Chris Rogers has confirmed he will play for Victoria in 2008-09, ending days of speculation after he left Western Australia and was chased by the Bushrangers, South Australia and Queensland. The announcement completes an eventful week for Rogers, who was axed from Cricket Australia’s 25-man squad of contracted players on Wednesday.Rogers left the Warriors because he felt “stale” after a decade in Perth. He was also frustrated by the lack of opportunities he was given in their one-day side, which contributed to him losing his national contract as he was considered a Test-only player.”The decision to leave the WACA and my home town of Perth was not one I made lightly,” Rogers said. “I have many fond memories of my time there and wish to thank all those who have helped me achieve what I have so far in my career.”Equally, I’m looking forward to a fresh start with Victoria. They’ve proved they’re a quality side in making each of the three interstate finals and I’m really keen to make a strong contribution to the top order, and more generally within the squad. I feel I have plenty to offer the Bushrangers and will also be doing my best to create further opportunities with the Australian team.”Rogers, 30, made his Test debut at the WACA in January, scoring 4 and 15. He finished the Pura Cup season with 744 runs at 43.76 in 2007-08, a year after compiling an imposing 1202 runs at 70.70. However, the national selectors chose only two specialist openers in their squad for the next year, Phil Jaques and Matthew Hayden, and they believe other contracted players like Simon Katich, Shaun Marsh and Brad Hodge could also step into the role.Rogers, who is in England preparing for a county season with Derbyshire, adds significant strength to Victoria’s top order. The Bushrangers lost the Pura Cup final to New South Wales and their opening combination was the least stable part of the side all summer.Cameron White, the Victoria captain, said Rogers would be a valuable addition. “The top of the order in four-day cricket is somewhere we’ve probably struggled to find some consistency,” White said. “Hopefully he would give us that. He’s a player that’s played Test cricket for Australia now, he’s a proven player.”David Hussey, one of the state’s middle-order stars, described Rogers as a “classy batsman”. “[He is a] quality player, quality bloke,” Hussey said, “and would fit into our culture perfectly.”
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShaun Marsh top scored in Australia’s chase•Getty Images
It lasted only three days, but Test cricket’s first match with a pink ball provided an electric finish. At 8.47pm on a Sunday, under floodlights, in front of 33,923 spectators, Australia squeezed out a victory over New Zealand that was far tenser than the one-sided World Cup final between the same countries, eight months ago to the day. Chasing 187, Australia eked out their last two runs through Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc, who could barely jog given the stress fracture in his foot.The three-wicket win was confirmed as Siddle punched one past point off Tim Southee, Starc hobbling through to give Australia a 2-0 win in the series. By the end, New Zealand had six slips; it was all or nothing for Brendon McCullum’s men, a five-wicket haul from Trent Boult having given them a chance. For a while Australia were doing it easier, but a couple of late wickets brought the Test back to life.Shaun Marsh steered Australia to within 11 of their goal but when he edged to slip for 49 off Boult, New Zealand had a sniff. In Boult’s next over he claimed Peter Nevill, whose inside edge was snapped up sharply by BJ Watling. Australia still needed two, and surprisingly Starc limped to the crease ahead of Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. A Siddle straight drive off Southee crashed into the stumps at the bowler’s end, adding to the tension, before the winning runs came.It was a breathless end to an experimental match, and there will certainly be more day-night Tests in future. The match crowd of 123,736 was an all-time Adelaide Oval record for a non-Ashes Test, despite the fact that the game lasted only three days. The low scores were more the result of batsmen failing to knuckle down than of the pink ball doing anything untoward; in all four innings the ball held its colour well, and there was appropriate swing and seam movement.The longest individual innings of the Test was the 117-ball effort of Shaun Marsh in Australia’s chase. He walked to the crease hoping the result of this match was in his hands, and certain that his own Test future was. At 32, on his sixth chance at Test cricket, and having been run out for 2 in the first innings, this was it. Australia’s captain and vice-captain had just departed. New Zealand had the momentum. At 3 for 66, Australia needed 121 more runs.New Zealand confidently appealed for an lbw from Marsh’s first ball but he had managed an inside edge on to his pad off Boult. His start might have been nervy but he survived. Marsh began to find a few runs here and there, helped along by a short one from Mark Craig that was cut to the boundary. His confidence grew, as did his calm. A 49-run stand with Adam Voges steadied