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The former Ukraine striker and Ballon d'Or winner discusses the tragic impact of the war in his country and football being an escape for youngsters

Andriy Shevchenko has just finished the interview but he wants to keep talking. “You have to keep talking about Ukraine,” he says. “When you go there, it breaks your heart.”

Shevchenko is looking down at a complex of football pitches where groups of teenagers are warming up for the day’s matches. They have flown from around the world to compete in the Global Finals in Istanbul, the final phase of a grassroots tournament for boys and girls aged 14 to 16.

After a meet and greet session with Shevchenko, the youngsters represent their country while competing for the trophy and for tickets to the UEFA Champions League final. Past winners of have gone on to build successful professional football careers, and some have even represented their country at major football tournaments.

Shevchenko is reminded of the youth football tournaments he played in Ukraine on the way to becoming a professional and winning major trophies in his home country, Italy and England as well as lifting the Champions League in 2003.

But organised sport in Ukraine has been brutally disrupted along with all semblance of normal life since the invasion by Russia last year. Shevchenko knows the power of football and how important it is for people to play and, just for a moment, to escape the horrors of war.

Getty'When you play football you forget about war'

“Inside Ukraine there's not much sport now. Sport plays such a big role and now, even more, because creating some sporting activities for the kids means a lot for parents and children,” Shevchenko tells GOAL

“When you play football you forget about war, you forget about the current situation and what's going on in Ukraine. That's the power of football and sport, to connect people, to give them inspiration and a different view of the future.”

Shevchenko’s belief in football’s power is why he has thrown his support behind the Global Finals. 

“Football has such an important role in society, it's great to have such a big strong brand behind social stuff. I have known the programme for four or five years, there are so many teams coming through, the atmosphere is great, it's so fun,” he says.

“Also it's an opportunity to learn different cultures, sport has a very strong connection between children. The competition means a lot. When I was growing up I always loved football, I grew [as a player] thanks to some similar tournaments. I was growing up in Ukraine and we had a school tournament – I played for my school. This kind of opportunity was awesome, we could see potential players come out from these tournaments.”

AdvertisementGettyRebuilding a school with Zinchenko

Amid such bleak surroundings, role models play an even more important role in Ukraine and Shevchenko is proud that his country has two great ambassadors in Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mykhailo Mudryk.

Zinchenko has just helped inspire Arsenal to their best Premier League season since they last won the league in 2004. Although Mikel Arteta’s side were ultimately caught by Zinchenko’s former club Manchester City, the left-back proved an influential player on the pitch and in the Gunners’ dressing room.

The defender has been a fierce campaigner against Russia’s invasion and his tears during City’s match at Everton in the first game after troops invaded his country moved the football world. 

Shevchenko and Zinchenko are helping to organise ‘Game 4 Ukraine’, a friendly match between Arsenal and Chelsea on August 4 at Stamford Bridge to raise money to rebuild a school in Chernihiv Oblast, northern Ukraine, which was damaged last year by Russian missiles.

“He does a lot for the country, he brings attention for Ukraine, he's been involved a lot in fundraising for different projects, we've been working together. We're going to rebuild a school in Ukraine,” Shevchenko says. 

“It's an important school, it brings eight small villages together, there's only one school in the area. It's been hit by missiles, a couple of classes were destroyed. I was there with Oleksandr 10 days ago. It's terrifying.”

Getty Images'Chelsea believe in Mudryk'

Mudryk was close to joining forces with Zinchenko at Arsenal but Chelsea beat the Gunners to his signature and landed him for £89 million in January from Shakhtar Donetsk.

The transfer, which made Mudryk Ukraine’s most expensive player ever, led to £20 million being donated to the war effort. Mudryk has struggled to live up to his price tag so far, however, and is yet to score for his new club.

But Shevchenko is certain the 22-year-old will deliver in the long term for Chelsea, dismissing concerns he could become another big-money flop at Stamford Bridge. And he is looking forward to seeing how he develops under Mauricio Pochettino next season.

“He's very young, he has a lot of potential in the future. He's signed a very long contract with Chelsea, we should see how it's going at  the end of his contract with them," Shevchenko says.

"I think he has quality, a strong base. Chelsea look like they believe in him, there's a new manager now, we just have to give him time and wait. That is the policy and vision of the club."

