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The World Cup's most successful nation has not won the competition for over 20 years – but a group is emerging who have the talent to end that drought

When the NXGN 2023 finalists were revealed on Tuesday, there was one country that dominated the 50-strong list. Brazil had no fewer than eight players among the list of world football's top teenage talents born in 2004 or later, including NXGN Nine award-winner, Endrick.

Given some of the Brazilian talents who have graced the upper echelons of the annual list of wonderkids in recent years, such as Real Madrid duo Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, it is hard not to get excited about the prospect of a new golden generation emerging for the Selecao.

Of course, Brazilian generations are ultimately judged on whether or not they win the World Cup.

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Fans of the South American nation generally view two generations – the one fronted by Pele that won three global titles between 1958-70, and the team of Ronaldo, Cafu and – latterly – Ronaldinho, that reached three successive finals, winning twice – as the gold standard.

And while there hasn't been a Ballon d'Or winner from the country since Kaka in 2007, there is no doubt that Brazilian footballers are beginning to dominate the top of the European game once more. The recent Real Madrid-Liverpool tie in the Champions League, for example, featured a record-breaking six different Brazil internationals.

This year's NXGN suggests that number is only going to increase over the next decade, too.

Getty ImagesNXGN 2023's Brazilian ballers

The aforementioned Endrick is top of the pile when it comes to Brazilian wonderkids right now. The 16-year-old Palmeiras forward is regarded as the best talent to have emerged in the country since Neymar, and the battle to sign him among European clubs over the past year suggested as much.

Real Madrid eventually beat the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea to Endrick, agreeing to a deal worth €60 million to bring the teenager to Santiago Bernabeu, though he will not arrive until the summer of 2024.

Others to have agreed moves to Europe include midfielder Andrey Santos, whom Chelsea paid an initial £11m to sign in January, and centre-back Kaiky, who was heavily linked with Barcelona before joining fellow Spanish side Almeria last summer.

Right-back Vinicius Tobias and winger Savio, meanwhile, are currently on loan at Real Madrid and PSV, respectively, and have been getting used to European football in those clubs' reserve sides in the lower reaches of their domestic pyramids.

Vitor Roque, the Athletico Paranaense striker who has been likened to Ronaldo, is likely to be the next to follow them across the Atlantic, with Barca again said to be at the front of the queue for the 18-year-old.

Getty/GOAL

Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca, meanwhile, recently signed a new contract that includes a €200m release clause after Newcastle had a bid for him rejected in January. Santos winger Angelo Gabriel could soon join Matheus at Flamengo, too, though it's widely felt that would just be a stepping-stone move before he eventually lands in Europe, too.

The conveyor belt is unlikely to stop there, either, with Palmeiras duo Luis Guilherme and Estevao Willian – the latter of whom is still only 15 – already on the radars of the world's most prestigious clubs.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDeveloping 'O Jogo Bonito'

So what's so special about Brazilian coaching and youth development to create such a generation of players who are adept at the beautiful game, or 'O Jogo Bonito' as it's referred to in Brazil?

"Football is a national passion in our country, and our children have the ball at their feet from an early age," Paulo Victor, the manager of Palmeiras' successful Under-20s team, tells NXGN.

"Brazil's great secret lies in its passion, improvisation, daring and creativity. Also, the number of youth teams and competitions that we have and, currently, the quality of work in the youth categories that is being done throughout Brazil."

Vasco da Gama's academy director, Carlos Brazil, adds: "Brazil has always had golden generations. The proof of that is that for a long time, it has been the biggest exporter of players in the world.

"Training a great player involves a methodology that requires a systemic view and interdisciplinary work. There are now several professionals, from different areas, involved in the training of an athlete."

Those coaches and academies are, though, still at something of an advantage compared to others.

Getty ImagesThe beauty of a one-sport nation

Football might as well be the only sport in Brazil. Others have niche followings, but every Brazilian lives and breathes football to some extent. And since the country possesses the sixth-largest population on Earth, that's a lot of football-loving households.

The five countries with larger populations – China, India, United States, Indonesia and Pakistan – are hardly footballing hotbeds, with only one (the U.S.) even having qualified for the 2022 World Cup.