Australia, until Boult induced an edge to slip from Voges on 28.The Marsh brothers then found themselves batting together for Australia for the first time in any format. What a time for it to happen. Mitchell Marsh survived some shaky moments and the brothers put on 46, pushing Australia to within sight of the win. For a while it looked as if they were going to be together to score the winning runs in a Test; Steve and Mark Waugh batted together 73 times in Test cricket but managed that achievement only once.However, Mitchell became overconfident after lifting Mitchell Santner for a six, and next ball holed out to mid-on for 28 trying another lusty blow. It looked like Shaun would have to get Australia home on his own, but his edge off Boult sent palpitations through both camps. In the end, New Zealand just hadn’t set Australia quite enough, despite the low-scoring nature of the match.The bowlers at least made Australia work hard for it, Boult especially asking more questions of them than a TV quiz show host. Boult led the attack outstandingly, swinging the ball in to trap Joe Burns lbw for 11 and then adding Steven Smith in a similar manner for 14. Just before Smith fell, David Warner’s streaky innings ended when he edged to slip off Doug Bracewell for 35. Australia lost their first three wickets for 66, but the rest of the order did just enough.They could thank Hazlewood for ensuring the target was gettable. His career-best 6 for 70 – and nine wickets for the Test – made him Man of the Match, and he stepped up as leader of the attack in the absence of the injured Starc. New Zealand added 92 to their overnight total for the loss of their last five wickets, three of which were claimed by Hazlewood.He started the day by having Watling caught at second slip without adding to his overnight score of 7, but Australia’s hopes of a swift end to the innings were dashed by debutant Mitchell Santner. He top scored with 45 and looked confident throughout his innings, striking five fours and one six, and compiling useful partnerships with both Craig and Bracewell.Craig managed 15 before he gave Hazlewood a five-for by edging behind and Santner looked set for a half-century when he lofted Lyon over long-on for a six that took him to 45. However, Lyon outfoxed him two deliveries later, dragging his length back to turn one past the advancing Santner, who was stumped. In spite of the rush of blood – and of a dropped catch later in the day when Smith skied one to midwicket – Santner’s debut was impressive.Southee holed out for 13 off Mitchell Marsh and Bracewell was left unbeaten on 27 when Hazlewood ended the innings by bowling Boult just before tea. It meant Australia faced a tricky chase and would have to bat in the swinging evening conditions but they were good enough – just. And a memorable end to Test cricket’s first day-nighter was set to play out.
Barry Richards has some advice for Stiaan van Zyl.”He should bat at No. 3, where he is best.”He also has some advice for South Africa’s decision-makers.”If I was a selector, I would have selected Stephen Cook. He has had 10 years of producing some very good scores and been very consistent,” he said.Only one of the current selection panel was present to hear Richards’ thoughts at the New Year’s address after play on the third day but the message was clear. “You can’t manufacture opening batsman,” Richards said. “They either like it or they don’t like it and if you don’t like it, its very hard to be successful at it.”As an opening batsman himself, Richards would know. He would also be able to relate to why van Zyl felt compelled to try. “I can understand why Stiaan wants to bat there because there was no other place in the middle order,” Richards said. “He wanted to get into the Test side and he was asked ‘Will you open?’ and he said yes because he has got a pretty good technique. But I think it has worked against him. I would have preferred a Stephen Cook.”Cook may yet be added to South Africa’s squad, which will be announced at the conclusion of this Test match, for the next two Tests but, at 33, he would likely be a stop-gap, which has Richards worried about the country’s depth. “Long-term I think the cupboard is a little bare,” he said. “I don’t watch a lot of franchise cricket so I’m not sure who is knocking on the door but if there is a young player out there, there is an opportunity for him.”In a time of transition in South Africa’s Test squad, there have already been opportunities for bowlers – Kagiso Rabada is the most standout example but there is also Chris Morris, who made his debut at Newlands and Hardus Viljoen, who has been included in the squad. South Africa have a captain for each format and only Faf du Plessis really seems made for the job. AB de Villiers is over-burdened, sometimes with the gloves, sometimes with being the best batsman in the world – and prone to miscalculating the over rate – and Hashim Amla has been reluctant. In the last few weeks, he has been even more in the spotlight as results and his own rut got worse.After a good start to captaincy in which he won a series in Sri Lanka, a one-off Test in Zimbabwe and a series at home against West Indies, scoring a hundred and a double-hundred