Barcelona have once again been linked with Nico Williams but the winger may snub their interest and extend his stay at Athletic Club.
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Barca failed to sign WilliamsStayed put at Athletic ClubMay sign new deal despite transfer linksFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Catalan outfit tried and failed to sign the Spain international this summer but Sport claims they are still interested in recruiting the 22-year-old. They report Athletic believe they can get him to extend his contract, which runs until 2027, and that would make it very difficult for Barcelona to secure his signature as that is likely to put them into financial difficulty.
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The report adds that Barca may be able to secure his services if he doesn't sign a new deal, with his buyout clause reportedly set at just over €60 million (£50.6m/$65m). Much of this hinges on the Blaugrana's financial situation come January, with the La Liga leaders still waiting on a new lucrative Nike deal to come through. But such is the financial uncertainty around Barca, that may stop a potential team up between Spain wingers Lamine Yamal and Williams.
DID YOU KNOW?
So far this season, Williams has scored two goals and bagged as many assists in 12 appearances in all competitions for the Basque outfit. The Spaniard notched a whopping 19 assists last term, and notched eight goals in 37 matches.
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Aside from the Williams to Barcelona transfer rumours, Hansi Flick's team – who are six points clear at the top of La Liga – host Espanyol in the league on Sunday whereas fifth-placed Athletic entertain Real Betis later that night.
The oft-criticised winger bagged a brace in a comfortable victory for Dorival Jr.'s side
For most of his time as Brazil manager, Dorival Jr has faced questions about his attacking setup. On Tuesday, he might just have found an answer. Raphinha, in the midst of a flying start for his club, also provided for his country, scoring twice and proving a constant menace in a comfortable 4-0 win over Peru.
The Barcelona man bagged a brace, before two late goals killed the game and carried Brazil to their second win in a row.
It was a testy contest for long periods, Peru doing their best to end Brazil attacks before they started – with tackles aplenty from both sides. Raphinha opened the scoring shortly before half time, converting from the spot after a lengthy VAR check determined that a Peru defender had handled the ball in the box. Rodrygo could have made it two after 43 minutes, but his chip was easily cradled by the goalkeeper.
The Barcelona man added a second from the spot early in the second half – this time from a far less controversial penalty shout.
Andreas Pereira gave the Selecao daylight, though, with a fine flying volley, guiding Luiz Henrique's cross into the bottom corner. Henrique grabbed one of his own soon after, strolling into the space afforded him by an open Peru backline – before stroking the ball into the bottom corner. Things aren't perfect for Dorival – there are still issues aplenty. But back-to-back wins will at least easy pressure, albeit momentarily.
GOAL rates Brazil's players from Arena BRB Mane Garrincha…
GettyGoalkeeper & Defence
Ederson (6/10):
Claimed his crosses, and hardly had a save to make. No problems with a quieter evening, though.
Vanderson (6/10):
Didn't get forward much – but didn't have to. Peru didn't threaten much down his side, either.
Marquinhos (7/10):
A couple of well-timed tackles showed off some recovery pace, and he wasn't often beaten in the air, either. A fine defensive showing.
Gabriel (6/10):
A game that didn't ask much of him and, if anything, highlighted his weaknesses as a passer.
Abner Vinicius (7/10):
Peru looked to exploit his wing, but he held it down. Passed the ball forward well, and won more tackles than he lost.
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Bruno Guimaraes (7/10):
Up for all of the dirty work in midfield. Won 100 percent of his ground duels and probably got away with a few, too.
Gerson (6/10):
Came out on the winning end of a few tackles, but could have shown more imagination when he had the ball.
Raphinha (8/10):
Took his penalties well, and really grew into the game after a slow start. He has been on fire this season.
GettyAttack
Savio (7/10):
A real nuisance on the wing, especially when the game opened up after the break. Taken off after a fruitful hour.
Igor Jesus (7/10):
His clever run led to the first penalty, and he served as an important focal point – and reliable out ball when needed.
Rodrygo (6/10):
Like most of this season, struggled to make an impact. An ill-advised dink really encapsulated his struggles.