It's perhaps understandable, then, that Brazil is regarded as one of, if not the world's best footballing talent factory. The likes of the top European nations, as well as Argentina and Uruguay, might produce at a more impressive rate given their smaller populations, but that should not take away from what Brazil has been able to do in recent years in terms of elite talents.

"The country, having such a large size and having football as the most popular sport, obviously gives birth to talents in great proportions," Carlos Brazil says. "These well-polished talents, though, become quality players with our training."

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Getty ImagesThe start of something special?

The proof, as always, will be in the pudding when it comes to whether Brazil's next generation will be a golden one, but the early signs are certainly promising.

The U20s team, led by Andrey Santos and Vitor Roque, won the South American Championship at the start of 2023 despite a series of players being blocked from taking part by their clubs, and will head to this summer's U20 World Cup as one of the favourites.

And yet even that might only be the tip of the iceberg, as Paulo Victor explains: "In recent years, we have followed a new generation of players who have taken up major roles in the biggest leagues in world football. But I believe that the best is yet to come in terms of quantity and quality, with the current Under-17 and Under-15 generations.

"They have a significant amount of super talents who will add to the players who are playing a major role today, such as Vini Jr. , Rodrygo, Antony and Gabriel Martinelli."

And so the almost-daily reports of a teenage Brazilian being on the transfer radar of at least one top European club is set to continue for a while yet. The odds are strong that a sixth World Cup will likely follow soon enough.

New Zealand’s ability to adapt to conditions has placed them in a great position to qualify for their second World Cup semi-final in as many years, but they have to get past Pakistan, a team known to spring surprises

The Preview by Alagappan Muthu21-Mar-2016Match factsTuesday, March 22, 2016
Start time 1930 (1430 GMT)Big pictureIt was not that long ago that New Zealand were seen as dark horses at nearly every world tournament. In this one though, they’ve been a bit like chameleons, changing their colours to suit their surroundings and hoodwink those higher on the food chain. A victory against Pakistan in Mohali will take them to a second semi-final at a global event in as many years.Shahid Afridi and his men, no matter how much their erratic form hints otherwise, are no pushovers. News from the camp is that the batting still needs patching up, but the area more in need of improvement is their utilisation of resources. During their loss against India, their best bowler Mohammad Amir did not complete his quota. Pakistan’s reading of the Kolkata pitch too was also incorrect, although they couldn’t help the rain that arrived later, and lent it just enough moisture for the ball to grip and turn.It is in reading the conditions offered to them that New Zealand have been impeccable. They hadn’t played in the subcontinent since the previous World T20, but they assessed Nagpur would be spin-friendly and exploited better than the hosts did. Rains in Dharamsala meant they barely had any face time with the surface before a match against Australia, yet their only change Mitchell McClenaghan produced the match-turning performance.Coach Mike Hesson and captain Kane Williamson have been unafraid to make left-field choices and their frontline players have been quite accommodating. Tim Southee and Trent Boult, two of the premier fast bowlers in the world, have not yet played a single game in the World T20, although Mohali’s reputation of being a slightly more seamer-friendly venue might change that. Pakistan and their phalanx of left-armers wouldn’t mind that eventuality either.Pakistan, however, will have to contend with a few injury worries. The team doctor has said that Mohammad Hafeez could miss the match after a bone contusion in his femur. Fast bowler Wahab Riaz was hit in the neck region by a throw at practice and had to visit the hospital. He was assessed by a neurologist who said the bowler was normal. The fitness of both players will be assessed on Tuesday afternoon.Call on Wahab, Hafeez on Tuesday