in his first four matches, Amla hit a slump. His next 13 innings yielded only one half-century and his last nine saw him dismissed in single-figures five times. South Africa lost four out of five matches, including three in India.Richards could sympathise with their fortunes in India and how they took their toll on Amla. “India had the best spinner on either side in Ashwin and he was always going to be the key. South Africa might not have prepared as well as they could have because I don’t think they even thought the wickets were going to be exactly like that,” he said. “Next time they go, they will be much more prepared about how you to go about it and the targets they set themselves as a team. Two hundred is a good target on wickets like that. Instead of playing the kind of cricket that Ben Stokes can play, you can’t do it on those sort of wickets, you’ve got to plan differently and set your targets lower.”With the lofty goal of winning a first series in India in 15 years and keeping their unbeaten run on the road (South Africa had gone nine years without a series defeat away from home), it appeared as though Amla’s anxieties over his ability to lead was bleeding into his batting and Richards noticed it. He also hoped for a return to better fortunes after Amla’s century – which swelled to 201 – against England in the ongoing Test.”He has to exclude what’s swirling around in the captaincy stakes while he is batting,” Richards said. “If he can do that, it’s going to be enormous for South Africa. I don’t think he is doing that at the moment. I think he worries about things that are happening from a captaincy point of view while he is batting and you can’t do that. Maybe this is the corner he has turned.”Whatever the outcome of the Newlands Test, Amla remains “on a learning curve” as a captain, according to Richards and may still need to confront the question of “whether he wants the job”.”I’m not close enough to the team to know whether he goes in afterwards and seeks people out to see where he can improve or is he saying to himself, ‘I don’t know if I want this, it’s affecting my batting’. And if we don’t know those answers, we don’t know how to plan for it. It is a decision Hashim will have to come up with himself. The most important thing for South Africa is for him to make runs, You can always get help in the field, you’ve got another ten guys around you but when you are out there batting, you’ve got to have your full focus on your batting.”
Michael Hussey has admitted that Sydney Thunder were “below ground zero” when he had joined the side. Two seasons on, he departs Thunder, having been cellar dwellers in the tournament’s first four seasons, as champions. Hussey has also said that joining the club is “the best decision” he has made.”Sometimes the most challenging and hardest decisions turn out to be the best,” he said. “I’ve learnt so much about myself as a person and learnt so much about what it takes to build a winning team and it’s been a great education for me. I’m just really proud of everyone and happy for everyone that has been involved.”This is what you plan for and you hope to achieve but when you actually do it, it takes a bit of time for it to sink in. There’s been a bit of heartache along the way, but to reach the summit with these guys has been reward for a lot of hard work, not just by the player but by the backroom staff too.”Hussey walked out to bat to a guard of honour, and left the field, with the game still not won, to a standing ovation. While flattered and a touch bashful afterwards, Hussey was, as ever, keen to deflect attention from himself, and admitted his head was thoroughly in the game.”That was all really nice,” he said. “As I was walking out it wasn’t something I was expecting. So it was a nice touch. As I walked off I was more annoyed with myself for playing such a silly shot at that stage and I wanted 35 more runs. But I did think to myself I’ve got to give myself a couple of moments and soak this in because this is an amazing stadium to play at and as a player it’s a privilege and honour to play on this hallowed turf. Soak it in, then the stress started again as we had to get those 35 runs.”Without question, Hussey leaves Thunder in good shape. They have benefitted from a well-balanced, experienced list (at an average of 33y, 52d, theirs was the oldest team to play a T20 final) that has not been hit too hard by national call-ups.What would the younger players learn from playing with him. “A good work ethic,” Hussey said.”To keep calm under pressure. That it’s important to have good players, but equally important to have good characters in a successful team. That’s what we have tried to bestow on our players. To win humbly, be modest, be respectful of the game and each other.”There remains a nagging sense that Hussey is not quite done yet. He said ending now was “all part of the plan,” but is so fit and able that it feels almost wasteful to bid him farewell. “I was going to finish last year but through succession planning and building the squad further it was prudent to play one more season. It’s never been about me, it’s about building the club for sustainable success. There’s no point hanging on too long.”
