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Date: 2023-12-08 07:17:49 | Author: PFF | Views: 764 | Tag: soccer
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The landmark win over Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup will cause a ripple effect in Afghan cricket and inspire future players, Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott said soccer
Afghan batters chased down the 283 target methodically, with a focus on singles and doubles to keep off the pressure, winning the match by eight wickets with six balls to spare soccer
It was their second win in five games, and Afghanistan’s third-ever World Cup victory soccer
It was also their first victory over neighbours Pakistan in eight One Day International (ODI) matches and the first World Cup win while chasing against a Test-playing nation soccer
“This will have a great ripple effect,” Trott told reporters soccer
“I want to make sure that (the players) soccer
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pass it on and remember that game in Chennai when we chased on 283 against Pakistan soccer
”The Englishman called the 130-run opening partnership put on by Rehmanullah Gurbaz (65) and Ibrahim Zadran (87) the “turning point” and praised Rahmat Shah, who played through several cramps to help steady the game when the openers fell soccer
“You could easily soccer
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get a bit nervous or panicky soccer
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but shot that he played there to hit a straight six sort of broke the back of the game,” Trott said of Shah, who scored an unbeaten 77, 45 of which came from ones and twos soccer
This win along with the Oct soccer
15 triumph over defending champions England propelled Afghanistan from the bottom of the table to sixth place before facing ninth-place Sri Lanka next Monday soccer
“I will say to the players make sure you enjoy these victories but as soon as we (arrive in) Pune soccer
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take the confidence from the game and start looking forward to Sri Lanka,” Trott said soccer
ReutersMore aboutJonathan TrottPakistan cricketAfghanistan Cricket World CupJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/1Afghanistan seek ‘ripple effect’ from World Cup win over PakistanAfghanistan seek ‘ripple effect’ from World Cup win over PakistanGetty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today soccer
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There’s a new look about a key area of the team for Liverpool, a changing of the guard enforced by recent events, a previous zone of consistency now faced with uncertainty soccer
No, we’re not talking about midfield - that particular switch-up already looks a definite upgrade, even early as it is for such conclusions soccer
Instead it’s at left-back the unexpected alteration has occurred, a consequence of Andy Robertson’s need for surgery which means the Scot is out for the rest of the year soccer
Having averaged over 44 appearances a season for the Reds since signing in 2017, he’ll now miss at least 17 matches, if best estimates of his return are to be believed soccer
That leaves not just a gap for Kostas Tsimikas or an untested youngster to fill tactically, but a void which cannot be accounted for: that of a partnership, of understanding, of the natural, unthinking knowing which comes with playing hundreds of matches alongside a teammate soccer
It can be argued that such a changeable nature can be applied not just to the midfield, not even just to left-back, but to the entire defensive structure this term at Anfield: injuries have already hit on the right and centrally too, to go along with the altered personnel ahead of them in the middle third of the pitch soccer
All that simply means one truth must be constant if the Reds are to translate early season promise into longer-term capacity to challenge for major honours: Virgil van Dijk must once again prove himself to be among the very best, not just individually as a defender but as a force to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts soccer
RecommendedBuild from the front? Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp are repeating an old trickEngland’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do?Virgil van Dijk will show he is Premier League’s best once more – Sami HyypiaThere cannot be much debate that the Dutchman, now club captain at Anfield, has not quite reached the same levels of authoritative performances as he did pre-ACL injury, or at least not on as regular a basis soccer
The period which saw Liverpool win both Premier League and Champions League saw Van Dijk at the pinnacle of the game, a central defender without peer, a worthy recipient of the Ballon d’Or itself, had he been handed it instead of a runner-up spot, pipped by seven votes in 2019 by Lionel Messi soccer
Perhaps that in itself was a noteworthy award soccer
In any case, he’s not quite there these days, not quite the automatic choice among fan or pundit asked to name the world’s finest soccer
It’s arguable that there isn’t a single stand-out candidate right now for that particularly subjective title soccer
But in asking whether Van Dijk is capable of being the world’s best defender again, part of the answer has to be that it doesn’t really matter soccer
He might want to be of course, might already believe he is, but from a team perspective what they really need is Van Dijk’s ability to stabilise the team, to foresee and forestall danger, to order those around him to bring forth resilience from chaos soccer
Because chaotic is, still, a little too close to the truth when it comes to spells of defending for Liverpool soccer
The midfield is far more creative, far more offensive and energetic, far less reliant on Trent Alexander-Arnold always being at his best soccer
But all that comes at a cost: it’s not always the most agile and defensive-first in either recovery or positional terms soccer
It’s still new as a group, still needs time to become as cohesive as the best central trios are, on and off the ball soccer
And in the meantime, the result can often be large gaps, lost runners, moments of inexplicable choices in possession soccer
That leaves a hefty weight on the defence to counteract such moments - the defence and, of course, the still-magnificent Alisson Becker behind them soccer
(Getty Images)But before that one-man last line, it’s Van Dijk who must rise once more to ensure unity, if not always outright unison soccer
Acting in perfect harmony is difficult enough with four constant selections; as it is this season, Jurgen Klopp has already utilised Jarell Quansah as a fifth-choice, following injuries soccer
Alexander-Arnold missed pitch time and is not yet back to his peak physical or technical best soccer
Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip have dovetailed, and now there’s Tsimikas present on a more regular basis - which also means either Joe Gomez will see minutes on the left, or an untried youngster will, with Calum Scanlon and Luke Chambers first in line soccer
They presently tally one senior minute soccer between them soccer
They will all four need guiding for different reasons, all need time, all occasionally get things wrong and need the left-sided centre-back beside them to bail them out soccer
No prizes for guessing who that is on a week-to-week basis soccer
Because for Liverpool, there are prizes at stake soccer
Three points off the top of the Premier League table after a fine opening quarter of the campaign; rolling along nicely in Europe and domestic cups alike soccer
soccer Between now and the next international break, the opportunities for victory across all competitions are as immense as the potential cost of dropped points: Toulouse twice, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Luton, Brentford soccer
A modern title-competing team would take six wins with very little fuss, in truth soccer
Then, beyond, it’s Manchester City away soccer
The most true barometer of where Liverpool are this season, even coming after an international break and in the infamous 12:30pm kick-off spot soccer
The margin for error remains almost nil, but with the reigning champions perhaps not quite at their own peak yet, and Klopp’s side having improved more than might have been thought possible at this early stage, thoughts of a title challenge will not be far away - if the defence is kept on-point, even with altered personnel soccer
(Getty Images)It all means Van Dijk must be as close to his own 100 percent as possible, even if his 2023/24 maximum level is a little lower than in 19/20 soccer
As far as transformative figures go, Van Dijk was one after signing soccer
He, as much as anyone else and more than most, sent Liverpool from challengers to champions, in every competition across the board soccer
Now once again he must be the leader - literally, given the armband - who enables the Reds to do so, not so much the new figurehead this time but as the standard-bearer, the supplier of consistency, the model of outperformance which can give Liverpool the extra edge they’ll need, both in the Premier League and beyond soccer
More aboutVirgil van DijkKostas TsimikasJurgen KloppPremier LeagueEuropa LeagueJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Van Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Van Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Getty ImagesVan Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Getty ImagesVan Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today soccer
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicssoccer BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy soccer
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply soccer
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