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GettyThe Ballon d'Or, Champions League finals and 326 goals

Shevchenko believes Mudryk and Zinchenko can inspire the youth of Ukraine and he knows the importance of role models, both to young aspiring footballers and to young people in general.

New global data reveals that over four in 10 parents believe that a lack of visible and relatable role models is a barrier to teens taking up and staying in sport. Shevchenko cites legendary former Ukrainian forward and manager Oleg Blokhin as his role model as he was one of the players who put Ukrainian football on the map and forged a path for future stars.

While at the tournament, Shevchenko holds up a shirt bearing Blokhin's name along with six young players wearing the name of their role models on the back of their shirts.

Shevchenko joined the youth academy of Dynamo Kyiv at the age of 10 and went on to become one of the club's greatest players, leading them to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 1998-99. He finished joint top-scorer in the competition that season with eight goals and then joined AC Milan.

It was in Milan where he turned into perhaps the most lethal striker in the world. He won the Ballon d’Or in 2004 after two superb seasons, scoring the final penalty in the shootout victory over Juventus in the 2003 Champions League final, then firing Milan to the Serie A title the following year. He also played for Chelsea before returning to Milan and then seeing out his career back with boyhood club Dynamo, signing off with 326 goals in 653 matches, fractionally shy of a goal every two games.

Jose Mourinho's prediction could yet come true for Diogo Dalot

It didn’t take long for Diogo Dalot to learn where he would be playing his football this season. While a host of Manchester United players endured a summer of uncertainty, the Portugal international was told in no uncertain terms that he was part of Erik ten Hag’s plans.

That vote of confidence represented a remarkable reversal of fortune for a player who has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old was hailed as United’s new Gary Neville under Jose Mourinho, turfed out by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – before being thrown a lifeline by Ralf Rangnick.

But even after forcing his way ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the second half of last season, he looked like one of the more vulnerable members of an imbalanced squad inherited by Ten Hag in the summer.

GettyOverhaul

A manager who places such importance in his full backs, the Dutchman was expected to strengthen in that department as he embarked on a major overhaul in his first transfer window at the club.

It was perhaps a surprise then that he opted to recruit a left back in Tyrell Malacia, despite having Luke Shaw and Alex Telles on that side.

On the right, meanwhile, he had Wan-Bissaka – a £50million signing whose attacking deficiencies are at odds with Ten Hag’s system – and Dalot, whose best hopes of staying at United looked likely to be in a back-up capacity.

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Had United been able to find a buyer for Wan-Bissaka then Dalot may well have faced greater competition for a starting berth.

Denzel Dumfries was among the targets identified.

But after being handed the role of first choice, Dalot has seized the opportunity with both hands.

He has started every game this season, won more tackles than any other player at the club (14), won more aerial battles (12) and had more touches (408).

In a recent report by research group, CIES Football Observatory, Dalot was cited as the most impactful full back under the age of 25 in the Premier League this season.

Across Europe, only Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies ranked above him.

GettyUndroppable

Dalot is very much the modern full back, with an attacking instinct, as well as the energy to track back – even if his defensive awareness is still an area in need of development.

But it is easy to see why both Rangnick and Ten Hag considered him a better fit than Wan-Bissaka, who is an outstanding one-on-one defender – but offers little as an offensive weapon.

It has left United in the awkward position of trying to make whatever return they can on the enormous outlay spent on the former Crystal Palace defender, which proved to be particularly problematic over the summer.

It leaves Dalot – a player largely written off after the arrival of Wan-Bissaka and a subsequent loan to AC Milan – as an unexpected undroppable for Ten Hag.

The close of the window has only cemented his position on the right of United’s defence – and given him the opportunity to prove he can be the long-term option.

While Ten Hag remains determined to strengthen in that department, much is dependent on securing a move for Wan-Bissaka.

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So far Dalot has proved himself capable of fitting the profile of the type of player the new United manager has looked to add to his squad – energetic, hungry and enthusiastic.

The chest-bumping and fist-clenching that greets each block fits with the attitude Ten Hag is trying to instil. Malacia shares similar qualities, with a tenacious thread stretching right across the defence and embodied by Lisandro Martinez at the heart of it.

But Ten Hag wants quality as well as spirit – and it will be intriguing to see how Dalot develops under the Dutchman’s guidance.

Mourinho was so enthused by his potential that he predicted he’d be United’s right back for 10 years.