Abhishek Sharma has been named in Punjab’s 16-man Vijay Hazare Trophy squad, which begins its campaign against Maharashtra on December 24, while Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh will join the squad at a later stage*, Punjab Cricket Association [PCA] has announced.Punjab have selected a strong group of power-hitters and allrounders, including Prabhsimran Singh, Naman Dhir, Anmolpreet Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh and Harpreet Brar. Gurnoor Brar and Krish Bhagat will lead the pace attack.The extent of Gill, Abhishek and Arshdeep’s availability remains unclear, with India scheduled to play three ODIs against New Zealand starting January 11, followed by five T20Is from January 21. Gill, recently dropped from India’s T20I squad for the T20 World Cup and the New Zealand T20Is, is set to captain the ODI side, while Abhishek and Arshdeep are part of the T20I squad.Related
Vijay Hazare Trophy: a dash of Ro-Ko, SKY under scrutiny, big chance for contenders
KSCA moves Vijay Hazare Trophy matches out of Chinnaswamy Stadium
Pant to lead Delhi, Kohli to play first two matches
Rohit named in Mumbai squad for first two games
Leaving Gill out: did India pivot for the right reasons?
Punjab, last season’s losing quarter-finalists, will play all seven of their league matches in Jaipur. Arshdeep was their leading wicket-taker in the 2024-25 edition. Their group includes Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa and Mumbai, with league-stage fixtures concluding on January 8, three days before India’s first ODI.Punjab have not named a captain in the official squad announcement.
Australia vice-captain Tahlia McGrath has admitted she is going through the toughest period of her career, low on confidence after a difficult World Cup.Left without a ODI or T20 World Cup trophy for the first time in eight years, Australia return to the field in February with a home multi-format series against India.Dumped out of the ODI World Cup by eventual-champions India in the semi-finals last month, Australia’s next global event is a T20 World Cup in England in June.McGrath finds herself at an interesting juncture, having deputised for Alyssa Healy and led the team 15 times since 2022. She and Ashleigh Gardner are the two main options to replace Healy as captain when the wicketkeeper retires.But at the same time McGrath is open with her own form struggles, after limited opportunities with bat and ball in a World Cup where she scored 69 runs at 13.75.”Cricket’s a pretty brutal game and it’s very much based around confidence,” McGrath said. “And when it’s not going your way, the world gets pretty big on you. I definitely underperformed and felt the pressure a bit.”Asked if it had been the toughest period of her career, the 30-year-old indicated it was.”Probably. I think you add captaincy into that, you add time away from home,” McGrath said. “And, obviously, when you lose a World Cup, it’s pretty hard to get over as well. It’s been a challenging time.”As much as I was doing everything possible to get us playing some finals cricket [in the WBBL], I was hanging out for a bit of a break.”McGrath opted against nominating for next month’s WPL in India, allowing her a rare stint with South Australia before the multi-format series against India.She has also refrained from picking up a bat since the WBBL ended a fortnight ago, ahead of 50-over cricket resuming for South Australia next month.”It’s properly distancing myself at the moment,” she said. “There’s not much point in me picking up a bat.”I wouldn’t achieve much. So, it’s get away from the game, go for walks along the beach, play a bit of golf, see some friends and family. And just refresh, get that energy back and put in the work after Christmas.”McGrath has spent the past year adapting to playing as a No.7 in ODIs and No.6 in T20Is, leaving her batting in just half of Australia’s World Cup games. But the desire remains to go back up the order, where she has previously starred.”I’m a very team-first person, and love being in the XI and contributing,” McGrath said. “I haven’t quite nailed that No.7 spot, so I probably need to go away and do a bit of work on that and make that my own first of all. Then once I can do that, try and get myself up the order.”