Pakistan will assess the fitness of both Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Hafeez on Tuesday afternoon before a crucial Super 10 match against New Zealand in Mohali, although it is likely Hafeez could miss the game. Wahab was struck on the left temporal region above the ear by a throw during a practice session on Monday. He was taken to a hospital for a precautionary CT scan and a neurologist’s assessment declared the bowler ‘normal’.
According to Dr Sohail Saleem, Pakistan’s team doctor, the fast bowler had “mild swelling but no loss of consciousness, vomiting or delusions and he was very well oriented in time and space.”
“His strength and reflexes were also found to be normal,” Saleem said in a PCB release. “He himself walked over to the dressing room from the ground. Subsequently he was taken to a medical facility for C.T. Scan as a precautionary measure, which confirmed that there was no fracture in the cranium and pericranial soft tissue appeared normal. He was also seen by a neurologist at the same hospital, who declared him normal. Wahab is being kept under supervision of the team doctor and physio overnight in his hotel room.”
Hafeez’s injury came to light in Kolkata a couple of days ago, according to Saleem.
“The senior batsman complained of pain in the right knee a couple of days ago. He was administered physio treatment several times but the pain didn’t subside. On examination he was suspected to be having a strain of one of ligament in his right knee.
“He was sent for an MRI immediately after arrival in Mohali from Kolkatta. The MRI report received today revealed bone contusion/edema in the inter-condylar region of the femur. There was also minimal amount of fluid in the knee joint.
“He would be further inspected on Tuesday, but it is likely that he would not be able to take part in the match against Black Caps.”

Form guideNew Zealand: WWWWL (last five completed matches)
Pakistan: LWWLWIn the spotlightBefore Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, Ross Taylor captured the imagination of Indian fans and a lot of that was down to how destructive he can be in the latter overs. That leg-side swipe over square leg and midwicket had been his go to shot in Twenty20 cricket, but now he has an all-round game to rely on. Taylor is coming back from injury and hasn’t hit his best form yet, but he remains a key member of this New Zealand batting line-up.Sharjeel Khan is a powerful man. Pakistan have kept him at the top of their order in the hope that he fires like he did in the PSL. But beating the ball into submission has not been the most productive tactic at this year’s World T20. In seven innings since the Asia Cup, Sharjeel has gone past thirty only once. He hasn’t faced 30 balls even once. Perhaps giving himself a little more time at the crease might help sort that out.Team newsNew Zealand kept their cards to their chest about their team combinations. “We will look up that pitch tomorrow, the pitch will covered overnight and will dry up a bit,” Hesson said. “We will pick a side that suits the conditions and the opposition, but won’t be thinking too far ahead.”New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Kane Williamson (capt), 3 Colin Munro, 4 Corey Anderson, 5 Ross Taylor, 6 Grant Elliot, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan/Trent Boult, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Adam Milne/Tim SoutheePakistan could be forced to make changes due to their injury concerns. Perhaps that may make room for left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz or Imad Wasim. Khalid Latif could come in for Hafeez.Pakistan (probable) 1 Sharjeel Khan, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Mohammad Hafeez/ Khalid Latif, 4 Umar Akmal, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Imad Wasim/ Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Mohammad Irfan, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Mohammad AmirPitch and conditionsThe World T20 pitches have kept everyone on sharp notice. The one in Mohali was barely distinguishable from the outfield on match eve, although that may just be to keep the pitch from crumbling as a result of the prevalent hot and dry weather. So very little fear of rain, and very little fear of dew as well. “Mohali is probably more like New Zealand conditions than perhaps Nagpur and Dharamsala,” Hesson said.Stats and trivia Mitchell Santner’s economy rate of 5.95 is the second-best by a New Zealander in T20Is under condition of at least 20 overs bowled. The man at the top is the one he is trying to emulate, Daniel Vettori, 5.7 after 131.1 overs. Ish Sodhi is third with 6.32 and Nathan McCullum is fifth with 6.86. Pakistan average 25.40 for their opening partnership in all T20Is, among Full Members only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have fared worse. New Zealand’s 36.31 is the highest. Quotes”They are unpredictable, but very skilful. We are fortunate to have played them recently. Whether that makes them less predictable or just gives us more information. As a batting unit, they are relatively predictable in the way they play and that gives us more opportunity with the ball.”
“In cricket, generally the team that makes fewer mistakes wins. India made fewer mistakes than us. We have to cut down on our mistakes.”