Solskjaer was less convinced – persuading the club to pay such a high fee for Wan-Bissaka after infamously whittling down a long list of 804 options.

Atletico Madrid were among the clubs interested in offering Dalot a route out of Old Trafford – but he was determined to establish himself at United.

Rangnick gave him that chance in his interim role last season – and Ten Hag informed him almost immediately that he was in his plans as he shaped a new-look United.

Jonas Eidevall admits that Arsenal must do more to bring the best out of striker Alessia Russo, who was signed from Manchester United in the summer.

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Russo joined Gunners in the summerHas scored four goals since arrivingArsenal boss Eidevall says more can be done WHAT HAPPENED?

Russo has struggled somewhat for goals since her arrival in north London. Having scored 22 goals in 46 games for United, her return of two goals in the WSL and two goals in Europe is not exactly what the Gunners were hoping for and Eidevall believes her team-mates need to learn to bring her into play more regularly.

AdvertisementWHAT EIDEVALL SAID

Speaking to reporters, Eidevall said: "It is always a big step when you move to a new club and there are far more things than just on the pitch, you need to settle all the things in your life, the area, your house.

"Alessia works so hard and she is such a great individual and team player. Do we have room for improvement in how we involve her more, especially in the penalty area and how we get her more touches and shooting opportunities in there? Absolutely.

"Especially when she plays as a 9, that has to be the aim when she plays there so we can get her more goals because from a finishing perspective, she is probably the best finisher I have ever worked with. She has a lot of variety in her finishing and for us, it’s how many times she can get those opportunities rather than what she is doing with them. Those are things we are working with, with her application and her effort, it is amazing."

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Arsenal have enjoyed a fine start to the season and have only lost one league game, although they have been knocked out of the Champions League. Russo has not won a trophy in her time in England, having previously played for North Carolina Tar Heels, and was a runner-up in the FA Cup last season with United.

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One has to think that Eidevall will be working closely with the Arsenal attacking unit in order to get Russo firing. They are next in action against West Ham on Sunday.

Warwickshire welcome back Ian Bell and Chris Woakes for NatWest Blast T20 Finals Day, but there is no place in their 15-man squad for Jonathan Trott.

George Dobell22-Aug-2014Warwickshire welcome back Ian Bell and Chris Woakes for NatWest Blast T20 Finals Day, but there is no place in their 15-man squad for Jonathan Trott.Dougie Brown feels Jonathan Trott’s game is more suited to the longer formats than the modern T20•Getty ImagesWhile Trott set a T20 record aggregate for the most runs in a 10-match qualifying campaign in 2009, he has played very few games in the format since 2010. And while Warwickshire’s director of cricket, Dougie Brown, feels that Trott’s form is returning to somewhere near its best, he felt the shortest format of the game had moved on since the last time he played.”Trotty hasn’t played a lot of T20 cricket over the last five or six years,” Brown said. “And when he did play it was a dramatically different game.”His game is more suited to 50-over and four-day cricket, going towards ODI and Test cricket. Whether he would feature in a T20 side for England I would probably doubt, but clearly he has vast experience in all formats of the game but you can only pick XI and you’ve got to make that call.”Trott actually made his international debut in T20 cricket in 2007. But having played just one T20 match in 2011, he did not play again until June of this year when he was in the early days of his return from a stress-related illness. He struggled for fluency in the two matches he played – including a 38-ball innings of 39 against Worcestershire – and has since been restricted to List A and first-class cricket.Trott has scored three centuries – two in the Royal London Cup and one in the County Championship – since July 21 but, despite Warwickshire lacking one of their overseas players – Shoaib Malik – and reflecting on the news that their club captain, Jim Troughton, has been forced to retire with a back injury, Trott still missed out to younger men such as Scotland’s Freddie Coleman and 22-year-old Jonathon Webb.”T20 is a very skilful game,” Brown explained. “I’m not saying he’s not an extremely skilful player. But if you’re looking at having players who play 360 degrees – the likes of Laurie Evans and the new breed like Coleman and Webb, who can play all sorts of different, inventive shots – is that Trotty?”I think he’s happy playing four-day and 50-over cricket. He’s a great player. A proper player. He’s a world-class player when he’s at his best and I reckon he’s getting back to somewhere close to that.”Bell, meanwhile, has not represented Warwickshire in this format since 2010, and accepts he lacks match-practise in T20 cricket. But he is relishing the opportunity to represent the side he supported as a boy at Finals Day on his home ground.”It’s not always easy for us England players to come back and take the place of people who have been doing well for the club,” Bell admitted. “But we’re desperate to play as much as we can for Warwickshire.”Days like this are great. They are the ones you remember when you finish playing and the ones you want to be part of.”As an England player, you hardly get the chance to play T20. And if you don’t get picked by England in T20, you don’t play for anyone. I went through a period when I just didn’t play any. You need to play T20 regularly to know where you are and your game-plan.”At the start of the season, when it was announced the games would be on Friday nights, I thought I’d play more. But I’ve probably played less. It’s been hard to do.”Warwickshire also welcome back fast bowler Boyd Rankin from a hamstring injury, but are without Keith Barker, who has an elbow injury but is expected to play the next Championship game, and Chris Wright, who has a stress fracture and will not play again this season.