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Andreas Pereira (7/10):
Scored a wonderful goal to mark a fine cameo.
Luiz Henrique (7/10):
Found the net and assisted off the bench.
Endrick (N/A):
No time to make an impact
Matheus Pereira (N/A):
No time to make an impact
Andre (N/A):
No time to make an impact
Dorival Jr (8/10):
Got it mostly right, stealing the idea of using Raphinha as a 10, and getting contributions from his subs. Peru were woeful, but that's no fault of his. Two wins in a row has things somewhat back on track.
The England batsmen is likely to be involved in the tour of South Africa ahead of the BBL
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Oct-2020
Jason Roy drives back down the ground•Getty Images
Jason Roy has become the latest England player to sign for the upcoming BBL after joining the Perth Scorchers.He will link up with Liam Livingstone and it provides the Scorchers with enviable top-order options after last year’s opening pair of Livingstone and Josh Inglis became one of the most destructive in the league.Roy follows England team-mate Dawid Malan (Hobart Hurricanes) in securing a BBL deal in recent days while Tom Banton (Brisbane Heat) and Tom Curran (Sydney Sixers) will also be in show. Alex Hales is also returning to the Sydney Thunder.ALSO READ: BBL clubs to be allowed three overseas players in XIEngland have a limited-overs tour to South Africa which will finish on December 9 so it remains to be seen exactly when anyone who is part of that squad will be available for their BBL teams pending quarantine requirements when they reach Australia.”The Scorchers squad looks very strong, I’m excited to be joining the club,” Roy said. “I’ve heard the environment of the club is awesome and that it’s a place where everyone wants to help get the best out of each other.”Roy did not have the best season for England with just 49 runs in six ODIs against Ireland and Australia. He missed the T20Is against Pakistan and Australia due to injury but did finish strongly in the T20 Blast for Surrey with three half-centuries in his last four innings.He pulled out of his IPL deal with the Delhi Capitals in order to get himself back to full fitness.Meanwhile, the Scorchers have also signed pace-bowling duo Cameron Gannon – who joined Western Australia from Queensland over the winter – and Joel Paris.”Jason is a world-class performer who will bring added power and experience to our top order,” head coach Adam Voges said. “It’s great to be able to maintain a really strong WA flavour to our Scorchers squad. Both Joel and Cam bring plenty of experience and can fill a variety of roles throughout the tournament for us.”
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane insists Bayer Leverkusen's Amine Adli should have been sent off for the challenge that led to his substitution.
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Bayern drew 1-1 with Leverkusen
Kane failed to have a single shot
Subbed with five minutes left
WHAT HAPPENED?
Bayern drew 1-1 with Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on Saturday but were left sweating over the fitness of Kane, who appeared to sustain an ankle injury after a challenge from Amine Adli. The England striker struggled throughout his time on the pitch, failing to have a single shot on goal.
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Now, Kane has issued a positive update on his fitness and has claimed that Adli could have been shown a red card for the challenge. Bayern play Aston Villa in the Champions League in midweek but it is unclear if the former Tottenham star will be fit.
WHAT KANE SAID
Kane told reporters: "Sometimes there have been red cards for something like that.
"I'm OK, but it's a bit sore. I'll check it tomorrow, but I think it's OK. It doesn't feel too bad at the moment. We'll assess that in the next few days, but I don't think I'll be out for long."
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WHAT NEXT?