Mark Robinson, the head coach of the England women’s team, has blamed their five-run defeat against Australia in the World T20 semi-final on the squad’s poor standards of fitness

Andrew Miller in Delhi30-Mar-20161:30

‘We couldn’t run our twos’ – Mark Robinson

Mark Robinson, the head coach of the England women’s team, has blamed their five-run defeat against Australia in the World T20 semi-final on the squad’s poor standards of fitness, and has challenged his players to improve their running between the wickets in particular, after falling short in yet another major global tournament.Speaking alongside England’s beaten captain, Charlotte Edwards, at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, Robinson said that the defeat was still too raw to contemplate its full implications. However, he exonerated Edwards herself from any criticism, saying that he needed “a few more warriors like the captain” to take the team to the next level.”We lost by five runs,” said Robinson. “There’s nothing between these two teams. But we’ve got to get fitter. We’re not fit enough. They out-ran us.”Athleticism is something you are given by God, but aerobic fitness is something we’ve got to get better,” he added. “We missed out on twos, and we’ve lost by one boundary. We’ve got to change our mindset a bit, and toughen up a bit.”Not for the first time this tournament, England appeared to be cruising to victory while Edwards and Tammy Beaumont were adding 67 for the first wicket in the space of ten overs. But a familiar middle-order wobble left them with too much ground to make up in the closing overs, as they drifted out to 117 for 7.”Both teams got to similar stages,” said Robinson. “Both teams struggled to get boundaries in the end. It was all about the first 10 overs. The batting will get all the attention but, with big boundaries, slowish bowlers and no one in front of the wicket, it’s hard to find the boundaries.”Since his appointment last summer, Robinson has focused on adding new levels of aggression to England’s batting, which manifested itself in the only three sixes of the day, from Beaumont, Sarah Taylor and Katherine Brunt. However, his call for “360 degree” batting proved less successful, with Taylor in particular guilty of a limp dismissal off an attempted reverse-sweep.Robinson, however, reiterated his original point in defence of such attempts at innovation.”It was a bit of a problem because we couldn’t run our twos,” he said. “It was a catch-22 because, if you can’t get past the boundary and you can’t run twos, you’re starting to struggle a bit. But we hit six sixes in the tournament, so I know they’re going in the right direction.”There’s a lot of potential in the group,” he added. “A lot of girls with a lot to offer, we’ve got to give them belief and stick with the right players as well and accept there will be some bumps. But we’ve got to push them and extend them as well, because there’s a lot more in the tank.”Though Edwards’ place is hardly under scrutiny given her form in the tournament, her 10-year role as captain may yet come under review. Likewise, the place of veteran players such as Lydia Greenway, who played in the 2005 Ashes win, and Jenny Gunn may have to be called into question if the team is to evolve in time for the 2017 World Cup on home soil.”We’re 45 minutes after losing a semi-final by a boundary,” said Robinson. “It’s too early to get into those situations. You’ve got to make sure your base is big enough, you’ve got players to come in, There needs to be competition.”We’re looking for players who can stand up and be counted, and play under the pressure, and have the aerobic fitness to do the job necessary. That will be a necessity for any women’s team going forward.”We need more players like the captain,” he added. “She’s led fantastically well over the years. She’s got a fierceness inside her to keep improving and keep scoring runs. That’s something you want in all your players.”Edwards herself reiterated her desire to continue as England captain. “Absolutely,” she said. “I’ve been challenged pretty hard to expand my game and I feel I’m playing as well as I ever have done. Of course I want to keep captaining England. If I’m not the right person, it’s not going to be my decision. But I love what I do and I hope to keep giving more to this group.”

Stephan Myburgh’s unbeaten 60-ball 67 laid the platform for Netherlands to pull off an 18-run win over Nepal in the first T20 in Amstelveen

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jun-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo: Stephan Myburgh struck six fours and a six in his unbeaten 60-ball 67•Getty ImagesStephan Myburgh’s unbeaten 60-ball 67 laid the platform for Netherlands to pull off an 18-run win over Nepal in the first T20I in Amstelveen. Myburgh batted through Netherlands’ innings, and struck six fours and a six while guiding them to a total of 134.Nepal kept losing wickets regularly during their reply, with their only partnership of note a 31-run, fourth-wicket stand between Paras Khadka and Rajesh Pulami. Khadka stayed at the crease till the end to finish unbeaten on 45, but he was never able to keep up with the asking rate. Ahsan Malik was Netherlands’ most successful bowler, picking up three wickets while only giving away 23 runs in his four overs.Netherlands had to weather some early trouble after choosing to bat, losing two wickets to run-outs while slipping to 32 for 3 before Myburgh stabilised their innings in the company of Peter Borren – with whom he added 33 for the fourth wicket – and Michael Rippon – with whom he put on an unbroken 63 for the sixth.