Rohan Bhosale, the Railways batsman, was hospitalised after he was hit on the back of the neck while fielding at forward short leg against Tamil Nadu

Amol Karhadkar30-Dec-2014Rohan Bhosale, the Railways batsman, was hospitalised after he was hit on the back of the neck while fielding at forward short leg against Tamil Nadu in their Ranji Trophy match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Bhosale turned his back to the ball when R Sathish hit a full-blooded sweep off the left-arm spinner Ashish Yadav, in the 63rd over of the innings.Bhosale was stretchered off the field and taken to Apollo Hospitals in an ambulance, but Syed Zakaria Zuffri, Railways’ batting coach, later confirmed that Bhosale was out of any serious danger.”Rohan is absolutely fine. All the scan reports are normal,” Zuffri said. “There is nothing to worry. Just as a precautionary measure, he will spend the night in the hospital and will be discharged in the morning.”Bhosale is unlikely to play any further part in the match.

Nightwatchman Liam Norwell hit his maiden first-class century as Gloucesestershire claimed maximum batting points on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship match against Derbyshire in Bristol.

ECB Reporters Network19-Apr-2016
ScorecardLiam Norwell shows his delighted at reaching an unexpected century•Getty ImagesNightwatchman Liam Norwell hit his maiden first-class century as Gloucesestershire claimed maximum batting points on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship match against Derbyshire in Bristol.Norwell, the 24-year-old seam bowler and regular No. 11, made 102 in a second-wicket stand of 168 with Chris Dent, who went on to score 180 as the hosts ran up 563 all out in reply to Derbyshire’s 444, Hamish Marshall contributing a brisk 72 and Kieran Noema-Barnett 58.Norwell hit 14 fours and three sixes in batting for two and a half hours to eclipse his previous highest score of 78, made against Worcestershire at Cheltenham in 2014. Last summer he averaged 8.30 in 19 Championship innings.”I had never made a hundred in any form of cricket so I am still in shock,” he said. “I think my previous best was 98 in an Under-13 game for Redruth. Chris Dent talked me through it and it was great having him at the other end. I thought my chance had gone when I missed a high full-toss on 94, trying to hit it too hard.”I was surprised Derbyshire bowled so short to me. The century will mean more to me if we go on to win the game, but I am very proud. When I walked off I was annoyed at getting out because I had been telling myself to stay calm, but since then other players have been telling me to enjoy the moment.”Dent’s hundred was his ninth in first-class cricket. He did not give a chance until he was on 156 and was not dismissed until the final session.Both players profited from some loose Derbyshire bowling. The visitors tended to pitch too short to Norwell, in particular, even though he played and missed at several fuller deliveries.A benign pitch made batting look easy as Gloucestershire began the day on 110 for 1, with Dent on 61 and Norwell 2.Andy Carter inadvertently set the tone for the morning as his first delivery of the day was a wide towards second slip and the third directed down the leg-side, costing four leg-byes.Norwell moved to fifty off 70 balls, with 8 fours and a straight six off Wes Durston, while Dent brought up his hundred off 154 deliveries, with 14 fours and a six. The pair added 144 runs before lunch, which was taken at 254 for 1, with Norwell on 88. On 94 he failed to make contact with a high full-toss, trying to hit the ball too hard, but the landmark came from an equally generous short ball outside off stump from Ben Cotton, thumped for four off the back foot. Norwell raised both arms in delight and was visibly annoyed when pinned lbw, playing across a ball from Chesney Hughes.Derbyshire did have some success with the second new ball, Luke Fletcher having Ian Cockbain caught behind off an outswinger for 19 and Carter clean bowling Gareth Roderick for 5.But by then Gloucestershire were well on course for a first innings lead. Marshall and Dent went on the attack in the final session, the latter finally being bowled trying to sweep Hughes, having faced 312 balls and extended his boundary count to 21 fours and two sixes.Wickets continued to fall in the evening sunshine as Marshall blasted 10 fours, Noema-Barnett three sixes and Benny Howell (41) four sixes to drive home the home side’s advantage.

