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Tottenham Hotspur return to Europa Conference League action as they head to Slovenia to face NS Mura later this evening.

Three weeks ago, Antonio Conte picked up a win in his first game in charge in the competition when his side narrowly defeated Vitesse in a game full of goals and red cards.

He’ll be hoping that it’ll be a little different this time, having drawn to Everton and beaten Leeds United in the Premier League since.

We’re well on our way to seeing what a Spurs side truly looks like under the 52-year-old and a game against the Group G minnows tonight could be the perfect opportunity to get a serious scoreline on the board, with Mura yet to win or draw from four matches.

Spurs have a trip to Burnley to contend with on Sunday, so Conte has an interesting decision to make in terms of team selection and having already hinted at rotation, there’s a good chance we do not see several of his usual starting XI.

Harry Winks was part of the lineup at the weekend but that was only because of Oliver Skipp’s one-game suspension and he is surely in line to face the axe today.

The 25-year-old has hit a career crossroad at Spurs, having been frozen out by former managers Jose Mourinho and Nuno Santo, and whilst Sunday’s inclusion shows some sort of faith from Conte, it would be wise to drop him against Mura.

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He failed to grasp the rare opportunity to impress – it was a lot of sideways and backwards passing without much influence on the game defensively or in the final third. Skipp, however, is amongst the three-most prolific tacklers in the squad, by contrast.

SofaScore graded the Englishman a 6.7, which was the second-worst of any Spurs player to feature, whilst he lost possession a disappointing 14 times from his 63 touches, with none of his passes being a key chance created. He was also dribbled past twice by Leeds, too.

There have been reports suggesting that Winks is seeking an exit in January and it would be wise to finally part ways as he just doesn’t seem good enough anymore.

It was a long, long time ago that ex-manager Mauricio Pochettino dubbed him “perfect” and likened him to Spain’s legendary duo of Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

Since then, Lilywhites legend Graham Roberts told Football FanCast that Winks had “become an average player”, whilst BT Sport pundit Chris Sutton claimed he “looked a shadow of himself” during coverage last month [21st October, 18:40pm].

The £18m-rated midfielder has no place in Conte’s starting XI, even if it’s against a side as small as Mura. His time at the club is surely coming to an end, so it would be wise to try out and look at alternatives.

AND in other news, Fabio Patatici could seal “massive signing” to kickstart Conte era in 31-cap “absolute monster”…

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According to The Telegraph journalist John Percy on Twitter, Stoke City are in advanced talks with Burnley over a deal for centre-forward Sam Vokes, and Potters fans were quick to react on the social media platform.

According to Percy, there is an issue over the fee, but Peter Crouch could move to Burnley as part of the deal, which would be some story.

It would certainly be no surprise if the Championship outfit want a new striker before the deadline, with the likes of Saido Berahino struggling for goals during the 2018-19 campaign.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

Vokes would arrive with a good pedigree, having scored 17 Premier League goals for the Clarets, as per Transfermarkt.

The Welshman has managed 52 goals in 198 appearances at Championship level, meanwhile, and would certainly boost Stoke’s attack.

Potters fans have been on social media offering their views on the potential deal.

And it would be fair to say that the majority are struggling to agree whether Vokes’ arrival would represent good business for the club.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Suresh Raina, who recently overtook Adam Gilchrist as the leading scorer in all IPL matches, has credited his Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni for his current form