City could only blame themselves after missing a hatful of chances and twice throwing away the lead to drop points at home once more

Manchester City dropped two more points against a top-six side and once again could only blame themselves after failing to put Tottenham out of sight in a thrilling 3-3 draw on Sunday.

Son Heung-min caught City on the hop to give Spurs the lead after his side cut through the champions on the counter-attack, but moments later put the ball through his own net. Phil Foden's sensational team goal then put City in front and they should have killed the game off, with Erling Haaland missing big chances either side of half-time.

But they let their foot off the gas in the second half and twice surrendered the lead – first via Giovani Lo Celso's sizzling strike and then Dejan Kulusevski's header, after Jack Grealish had restored the champions' advantage.

GOAL rates Man City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Ederson (5/10):

Made a hash of Son's shot, which squirmed through his arms. Blameless for Lo Celso's thumper or Kulusevski's late header.

Kyle Walker (7/10):

Made excellent recovery runs and stayed well on top of the threat of Udogie and Gil down his flank.

Manuel Akanji (6/10):

Made a strong start in the hybrid defence/midfield role but stood back more in the second, playing into Spurs' hands.

Ruben Dias (6/10):

Made a crucial slide tackle to prevent Kulusevski finding Son.

Josko Gvardiol (5/10):

Struggled to keep a handle on Kulusevski and had to resort to fouling him, earning a booking.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Bernardo Silva (6/10):

A sloppy pass nearly led to a big Spurs chance. Otherwise played well.

Rodri (6/10):

A mixed bag. Made some sloppy passes and tackles and is now suspended for the trip to Aston Villa. Made amends by sparking the Grealish's goal as he seized the ball from Bissouma.

Phil Foden (8/10):

Made lots of nice moves, often dictating play from deep. His finish was a work of art.

Getty ImagesAttack

Julian Alvarez (7/10):

Had a hand in City's first two goals but gave the ball away before Lo Celso struck.

Erling Haaland (5/10):

A lousy performance both in his build-up play and his finishing, particularly his sitter in the first half. Half made up for it by setting up Grealish's goal with a deft touch.

Jeremy Doku (7/10):

Electric and unpredictable. Unlucky not to score when he hit the woodwork. Taken off in the 52nd minute with an injury.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Jack Grealish (8/10):

Made a huge impact and drew lots of attention from Spurs' players, who kept on fouling him. Scored a fine goal which looked to have won the game.

Rico Lewis (7/10):

Kept the ball well and was strong defensively too.

Nathan Ake (N/A):

Came on in the 87th minute and was beaten in the air for Kulusevski's goal.

Mateo Kovacic (N/A):

Came on in the 87th minute.

Pep Guardiola (5/10):

Made an uncharacteristically large number of substitutions to try and fix things. Taking Foden off didn't make much sense and has now dropped four points in consecutive home games, admittedly against very strong opponents.

Pakistan are among the most successful T20 sides while Bangladesh are 12th in terms of wins, but on current form the home team is the favourite going into the only Twenty20 international in Mirpur

The Preview by Mohammad Isam23-Apr-2015Match factsFriday, April 24, 2015
Start time 1830 local (1230 GMT)1:59