A mixed week at Old Trafford has seen the obligatory transfer link with Benzema while David Gill has reassured supporters that Fergie has £95m to spend should he so wish this summer. Elsewhere the Glazers have insisted that they won’t be tempted to sell at any price, while Ben Foster criticises United supporters for causing a distraction with their protests.
This week at FFC we have seen a mixed bag of Man United blogs which has included…Criticisms of United fans unwise; Marveaux should welcome United move and in defence of Michael Carrick.
Plus we have taken a look at the best Man United stories on the Web this week.
Fergie’s comments give United cause for concern
Manchester United Youngsters – End of Season Reports
Criticism of United fans is unwise, especially when they pay his wages
Marveaux should welcome a move to Chelsea or United, not dismiss it
Rooney – the man who the hopes of 50 MILLION people rest on
Michael Carrick: faltering or already failed?
UEFA’s financial fair play ruling is anything but fair play
In DEFENCE of Michael Carrick
If the PL BIG Four were musical artists…
Top TEN Scapegoats in the Premier League
Drogba, Rooney, Torres…The changing ways of the centre forward
**
Best of Web
**
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Solving the enigma that is Dimitar Berbatov – The Busby Way
Anatomy of a bid – United Rant
INTERVIEW: New Sponsors Aon Speak About Glazers, Debt and “The Brand” – RoM
Analysts say Manchester United must sell players to pay debts – Guardian
Is Jose Mourinho about to scupper Fergie’s plans? – A Kick In The Grass
Q3 Results – first thoughts and update post analysts’ call – The Andersred Blog
Rumours have been circling that Tottenham are willing to make a bid worth around £30 million for Palermo pair Edinson Cavani and Simon Kjaer. Focusing on Cavani in particular, could the Uruguayan solve a problem for Harry Redknapp in the forward position at White Hart Lane?
On any potential deal Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini said:
“Tottenham have bid €35m, an offer we cannot refuse, seeing as the two players have both said they want to leave.”
(Sky Italia)
Many fans have argued that with Champions League football in the offing that the Lilywhites must invest in a top quality striker as Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko are not the most prolific bunch. Of course Defoe scored 18 Premier League goals last season, but five of those were in the same game and he could probably benefit from a top quality strike partner.
However, although Cavani has impressed for Uruguay in the World Cup he is mostly there to supplement the goal scoring talents of Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan (another reported Tottenham target).
Last season the 23-year-old Uruguayan played 34 games in the Italian Serie A for Palermo and scored 13 goals.
Redknapp is desperate to boost his playing squad ahead of his first ever Champions League football campaign and may see Cavani as a player who is ideal for both the UEFA competition and Premier League as he is fairly physically imposing figure standing at 188cm (6 ft 2 inches) tall. Cavani is also young, so has plenty of time to improve on his game and find his vital goal scoring touch.
Other reports suggest the Cavani may shun the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City as he hopes to become the ‘Wayne Rooney of Inter Milan’.
He certainly rates his own ability and believes he is just what any team needs as he is fairly versatile:
“Today I am a striker who can adapt to different roles. Put it this way, I would like to become the Wayne Rooney of Inter Milan. I want to be a striker who can play many roles.”
Despite the rumours the north London club have denied the link, but the Palermo President’s comments must have some weight to them. At the very least it shows that Zamparini is willing to sell.
Do Tottenham fans believe Cavani can have a major impact at White Hart Lane? Surely £28 for both Cavani and Kjaer would be a bargain deal seeing as Cavani alone was valued around €25 million originally?
Here is a video showing the talents of Edinson Cavani:
[youtube dQ_pcUP8oaM]
Follow me on Twitter: ajwilliams1987
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Get the latest Tottenham news on Twitter
**
Click on image below to see the BRAZILIAN babes at the World Cup
Alan Curbishley is desperate to make a return to Premier League management amid continued talk of interest from Fulham.