Bayern's clash with Villa in the Champions League takes place on Wednesday before they face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
Zak Crawley rises a remarkable 53 spots to reach a career-best No. 28 after scoring 267 in third Test
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Aug-2020
James Anderson and Zak Crawley celebrate a wicket•Getty Images for ECB
Three England players made big strides in the rankings in the rain-hit third and final Test against Pakistan: James Anderson’s seven wickets in the match – which took him to 600 Test wickets, the first seam bowler to get to the mark – put him at No. 8 among bowlers, while Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler rose in the batsmen’s chart after hitting 267 and 152 respectively in England’s only innings.Anderson reaching the 600-wicket milestone was the story of the Test match, but Crawley was named Player of the Match for his mammoth double-century, his first three-figure score in his eighth Test. It was the second-highest maiden Test century by an English batsman and the seventh-highest overall, and gave him a lift of 53 positions in the list for batsmen to No. 28 with 605 rating points, both career highs.Only Ben Stokes (No. 8), Joe Root (No. 9) and Buttler, who got to the 21st position after hitting his career-best score, are ahead of Crawley for England in the rankings.Anderson had dropped out of the top ten, but the former world No. 1 got right back in to slot in at No. 8. In Southampton, not only did Anderson reach the 600-wicket mark in Tests, he also recorded his 29th five-wicket haul in Tests, in Pakistan’s first innings, before striking twice more in the second innings.There wasn’t much joy for Pakistan, apart from Azhar Ali and Mohammad Rizwan moving up the batsmen’s rankings. Ali’s 141 in their first innings took him up 11 spots to No. 23, while Rizwan, who hit 53 in the first innings to build on the 72 in the previous Test, got to the 72nd spot, a jump of three positions.At the end of the series, which England won 1-0 after winning the first Test by three wickets, the home side’s prospects of reaching the final of the World Test Championship had taken a hit. The WTC schedule is not halfway through yet, with 14 out of 27 series remaining, but England, after four series, are in third place behind India and Australia with just two series left – in Sri Lanka and in India – while Pakistan are further behind, at No. 5, with the second Test of their home series against Bangladesh, a tour of New Zealand and another home series against South Africa still to be played.
Arne Slot lavished praise on Caoimhin Kelleher despite the goalkeeper revealing his desire to leave Liverpool for more minutes elsewhere.
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Liverpool signed Mamardashvili for next seasonKelleher frustrated with the club's decisionWants a fresh challenge to revive his careerWHAT HAPPENED?
The signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili was sanctioned by Slot, signalling the club’s intention to secure a long-term replacement for Alisson in the coming years. Although Mamardashvili will remain at Valencia for one more season on loan, his future arrival at Anfield has cast doubt on Kelleher's role at the club.
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Speaking openly about his situation, Kelleher did not shy away from expressing his disappointment, admitting that he may now seek to leave Liverpool in search of more consistent opportunities elsewhere. The Irish goalkeeper has spent much of his Liverpool career as a backup to Alisson and is now prepared to seek a fresh challenge where he will be the No.1 choice.
WHAT SLOT SAID
Despite Kelleher's public desire to leave, Slot has been full of admiration for the goalkeeper’s professionalism.
"I would be worried if a player said they didn't want to play first-team football and wanted to stay on the bench for life," the Dutch coach said before facing Nottingham Forest.
"It's normal but it's also normal that a club like this that competes for trophies has more than 11 who can play. So it is about helping the team when they have to and Caoimhin has shown many times that he is ready when we need him. It's a good thing he wants to play. It's clear Alisson is No.1 but it's a normal situation to be in and he has handled it really well."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Forest reportedly made a bid to sign the Irish goalkeeper, but Liverpool rejected the offer, much to Kelleher’s frustration.
"It’s been reported that Liverpool have rejected a few bids as well. My ambition is clear that I think I’m good enough and I want to go out and prove it," he said.
"Sometimes from the outside looking in, it looks like that’s 100% my decision but at times it’s not always in my hands."
One of the places in the England team – or any team, like Arsenal, for that matter – that is the hardest to break into is in goal. For the entire duration of Gareth Southgate’s managerial reign, Jordan Pickford has been England’s number one.
The Everton man has 60 caps for his country, all coming under Southgate. He made his debut on 10 November 2017, in a friendly against Germany, and has since gone on to keep 28 clean sheets across his 60 caps.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford
Over the years, there have been some challengers to Pickford, with the hopes of displacing him from his number one spot. Nick Pope, Newcastle United’s first-choice goalkeeper, has excellent credentials. He has ten caps for the Three Lions, and last played on the 26th of September 2022.