Isam: Bangladesh go in with more confidence

Big picturePakistan are among the most successful T20 sides while Bangladesh are 12th in terms of wins, but on current form the home team is the favourite going into the only Twenty20 international in Mirpur. Bangladesh have just swept the ODI series 3-0, and each of those victories were more one-sided than the previous one.Bangladesh, however, have not played a T20 for more than a year. Their only match in this format after the World T20 at home was washed out in the West Indies in August last year. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has not staged a domestic T20 tournament since December 2013 either, so the players will need to adapt their ODI confidence and skills to the shorter format.Pakistan have won the most T20 internationals. Shahid Afridi’s side has T20 match-winners like Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir and Ahmed Shehzad. These players appear in domestic T20 tournaments around the world. Shehzad, Afridi and Tanvir are only part of the T20 side, while Gul and Ajmal have struggled so far in Bangladesh.Pakistan may have won 50 out of 85 T20s, while Bangladesh only have 11 wins in 41 games, but the number the visitors will want to improve is their zero victories on this tour so far.Form guideBangladesh LLLLL (last five matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LWLLWIn the spotlightShahid Afridi has often been Bangladesh’s scourge, but will he be viewed differently now that the home side has finally had success against Pakistan? Afridi did not have a successful World Cup and is taking over the leadership of a team that has just suffered an unprecedented defeat. Will he be able to lift himself for one game, in the only format he plays internationally?Soumya Sarkar bludgeoned the Pakistan bowlers in the third ODI for an unbeaten 127 off 110 balls, a perfect preparation for his T20 debut. He has a 100-plus strike-rate in domestic T20s, and is expected to open with Tamim Iqbal on Friday.Team newsBangladesh could include Litton Das or Rony Talukdar in place of Mahmudullah, who made just 26 runs in the ODIs and averages 14.65 in T20s. They could also take a chance on Mustafizur Rahman, the rookie left-arm pace bowler.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Mahmudullah/Litton Das/Rony Talukdar, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Sabbir Rahman, 7 Nasir Hossain, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Arafat Sunny, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur RahmanSohail Tanvir, a T20 specialist, is likely to replace Junaid Khan. Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has showed inclination towards picking newcomers ahead of established names in this series so far, so Mukhtar Ahmed could play instead of Mohammad Hafeez.Pakistan (probable): 1 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Haris Sohail, 4 Mohammad Rizwan, 5 Mukhtar Ahmed, 6 Shahid Afridi (capt), 7 Saad Nasim, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Umar GulPitch and conditionsAn evening start doesn’t mean conditions will be any different in Mirpur. The curator Gamini di Silva is likely to prepare another batting-friendly pitch with minimal turn.Stats and trivia The top three wicket-takers in T20 internationals – Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi – are all in Pakistan’s current squad. Shakib Al Hasan has a chance to overtake Abdur Razzak to become Bangladesh’s highest T20 wicket-taker. They are currently level on 44 wickets. Mustafizur Rahman is yet to play a domestic T20 match.Quotes”We haven’t played a T20 for a long time. But our recent performance has made us positive. It is hard to adjust to this format and we have just one day to do so. We have to set individual plans and targets within this time.”
“We have a very good combination in T20. I am very positive and confident that we will do well.”

Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty while Lucas Hernandez also found the net in a comfortable 2-0 win against Nantes for Paris Saint-Germain.

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Hernandez scored PSG's firstMbappe added second from penalty spotPSG have 14-point lead atop Ligue 1TELL ME MORE

The two sides combined for a forgettable first half, with a disallowed Nantes goal on the stroke of half time serving as the only real action. Hernandez opened the scoring in the second half with a fine zipping effort that rocketed into the top corner from outside the box. Then, Mbappe was brought off the bench just after the hour mark and converted a penalty 15 minutes later to seal the win.

AdvertisementGettyTHE MVP

Hernandez has been searching for his signature moment in a PSG shirt for a while at this point. The former Bayern man has failed to impress for Luis Enrique, often exploited in one-on-ones and not offering much going forward. This was hardly an earth-shattering performance at both ends from the France international, but his goal was a thing of beauty.

THE BIG LOSER

There is hefty competition in this PSG side. For those not named Mbappe, every performance counts. And Bradley Barcola didn't do himself too many favours tonight. The winger, just four days removed from turning in a mesmerising Champions League showing, was markedly off colour, and deservedly hooked at half time. He is still young – and will surely develop – but this was one to forget.

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GettyWHAT COMES NEXT?

The Parisians now have a healthy lead atop Ligue 1, and will look to stretch it in the coming weeks. Their next contest is against Rennes next Sunday, and a fixture with Monaco follows. All eyes will surely be on March 5, though, for the second leg of their last-16 tie with Real Sociedad.