USWNT star Lindsey Horan believes Washington Spirit owner Michelle Kang's purchase of Lyon Femenin will usher in an 'incredible' new era.

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USWNT's Horan highlights Lyon infrastructure issuesWashington Spirit owner Michelle Kang to purchase clubFrench side begin 2023 UCL campaign TuesdayWHAT HAPPENED?

In a conversation with Pro Soccer Wire, the USWNT star spoke on the excitement of what a potential sale of Lyon Femenin to Washington Spirit owner Michelle Kang could look like for the French club. The 29-year-old believes that with Kang leading the club, an 'incredible' era could be upon them.

Kang is expected to build the women's side their own official training center while exploring the option of utilizing and repurposing a local rugby stadium for a new home venue.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lyon are eight-time Champions League winners but still share a training ground with the men's side and only rarely play at the 59,000-capacity Groupama Stadium. Now, with the introduction of Kang into the ownership group, Horan believes a new era may be ushered in.

WHAT HORAN SAID

“Our team isn’t just attached to the men’s team,” she said. “Our team is in itself its own. To see some of these teams around the world now having their own training facilities, having their own stadiums — that’s what they deserve.

“We women work just as hard and we’re professionals just as much as the men. So at least we should have our own training facility. We should have all access to the things that we need, that I’m pretty sure most men’s clubs get, and to have our own stadium would be incredible as well.”

“Michelle is amazing, I’ve met her many times,” Horan added. “And I think her aspirations and the things that she’s doing in the world are insane. She’s not just saying things to say them, or to hope that it could happen, she’s going and making them happen. What she’ll do with Lyon is going to be absolutely incredible.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR HORAN AND LYON?

The French side make their 2023/24 UEFA Champions League debut Tuesday evening against Slavia Prague, with Horan set to play a role in another campaign as they look for their ninth European trophy.

Jesse Lingard reportedly cost West Ham “thousands of pounds” during his unsuccessful trial with the Premier League club.

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Released by Nottingham ForestStill a free agentHeaded to Saudi Arabia after Hammers snubWHAT HAPPENED?

The ex-England international, who is a free agent after being released by Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, returned to east London in the hope of earning a permanent contract. He had previously impressed for the Hammers during a nine-goal loan spell in 2021.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

David Moyes was happy to give Lingard an opportunity to impress, as he figured in training and a behind-closed-doors friendly. It is claimed that the 30-year-old spent six weeks with West Ham, having spent time working at Inter Miami’s training facility prior to returning to England – while also seeing D.C. United boss Wayne Rooney rule out a move for his former Manchester United team-mate.

DID YOU KNOW?

claims that the Hammers have been left out of pocket after funding all of Lingard’s accommodation and travel costs during his time with them. They paid for his hotel room and getting him to and from training – with Lingard serving a six-month driving ban after giving police a false name following a speeding infraction.

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Goal ARWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

After severing ties with West Ham, Lingard has made his way to Saudi Arabia. He is now training with Al-Ettifaq – the side managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and one that has already drafted in the likes of Jordan Henderson, Moussa Dembele, Georginio Wijnaldum and Demarai Gray.