The former West Ham United and Charlton Athletic boss is one of the frontrunners for the vacancy at Craven Cottage following Roy Hodgson's recent departure to Liverpool.
Curbishley has been out of work since leaving the Hammers in September 2008 and is champing at the bit to return to the world of top-flight management.
"My record in the Premier League I think stands up in the last ten or 12 years," he said.
"So I was hoping that perhaps I might get a chance to get back in the Premier League, but it hasn't happened.
"The Premier League in all fairness has been one of the more stable leagues, whereas in the Football League obviously there has been lots and lots of changes. But the Premier League has been quite stable.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
"So we will have to see. I just have to wait and see if anything happens over the next couple of months and if not I will evaluate it again and see where I go."
Former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes and ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson have also been linked with the Craven Cottage hot-seat.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham are closing in on Galatasaray’s star man Arda Turan according to reports in Turkey.
However, Turan, most commonly known as Arda, has also been linked with Arsenal recently and has been a long term target of Liverpool. But which club would represent the best move for Arda?
The Turkey international’s agent declared:
“At the moment I have had no contact, unofficial or official from Arsenal or Arsene Wenger. Regarding Tottenham Hotspur there was a small enquiry regarding the player, but I have had no official contact or an official bid for the player.
“So, at the moment Arda [Turan] has two years left on his contract at Gala. And, we are waiting for an official bid for Arda from Tottenham. We will see.”
**
Tottenham: Redknapp is seeking to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2010/11 season and many believe that the pull of Champions League football could be enough to attract players such as Arda.
Currently Spurs already have the likes of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon and David Bentley amongst their ranks who can operate in the wider areas, but it is rumoured that Bentley may be sold this summer and Redknapp would like to increase the competition for his current staff by adding Arda.
The 23-year-old mostly operates wide on the left so Bale may be moved back into a left fullback role if the Turkish midfielder joined the club, but he could also be used as an inverted winger (like Arjen Robben is for both Bayern Munich and Holland) as he possesses a decent left foot and can chip in with a few goals.
Chance of going to White Hart Lane: 4/5
**
Arsenal: Arda is mainly an out-and-out dribbler who is not afraid to take on defenders and pass them, so he is the sort of player Arsene Wenger will like, but the Gunners already are stocked in the wide positions with Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott.
However, many mooted Arda as someone who could be the ‘next Robert Pires’ for Arsenal as he can kick with both feet and has an eye for goal. Many fans also feel that the club needs to make a few good signs this summer if they are to break their barren spell in regards to winning silverware.
Reports are suggesting that Wenger has lost interest in the player and may pull out of the race to sign him, but he probably suits Arsenal’s playing style more than the other clubs linked with the playmaker.
Chance of going to the Emirates Stadium: 1/5
**
Liverpool: The Galatasaray captain has previously stated his intension to play for Liverpool in the past as he is a fan of the club and described it as a potential “dream” move for him, but considering the Anfield outfits financial woes it is starting to look unlikely.
He is certainly a player they could do with though as Yossi Benayoun has departed the club and many expect Albert Riera to follow suit.
But considering Liverpool will not be competing in the Champions League next season, does he need them, or will his affection for the club be enough to convince him to join the Reds?
Chance of going to Anfield: 3/5
**
Arda has made a total of 172 games for Galatasaray the Turkey international has made 67 assists and has scored 37 goals.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The Galatasaray man burst onto the scene during Turkey’s Euro 2008 campaign scoring two goals helping his side progress into the semi-finals of the competition. His first goal was a vital 92nd minute winner against Switzerland. Arda’s second goal came in the 75th minute against the Czech Republic as Turkey mounted a late comeback against their opponents who led 2-0, but ended up losing 3-2 as Turkey advanced into the next round of the tournament.
Is Arda Turan the type of player that you would like to see at your club and where do you think he will end up?
A youtube video dedicated to Arda Turan:
[youtube 24zicTWcmGE]
Follow me on Twitter:ajwilliams1987
Get the Tottenham news latest on Twitter
Click on image below to see the PORTUGAL babes at the World Cup