GOAL has put together a stellar line-up made up solely of players from countries that failed to qualify for this year's finals

Qualification is not yet complete for the 2022 World Cup, with three spots still up for grabs, but we already know that some of the game's greatest players won't be travelling to Qatar.

Indeed, GOAL has been able to put together a stellar line-up comprised solely of superstars who will be sitting at home when the tournament gets under way later this year.

You can check out our adventurous 3-4-3 formation below and feel free to post your own selections in the comment box provided….

GettyGK: Gianluigi Donnarumma

It's a real shame that we won't get to see Slovakia and Atletico Madrid ace Jan Oblak at the finals but the absence of Gianluigi Donnarumma is even more shocking.

After all, the giant goalkeeper was named player of the tournament at Euro 2020, after playing a key role in Italy's surprise triumph.

Donnarumma, though, was powerless to prevent the Azzurri from sensationally failing to qualify for Qatar, with Roberto Mancini's side upset by North Macedonia in the play-offs.

The Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper is still only 23 and should get plenty more chances to grace a World Cup but elimination was the last thing he needed right now, given his poor form and ongoing struggle too establish himself at the Parc des Princes this season.

AdvertisementGettyCB: Milan Skriniar

Slovakia may have finished third in their UEFA qualifying group but they didn't really come close to securing even a play-off berth.

It's a shame for Milan Skriniar, who played every minute of his nation's unsuccessful campaign.

The much-coveted Inter defender is widely regarded as one of the finest centre-backs in the game today but the 27-year-old may never get the chance to compete in a World Cup.

GettyCB: Giorgio Chiellini

Giorgio Chiellini was almost at a loss for words after Italy's shock 1-0 loss to North Macedonia, admitting he was "crushed" by his nation's failure to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup.

It's easy to understand why. The veteran centre-back will turn 38 later this year. Chiellini may have played a pivotal role in Italy's emotional Euro 2020 victory but he will never get another chance to take to the game's greatest stage.

That's good news for forwards all over the world, of course, but a blow for neutrals, who felt one of the great defenders of the modern era deserved to bring the curtain down on his international career at World Cup 2022.

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GettyCB: David Alaba

We could have put David Alaba in several positions in this team. The Real Madrid ace is that versatile. And he's that good.

It was tough, then, to see Austria beaten in the UEFA play-offs by Wales, as there is now a very real prospect that Alaba will never play in a World Cup.

At 29, he should definitely have one more crack at qualification, but it's worth pointing out that Austria haven't made it to a finals since 1998.