Four good years have culminated in Australia’s rise to No. 1 in the Test rankings, but their task now is to extend the lead without the likes of Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson and a few others

Brydon Coverdale24-Feb-20163:18

‘No. 1 a big motivation for us’ – Smith

A small crowd, a quiet Christchurch day in the last week of February, an Australian rise to No.1. It could have been Allan Border overtaking Sunil Gavaskar 23 years ago to become the leading run scorer in Tests. Instead it was Steven Smith’s men nudging ahead of India to become the top-ranked Test side in the world. For Border, it was the culmination of 14 years as a Test batsman; for Smith’s team it feels like the result of four good months.In fact, it is the culmination of four years of cricket, under not only Smith but his predecessor Michael Clarke. The current rankings stretch back to 2012, so they include Australia’s home Ashes whitewash in 2013-14 and their series win in South Africa that followed. After those triumphs Australia briefly jumped to No.1 under Clarke but that lasted a matter of months, and their task now is to not only hold their lead but extend it.And they must do so without Clarke, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris, all of whom retired over the course of 2015. Those departures have left Australia with a significantly different looking side under Smith, and while they have started well by winning at home to New Zealand and West Indies and now away in New Zealand, other challenges await.They include a series in Sri Lanka later this year and then home Tests against South Africa and Pakistan, followed by arguably world cricket’s toughest challenge: an away Test series in India. How long Australia can hold the No.1 position remains to be seen, but under Smith and vice-captain David Warner, the initial signs have been good.”A lot of credit has got to be given to the guys who have recently retired as well,” Smith said after winning the second Test at Hagley Oval. “The ranking system goes for quite a while and those guys were quite a big part of our success as an Australian team. Having said that, the guys that have stepped up to the plate since those six big retirements have been outstanding and I’m really proud of the way the boys have been performing.”Such has been the success of Australia this summer that all members of their top five are averaging 50-plus since Smith officially succeeded Clarke as captain. The stars have arguably been Adam Voges and Usman Khawaja, but in the second Test against New Zealand it was Joe Burns who stepped up, earning his first Man-of-the-Match award for his 170 and 65.The value of his patient first-innings century should not be underestimated, given that New Zealand had made such a remarkable start to the Test through Brendon McCullum’s record 54-ball century on the first day. New Zealand reached 370 in their first innings, and it was the first time under Smith that the Australians had needed to fight back from being behind in the match in the early stages.”We did have to fight,” Smith said. “I thought that probably on the first day somewhere around 250-300 would probably be par on that wicket and they really took it away from us in that second session. That’s a credit to the way that both Brendon and Corey Anderson played.”They came out and really took the game on and we didn’t know what to do for a period of time there. But, credit to the guys the way we were able to fight back scoring 500 in our first innings again, I think that really sets the game up for you and I thought the guys responded really well.”Smith was also key to the turnaround, accompanying Burns for much of the second innings and registering his third century of the Test summer. Although Smith was charged with a Code of Conduct breach for his remonstration with umpire Ranmore Martinesz on the fourth day at Hagley Oval, the retiring McCullum said he believed that under Smith the Australians focused on “positive play” rather than verbals.”I think the team plays slightly differently to what they have done previously,” McCullum said. “Most Australian teams play the way their leader is. If you look at Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, they always take on a slight twist. Under Steve Smith, we’ve seen a very similar thing.”This series has been played in great spirits, I think, and the one back in Australia. I think Steve Smith has been a catalyst for that. He plays the game for the right reasons as well. He plays with his heart on his sleeve but he’s a very respectful guy and a wonderful cricketer. They’re No.1 in the world now and a lot of that is to do with his leadership and Darren Lehmann’s as well.”They probably skin the cat slightly differently. The majority of their focus is on positive play rather than necessarily some of the semantics of past eras. They go about their work in a nice manner and they play hard cricket but in the series that we’ve had, I don’t think they’ve ever looked to step over the line.”As a result of the victory in Christchurch, Smith remains undefeated as Test captain, with seven wins and four draws from his 11 games in charge – including when he was standing in for the injured Clarke in 2014-15. Under Smith, Australia have beaten New Zealand in four of five Tests this summer, and McCullum said Australia had the potential to remain at No.1 for some time.”I think so because they’ve got depth as we’ve seen in these two series,” McCullum said. “The bowling line-up in this series is quite different and they’ve all stepped up and that’s the beauty of Australian cricket. They’ve got so much depth that if they can get everyone heading in the same direction and their game-plans are simple, then they’re going to be dangerous no matter what.”That’s why they’ve been able to rise to No. 1 in the world. They’ve also got some outstanding batters, not necessarily the flashiest batters that Australia has produced but they’re churning out runs and when you do that your bowling attack becomes a lot more potent.”