Sam Johnstone of Crystal Palace is another goalkeeper who has been in and around the England squad in recent years. However, the former Manchester United man has just four caps for the Three Lions. Frustratingly for Johnstone, he is currently sidelined with an elbow injury and will miss Euro 2024.
There is one goalkeeper who, last season, many people believed should be England’s number one ahead of Pickford. However, the 2023/24 season has been a tough one for forgotten Gunners man, Aaron Ramsdale, and he could well be set to leave his current club in the summer.
Aaron Ramsdale's transfer value at Arsenal in 2024
The 25-year-old was Mikel Arteta’s first-choice goalkeeper last season but with the arrival of David Raya on loan, opportunities have been limited for Rasmdale, who currently has four England caps to his name.
The Gunners bought Ramsdale from relegated Sheffield United in 2021, for a fee of £24m, although that was a sum that could rise to £30m with add-ons. Now, with Raya set to stay at the Emirates Stadium permanently, the England international could depart the Gunners this summer.
According to Team Talk, Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea are the side thought to be most interested in signing Ramsdale, although clubs such as Inter Milan are linked with him too.
A fee of around £60m is enough to tempt Arsenal into a deal, according to the report. This is a fee slightly above Ramsdale’s market value, however. Football Observatory value the 25-year-old at £42.8m, almost double what the Gunners spent on him in 2021. They certainly seem to be in line to make plenty of profit on Ramsdale if they sell him this summer.
How Ramsdale and Raya compare
The 2023/24 season has been incredibly frustrating for Ramsdale, who has made just 11 appearances in all competitions so far. He has conceded 12 goals in that time, keeping just three clean sheets.
The 6 foot 2 stopper's most recent appearance came on 9 March, when he started at home against Brentford, a game Raya could not play because it was against his parent club. Prior to that, Ramsdale’s last Premier League appearance was on the 25th of November, also against the Bees.
Last season, however, the one-time Bournemouth star was a key man for Arsenal, playing in all 38 of their Premier League games, keeping 14 clean sheets. That ranked him joint-second in the league, and was bettered only by David de Gea’s 17 for Manchester United.
With that being said, Raya is outperforming Ramsdale’s numbers from the 2022/23 season, statistically speaking. Aside from having an equal amount of clean sheets than the Englishman having played less games, Raya is also beating Ramsdale’s post-shot expected goals, where a lower number is better, and cross-claiming numbers.
According to Fbref, Raya stops an average of 12.2% crosses, and has a post shot xG of 0.64. That ranks him in the top 8% and the top 5% respectively amongst Premier League goalkeepers this season.
In contrast, as per Fbref, Ramsdale last season stopped an average of 5.8% crosses and has a post shot xG of 1.05. This places the 25-year-old in the 36th percentile and the top 16% amongst Premier League goalkeepers last season.
With that in mind, it can certainly be argued that Arsenal have upgraded their goalkeeper by signing Raya. If they can get £60m for Ramsdale, at a £36m profit, it certainly seems like a logical deal for the north London side to do, and works out well for the player himself because he gets regular first-team minutes as he looks to challenge Pickford for his England spot.
Amid those aforementioned rumours that a variety of teams are eyeing the Gunners' understudy this summer – and with the club still in the hunt for the Premier League title – there is a case to be made that Ramsdale won't play for Arteta's side again.
Arsenal hit gold selling a star who'd be worth more than Rice in 2024 money
Manchester United have reportedly intensified contacts to sign a "monster" in a £35m transfer, according to a new update.
Man Utd transfer rumours
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is preparing for his first summer transfer window as co-owner at Old Trafford, and all going to plan, will have Omar Berrada as chief executive, Jason Wilcox as technical director and Dan Ashworth as sporting director for the upcoming market.
It remains to be seen who will be in charge of United next season, though, with Erik ten Hag‘s future appearing to be in the balance following heavy rumours of a move for either Thomas Tuchel or Graham Potter this week.