ESPNcricinfo assesses Leicestershire’s prospects ahead of the 2015 season

Alan Gardner04-Apr-2015Last season
IN: Mark Cosgrove, Kevin O’Brien
OUT: Shiv Thakor (Derbyshire), Nathan Buck (Lancashire), Josh Cobb (Northants), Greg Smith (Nottinghamshire), Anthony Ireland, Michael Thornely (both released)
OVERSEAS: Clint McKay, Grant Elliot2014 in a nutshell
Expectations were low and Leicestershire lived down to them. They became the first side since the 1930s to go consecutive seasons without a Championship win, and there was precious little encouragement in limited-overs cricket either. Things could have been different had they managed a victory early on but they drew their first three matches, despite being in charge of each. There was talent to be found at Grace Road but it was likely to be poached – four of Leicestershire’s best players, in Nathan Buck, Josh Cobb, Greg Smith and Shiv Thakor, secured themselves contracts elsewhere rather than stick around. All this provided a clear mandate for change, with chief executive, Mike Siddall, and director of cricket, Phil Witticase, both moving on.2015 prospects
Arguably, it would be hard for them to be worse but, even so, there seems room for cautious optimism at the county, where Wasim Khan, the driving force behind Chance to Shine, has taken charge. Khan has already set the squad the target of achieving promotion – unlikely, perhaps, but his argument that “if we talk about finishing mid-table, we’ll finish second-bottom” is at least a positive one. Former Australia international Andrew McDonald, who helped Leicestershire to their most recent success in the 2011 Friends Life t20, has been appointed as head coach, while the recruitment of Mark Cosgrove and Clint McKay adds experience, as well as further Australian grit. They need to make vast improvements but, as Khan says, “everybody starts on zero points in April”.Power brokers
McDonald has never coached before – he was still playing during the Australian domestic season – but the 33-year-old is considered a shrewd thinker and was targeted as a replacement for Whitticase. He will join forces with Cosgrove, a team-mate at South Australia and Sydney Thunder, who takes up the captaincy in all three formats following the departures of Cobb and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Cosgrove has a British passport and knows the county circuit well from several seasons of heavy run-scoring with Glamorgan.Key player
Cosgrove’s belligerence and McKay’s nous will be important, while newly appointed vice-captain Ned Eckersley might be expected to produce big runs after a disappointing 2014. But in the engine room, will be Niall O’Brien. The wicketkeeper ended up captaining the side last season and still only fell narrowly short of passing 1000 first-class runs for the first time in his career. Showed his class for Ireland at the World Cup and should be a vital cog in all formats for a developing Leicestershire side.Bright young thing
Angus Robson, younger brother of Sam, is only 23 but last season he was Leicestershire highest Championship run-scorer with 1086. A few months younger is James Sykes, a tall slow left-armer with a crop of fiery red hair who also had an impressive 2014 – albeit for Leicestershire’s 2nd XI. Sykes was integral to Leicestershire seconds winning a remarkable treble, finishing as their leading wicket-taker across the formats. Alongside former England U-19 offspinner Rob Sayer, he will provide competition for Jigar Naik.ESPNcricinfo verdict
There seems to be a welcome verve about the new regime and Leicestershire might just be ready to silence some of the background chirruping about their status as a first-class county. The opening of a new cricket facility in the Leicester is proof of their commitment to bringing through talent and Khan has pledged to improve relations with the Asian community. If the Australian contingent can help improve results on the pitch, 2015 might be seen as a watershed year in the east Midlands.Bet365 odds: Championship 50-1, NatWest Blast 33-1, Royal London Cup 40-1

Sri Lanka Women have named uncapped Imalka Mendis in their 14-member squad for the forthcoming home series against South Africa Women, which starts from October 15

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2014South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka

1st ODI – October 15, Colombo

2nd ODI – October 17, Colombo

3rd ODI – October 19, Colombo

4th ODI – October 21, Colombo

1st T20 – October 23, Colombo

2nd T20 – October 25, Colombo

3rd T20 – October 26, Colombo

Sri Lanka Women have named uncapped Imalka Mendis in their 14-member squad for the forthcoming home series against South Africa Women, which starts from October 15.The other notable changes to the Sri Lanka squad are the inclusions of Hasini Perera, Ama Kanchana, Sanduni Abeywickrema, Nilakshi de Silva and Prasadani Weerakkody. Wicketkeeper Dilani Manodara, who played for Sri Lanka in their last ODI series against India in January and in the recent Asian Games, has been left out while Chamari Polgampola, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Chandima Gunaratne, Yasoda Mendis have been named on the list of standby players.Both Hasini and de Silva were a part of the Sri Lanka squad for the Women’s World T20 in March this year, while Kanchana last played an international game in March last year. Abeywickrema, a middle-order batsman, last played an international game for Sri Lanka in 2010 and played one game for Sri Lanka A against Australia A earlier in the year.Sri Lanka and South Africa are scheduled to play a four-match ODI series, followed by three T20s. The first three ODIs will also be counted in the ICC Women’s Championship, and will allow both teams to make a mark on the points table. The four ODIs will be held on October 15, 17, 19 and 21, while the T20s will be played between October 23 and 26.Sri Lanka Women: Chamari Atapattu, Hasini Perera, Shashikala Siriwardene, Eshani Lokusuriyage, Sripali Weerakkody, Anushka Sanjeewani, Maduri Samuddika, Inoka Ranaweera, Udeshika Prabodhani, Ama Kanchana, Prasadani Weerakkody, Sanduni Abeywickrema, Imalka Mendis, Nilakshi de Silva
: Chamari Polgampola, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Chandima Gunaratne, Yasoda Mendis