt compelled to express it and now they are not even worth that, not worth me expressing how disappointing this is right now,” he said on his podcast. While Pochettino’s job may be safe, some are wondering if he might not need some assistance. “It looks like he doesn’t know the team, it looks like he doesn’t scout the players, has no idea of the pieces he has at his disposal,“ said former USA forward Hercules Gomez on You Tube . “The US Soccer Federation, why not place somebody who has some experience with the player pool to help Pochettino out because it looks like he has no idea who his players are? With a World Cup on home soil that is a disaster,” he added. – AFP

MICKY VAN DEVEN (pic) has opened up on the decision to sack Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham manager, labelling it as a “strange” choice by Daniel Levy. Postecoglou was dismissed last week just 16 days after leading Spurs to the Europa League, with it determined that a first trophy in 17 years was not enough to redeem the Aussie after a dismal domestic season. Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League, racking up just 38 points from as many games in what was their worst league campaign in over a century. Van de Ven, who was signed by Postecoglou and was last season ever-present in his starting XI when not injured, has questioned the call to cut ties with the manager, citing his relationship with the squad. “That was ultimately a choice from the club,” he told Voetbal Zone . “We, as players, have little to say about that.

England ‘a work in progress’ Three Lions have a lot of improving to do, says Gallagher

England's Conor Gallagher (left) in action with Senegal's Ismaila Sarr –REUTERSPIC

midfielders. Obviously (PSG) had an unbelievable season, so you want to be playing against these guys. We know how hard it

will be, but it’s good for us and it’s exciting.” – The Independent

Cunha completes ‘dream’ United move

throughout this season. The striker helped his country qualify for the World Cup on Wednesday when he set up the only goal for Vinicius Junior in a 1-0 win over Paraguay. United’s director of football Jason Wilcox said: “Bringing in Matheus was one of our main priorities for this summer, so we are delighted to have completed his signing so early in the window. “He has all the qualities we are looking for as we seek to build a strong, dynamic and entertaining team capable of challenging for the biggest honours.” – AFP

get this club back to the top.” Cunha scored 17 goals in all competitions for Wolves last season, winning the Premier League club’s players’ player of the year award. He became Ruben Amorim’s first signing of the summer transfer window as the head coach sets about overhauling his squad after a miserable domestic campaign and a lacklustre Europa League final defeat to Tottenham. Cunha will add his predatory instincts and creative guile to a United attack that struggled

Premier League games on TV at my grandmother’s house, United was my favourite English team and I dreamed of wearing the red shirt. “I want to thank my family and everyone who has helped me make that dream a reality. “I can’t wait for the start of pre-season to get to know my teammates and prepare for the season ahead. “All my focus is now on working hard to become a valuable part of the team, and helping