Wilcox and Ashworth are thought to be planning to overhaul the “spine” of the United squad, with big earners Raphael Varane and Casemiro potentially just two of 21 players who could leave Old Trafford this summer. As a result, Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is seen as the “long-term answer” at Old Trafford and is therefore “top target” for United, with confidence over a potential £60-70m transfer being completed by the end of June.
Man Utd transfer news: Major update on Jarrad Branthwaite's Everton future
It’s a pretty significant update.
ByHenry Jackson Apr 26, 2024
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong has been another heavily linked target. Recently, it has been claimed that the Red Devils are keen to trigger the player’s £35m release clause and were in concrete talks over a deal. Now, a new update has emerged.
Man Utd step up Jeremie Frimpong contacts
According to reports from Germany, relayed by Sport Witness, Man Utd have ‘intensified contact’ to sign Frimpong, however, they aren’t the only side to have increased their efforts to land the full-back.
His £35m release clause is only active until the beginning of Euro 2024, though, so the Red Devils may have to make their move relatively quickly once the domestic season reaches its conclusion.
Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong.
Frimpong, described as a "monster" in the final third by The United Stand's Beth Tucker, has gone from strength to strength with Leverkusen after joining from Celtic back in 2021, helping them to the Bundesliga title this season.
Games
40
Goals
13
Assists
11
Minutes played
2,824
Yellow cards
7
He’s played a key role in their unbeaten campaign in all competitions so far under Xabi Alonso, mainly turning out as a right midfielder, and has earned praise from Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes, who said that the left-back is a "simply incredible footballer, technically great and very intelligent," before adding: "Part of the reason why we dominate games to the extent we do at the moment is to do with him reading situations very quickly and coming forward to create overloads."
Should Frimpong arrive at Old Trafford, he could come straight in as first choice ahead of the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot, or provide a versatile option further forward, and it looks as if the Red Devils are working to get a potential early summer deal done.
Keshav Maharaj, Dane Paterson bludgeon quick runs before England wrap up win
The Report by Andrew Miller20-Jan-2020England’s cricketers encountered some improbable turbulence in their otherwise serene march to victory at Port Elizabeth, as a record-breaking spell of tonking from South Africa’s tenth-wicket pair, Keshav Maharaj and Dane Paterson reduced their margin of victory from overwhelming to merely emphatic – by an innings and 53 runs, to claim a 2-1 series lead with just next week’s fourth Test at Johannesburg to come.Having resumed on a ropey 102 for 6, with their only realistic prospect of salvation coming in the prospect of more bad weather, South Africa seemed resigned to their third-heaviest home defeat since readmission when they shipped three more wickets in the first hour of the morning to slip to 138 for 9.But then, out of the wreckage, rose an unlikely and entertaining star. Maharaj, with the debutant Paterson providing steadfast support, took it upon himself to climb into the second new ball, smashing 71 from 106 runs all told, including a rip-roaring stand of 99 in 73 balls.At times, it was like watching Nathan Astle’s extraordinary onslaught at Christchurch in 2002, as England discovered too late that the harder the ball, the further it travelled. In all the pair crashed 16 fours and three sixes, with Maharaj claiming a share in an unlikely world record when he scalped 24 of the 28 runs from Joe Root’s 29th and emphatically final over, to match the mark established by George Bailey off James Anderson in the 2013-14 Ashes and Brian Lara’s effort off Robin Peterson.Paterson, emboldened by a match situation that gave him licence to swing his levers with no consequences, clouted 39 not out from 40 balls, including three fours in the penultimate over of the contest as Sam Curran was slashed repeatedly through third man. But with the deficit draining away and the lunch looking set to be postponed, a direct hit from Curran at mid-on ended the fun to seal England’s first innings victory away from home since the fifth Test at Sydney on Andrew Strauss’s triumphant Ashes tour in 2010-11.The finale aside, this was another impressive performance from a young England team that has turned the series on its head after their heavy defeat at Centurion in the first Test. But the manner of the loss leaves South Africa in a deep state of introspection. Having lost four wickets for one run in 28 deliveries to trigger the follow-on on the fourth morning, their omens were not good when Vernon Philander – the most accomplished of their remaining batsmen – was prised out for his overnight 13 by Stuart Broad’s third delivery