Cricinfo staff25-Apr-2010Suresh Raina, who recently overtook Adam Gilchrist as the leading scorer in all IPL matches, has credited his Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni for his current form.”I have been hitting the ball well after having a good season. The confidence comes from the faith my skipper Dhoni has in me,” Raina told the . “He has given me the freedom and authority to play my own game. All he says is play your game and keep it simple. That trust, that backing has brought out the best in me.”When I walk in to bat, I asses the situation and play accordingly. Like anyone else, I am also a huge admirer of Sachin Tendulkar and try to learn from him. That is one big reason why I stick to playing proper cricketing shots. One has to understand that its just not possible to smash every ball out of the park. You can score runs at a good rate playing normal cricketing shots which is what I try to do.”This season Raina has again been in great form with the bat, scoring 463 runs at 42.09 and a strike-rate of 140.72 which places him at fourth highest for 2010. He also attributed this success to “a positive attitude and a clear mind” as well as senior team-mates in the Chennai camp. “When you spend time with quality players like Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey it adds to your wisdom,” he said. “It is a great learning curve. I have had the good fortune of receiving the full support of all the senior players.”In Twenty20 cricket, your shot-selection has to be precise. You cannot afford to be double-minded. The clarity of thought is important. I bat at No. 3 and that is a very crucial position. I make sure that my body language is good and I like to dominate the bowling with controlled aggression. As a senior pro, my job is to stay there till the end and win matches for my team. That is what the aim is and that is what I try to do to the best of my ability.”Raina also holds the record for most catches, 26, for a non-wicketkeeper, and his athleticism in the field has earned him many plaudits. “Fielding is a very important aspect of the game. A run saved is a run scored. It is all the more important in T20 where good fielding and catching can make a huge difference,” said Raina. “To be a good fielder you got to be swift and agile. You’ve got to have a good presence of mind if you are fielding in the deep. Again one has to enjoy fielding if you really want to excel in this department.”I was lucky to have Robin Singh as my coach when I went to England as a 17-year old and he helped me to take my fielding seriously. He told me that fielding is as important as batting or bowling. Even if you fail with the bat and ball, you can still contribute with a good work in the field. It can also serve as grace marks when there is a tie between two equally good batsmen.”Chennai will compete their second IPL final, against the form team of the season at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai today and Raina termed it a great opportunity. “We tripped in the first edition. We are all eager and excited. We will have to play really well if we are to win our first IPL title.”

Marcelo Bielsa isn’t likely to be at Leeds United past the current season, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Football Insider claims that the Argentine head coach is under increasing pressure following a string of heavy defeats in the Premier League and he could be sacked as early as January.

A source at Thorp Arch has told the website that Bielsa “won’t be at Leeds next season” as many of the club’s senior figures are beginning to accept that his fourth season in charge will be his last.

It’s thought that the Yorkshire giants will look to bring in a replacement if their fears of getting sucked into a relegation battle grow in the coming weeks.

The 66-year-old remains popular amongst the club’s fanbase despite their poor season as he has endured quite a nightmare with injuries throughout the campaign.

Bye-bye Bielsa?

Bielsa only signed a one-year extension on the eve of the new season and has only ever agreed to short-term deals, so there is always the risk that he moves on each and every summer.

Despite finding themselves only five points above the drop zone and at risk of being drawn into the relegation mire, around 66% of supporters polled by The Athletic still have faith in the Argentinan, whilst only 10% of fans had low or very low confidence in him turning things around.

It’s evident that he’s still an icon around west Yorkshire, so these reports suggesting that this season could well be his last are certainly worrying and it will surely leave much of the Elland Road faithful worried heading into 2022.

Sacking him as early as January would be pretty harsh considering everything he has done for United, even more so when you factor in the massive injury crisis at his door.

Nine of the 11 players that missed Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Arsenal were key first-team players. That is a major contributing factor to their struggles and they can rectify it at the turn of the year in the transfer window.

No one wants to see Bielsa and Leeds part ways in an acrimonious fashion, so this huge update from Thorp Arch is certainly a cause for concern.

AND in other news, Leeds can seal Bielsa’s dream signing in £18m-rated “machine”, he’s better than Klich…

The Spaniard essentially has his pick of the top managerial jobs because of the remarkable work he is doing at the BayArena

According to latest reports, Xabi Alonso favours taking over at Bayern Munich this summer over Liverpool. In a way, it would be understandable. It's always easier to follow a failure than a living legend – and make no mistake about it, that's exactly what Jurgen Klopp has become at Anfield.

It's not just about his qualities as a coach, either; it's about his character and charisma too. Many great managers have sat in the home dugout at Liverpool, but none has ever conducted the Kop like Klopp.

When the fans were getting frustrated after seeing their Premier League table-topping team surprisingly fall behind to relegation-battling Luton on Wednesday, Klopp turned to the Main Stand and demanded more support for his struggling side. What followed was "a thunderstorm", a wave of emotion that swept Luton away in the second half with what Rob Edwards called "full-throttle football".

"Their counter-pressing was incredible, it suffocated us, and their fans were amazing – it was difficult for the players to really concentrate," the Hatters boss admitted after the 4-1 loss. "It was like the Kop was just sucking it in and we couldn't really get out of our half. We saw Anfield and Liverpool at their best tonight. I thought they were brilliant."