The Chelsea winger has come to a crossroad – GOAL takes a look at the 24-year-old's options heading into a career-defining summer

There's a pretty good chance that we've seen the last of Christian Pulisic in a Chelsea jersey. He may not admit it publicly, at least not yet, but there's a feeling that this summer is the right time for all involved to move on. Pulisic and Chelsea won a Champions League together, and one would hope that leaves a lasting legacy, but, given the dysfunction of this past season, both sides would benefit from moving on.

Pulisic, set to turn 25 in September, is no longer in the 'young player' category. He's still developing, for sure, but the U.S. men's national team star is at a point in his career where he needs to be playing regularly. That didn't happen this past season at Chelsea, where he managed just over 1,000 minutes under three different coaches while struggling with fitness and form.

Chelsea, meanwhile, need to clear up the squad, having signed just about every player under the sun over the last year. The club could certainly use some money, too, making Pulisic a prime candidate to move on.

So, that brings us to the summer, one full of juicy transfer rumors from all over the continent. Pulisic has been linked to just about every major club, but no clear-cut frontrunner has truly emerged for his services. It is believed that a fee between £20 and £40 million would get the job done, and reports have said that Pulisic is willing to take a pay cut to go to the right club.

But which club is the right club? GOAL breaks down Pulisic's options…

Getty ImagesNewcastle

Of the clubs in England, Newcastle felt like the most logical fit.

They're outside the big six, but now have big-six money. Pulisic, a Champions League winner, is seemingly the right kind of player for them to be signing as they look to steadily move into that elite tier in England.

However, according to the Athletic, Newcastle are no longer interested as they themselves prepare for a massive summer. They had previously enquired about taking Pulisic on loan, according to reports, but the club is now said to be moving on to other targets.

Which is a shame for Pulisic, really, as Newcastle would have seemingly represented the right kind of move for him to be making: not a step up, not a step down, but a step right back into the Champions League.

AdvertisementGettyManchester United

Manchester United have previously been linked to Pulisic, although it seems that interest has somewhat cooled.

In reality, the move would represent progress for Pulisic, who would leave a struggling Chelsea for a Manchester United team seemingly on the rise. With several key players at the club also facing uncertain futures, there's a path to more regular playing time at Old Trafford than there ever was at Stamford Bridge.

Man Utd, though, need a striker more than anything. The club is very much a No.9 away from competing at a higher level, and one would expect them to throw everything they have at that position. Their winger depth is also pretty solid, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho with the club, and Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo on the way up.

Aside from a striker, there are other positions of need, with a midfielder, defender and goalkeeper all possibly coming in.

Chelsea may not be willing to sell to Man Utd either, which further complicates any potential move.

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Realistically, there's only one club in Ligue 1 that would likely be able to afford a move. And, while that club will need attackers this summer, no doubt, it doesn't seem that Pulisic really fits the bill.

PSG have already lost Lionel Messi this summer, and it looks like Kylian Mbappe could be close behind. That would leave PSG totally reeling in the attack, with only the oft-injured Neymar returning from their three-headed monster up top.

Should they sell Mbappe, PSG would have a massive transfer budget to work with, but is Pulisic really in the class of player they would look to attract? He has won a Champions League, of course, and that is the club PSG are so desperate to win, but is he the type of player that really gets them any closer, especially with Mbappe out the door?

PSG really may end up being the most interesting team of the summer, especially if Mbappe moves. Pulisic could, logically, be an answer at winger, but who knows what the leadership in Paris will cook up as they look to replace one or two superstars?

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While Pulisic's reputation has taken a bit of a hit in England, those in Germany will still remember him fondly. He was a hell of a player for Borussia Dortmund and Bundesliga fans have long had a better opinion of USMNT players than most of their European counterparts.

However, it's hard to see a landing spot in Germany for Pulisic, even with his good reputation there.

Bayern Munich are, of course, managed by Thomas Tuchel, and it's unlikely either party will be desperate for a third go-around together. Pulisic's 2022 book took a shot at Tuchel and the relationship never seemingly recovered. The two worked wonders together at some points and struggled to work together at others. That time has passed.

Dortmund, meanwhile, have plenty of depth in the attack. So much depth, in fact, that they've struggled to incorporate their own USMNT star, Gio Reyna. Plus, after selling Jude Bellingham this summer, they'll likely be looking to reinforce the midfield more than anything.

Can any other club in Germany afford Pulisic? Probably not. Perhaps RB Leipzig or Union Berlin could figure something out due to their status as Champions League participants, but Germany doesn't look like a real possibility at this point.