of the day.Broad, who had ripped through the tail with three cheap wickets in the first innings, was once again right on the money with a full-length inducker, which Philander could only inside-edge onto his front pad, and away to the leaping Ollie Pope at midwicket, who emulated Ben Stokes’ Cape Town achievement in picking off six outfield catches in the match, an England record, and one of only six players in history to score a century in the same game too.Meanwhile, at the Duckpond End, Root resumed his improbable quest for a first Test five-for – he had bowled 19 overs off the reel for his fourth-day figures of 4 for 31, and so nearly claimed that elusive fifth with his fifth ball of the morning when Kagiso Rabada pressed forward with hard hands outside off, only for Dominic Sibley at second slip to spill a fast but catchable edge.Emboldened, Rabada unfurled one of the shots of the match to dump Root back over his head for a checked-drive six – a sign of things to come – but Mark Wood, eager for action once again after his brisk return to the Test fold, ended his resistance with his first ball of the morning, a cross-seamer from round the wicket that stood up in the pitch for Broad at mid-on to cling onto a looping prod.Three overs later, another change brought more instant reward – as Dom Bess returned for another foray, and slid a quicker ball through Anrich Nortje’s previously doughty defences. But from 138 for 9, England’s tactics came a cropper in the face of South Africa’s demob-happy slogging. Initially, Root himself claimed the new ball – partly with his milestone in mind but also with a view to sparing his quick bowlers’ energies with the Wanderers Test looming in four days’ time.It was not a riproaring success. Maharaj, with his eye now fully in and a nice hard ball to come off the bat with extra oomph, lashed into his offerings with glee. Three consecutive fours gave way to two massive smacks into the stands at cow corner, and though Root beat Maharaj all ends up outside off with his sixth ball, he also beat his keeper, Jos Buttler for four byes … and a footnote in the record books.Back came England’s quicks, and still the shots kept coming, as England were suckered into banging the ball in too short, and neglecting to target the stumps. Another few overs of such frolics might have been interesting, but South Africa’s earlier shortcomings could not be undone in half a session of such royal entertainment. They’ve got it all to do now if they want to salvage a share of the series next week.
Canada have launched an appeal against the points deduction slapped on the team at the 2024 Olympics amid spying on their opponents with a drone.
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Canada appeal six-point deductionPunishment considered disproportionateDefending champions could still progressWHAT HAPPENED?
The appeal from Canada Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee rests on claims that the punishment was "disproportional" to the offence of spying on New Zealand's training. It also calls on FIFA to see that the players have been "unfairly punished" for actions they had nothing to do with.
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Canada were hit with an automatic six-point deduction when 'unaccredited analyst' Joseph Lombardi was found to have used a drone to film New Zealand training ahead of their opening fixture. Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander were removed and sent home, while head coach Bev Priestman stepped down from taking charge of the team for that game. All three have since been banned from all football activity by FIFA for one year.
WHAT CANADA SOCCER SAID
A statement from the federation said: "Earlier today, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer have appealed FIFA's automatic deduction of six points from the Canadian Soccer Association's Women’s representative team’s standing in Group A of the Olympic Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics.Â
"The appeal is based on the disproportionality of the sanction, which we believe unfairly punishes the athletes for actions they had no part in and goes far beyond restoring fairness to the match against New Zealand. The appeal has been submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport's Ad Hoc Tribunal in Paris for the Olympic Games, which allows matters to be heard on an expedited basis during the Games.
"In order to preserve the integrity of the appeal process we will wait until the process is complete to comment further."
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CANADA?
Remarkably, defending Olympic champions Canada could still qualify for the knockout rounds of the tournament even if the points deduction is upheld. They have won both games so far – against New Zealand and hosts France – which leaves them with no points. Victory over Colombia in the final game would see them finish with three points and be in contention for one of the best third-place berths in the quarter-finals. But it requires Brazil and Australia to lose in the other groups.