'Team and the fans changed the game'

Klopp did, too, so much so, in fact, that he broke a promise by bringing up Barcelona – something he swore he'd never do given the historic nature of that epic Champions League comeback in 2019.

Why? "Because, before the game, it was kind of similar, with many players missing," he said, referring to the unavailability of 11 squad members. "So, this is their Barcelona: a difficult situation, plenty of reasons to give up at times – but they didn't. I saw only a super group fighting. If you don't limit yourself with bad thoughts, you can fly, and that's what the boys did."

Perhaps it was unsurprising, then, that Klopp didn't just roll out the fist-pumps for the Kop after the game – but all four corners of the ground.

"The stadium and the team," he told , "changed the game together." But it was he who sparked them into life, and it is he who unites the club. He pretty much has done since the day he arrived at Anfield in 2015 and promised to turn "doubters into believers".

Six major honours have followed, including a first English title since 1990. Klopp may even bow out with another one before he departs at the end of the season. If he does, in the era of state-sponsored Manchester City, it would only cement his status as one of the greatest managers of all time.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWill the dream become a reality?

As a result, succeeding Klopp is considered by some as the impossible job and one can understand why, given the trophies he's won and the rapport he has with both the players and the supporters. Just look at the way in which Manchester United have struggled since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure more than a decade ago.

In that sense, Alonso may feel that this is a case of the right role but at the wrong time. He admitted when he embarked upon his coaching career that he had "dreamt" of returning to Liverpool as the manager, having become such a fan-favourite during his time at Anfield as a player, but he's still a relatively young coach. At 42 years of age, he would be forgiven for feeling that there's no rush; that the Liverpool job will come up again for him.

After all, he's already done enough at Bayer Leverkusen to suggest that he has a long and successful career ahead of him. In just over 18 months, he has taken a team at risk of relegation to the cusp of a first-ever Bundesliga title – and all the while playing a thrilling brand of football.

Consequently, there is no more coveted – or highly-rated – young coach in the game today. Indeed, he's already effectively received a glowing endorsement from Klopp.

Getty/GOAL'Xabi is the standout'

"Xabi is doing an incredible job," the German told reporters. "If there would not be the rumours around, that's ­completely independent.

"If you would have asked me eight weeks ago about Xabi Alonso, I would have gone: ‘Oh my God.’ The dinosaurs if you want – [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Jose] Mourinho, [Pep] Guardiola, maybe me – we will not do it for the next 20 years. The next generation is already there and I would say Xabi is the standout in that department.

"Former world-class player, from a coaching family as well which helps a little, he was like a coach already when he was playing. The football he is playing, the teams he sets up, the transfers he did, it is absolutely exceptional.

"I played and worked a long time in the Bundesliga and it is super impressive. Not only the points tally, but the way they play. He has super signings for this team, exactly what they needed, and that's really a very special job."

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Getty A Liverpool love affair

Of course, Ferguson's support couldn't even sustain David Moyes through a full season at Old Trafford, but it's impossible to envisage Liverpool supporters turning so quickly on Alonso, who was – and remains – adored at Anfield.

When Rafael Benitez foolishly tried to replace him with Gareth Barry in the summer of 2008, the fans made their feelings known during a pre-season friendly against Lazio that Alonso still considers one of the "most special days" of his career, so touched was he by the show of support.

The intelligence, elegance and determination with which Alonso played the game obviously helped endear him to the Kop, but his down-to-earth personality also played a pivotal part. From the moment he arrived at Liverpool, he embraced the culture of the club and indeed the city. He has even referred to his Liverpool-born son as a "Scouser". Hardly surprising then that the fans fell in love with him – or that the feeling was mutual.

"The mystique of coming down that tunnel at Anfield, touching the sign, watching the Kop singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ – having all of that made it easier to have such a close attachment and strong commitment with the club and the fans," he told the .

"I’ve never pretended to be someone I am not. I have always tried to be a normal one, and the personality of Liverpool people is very particular: they like you to be one of them. If you are in the bar, they offer to get you a pint. They want you to feel welcome. I felt that from the very beginning."

Alonso, then, would be given the warmest of welcomes if he were to return to Anfield, and afforded more time and patience to lead Liverpool through the post-Klopp era than arguably any other coach in the game today. The thing is, though, Alonso might not need much of either.

Opening batsmen Dimuth Karunaratne followed up his first innings half-century with an unbeaten 99 in the second innings to put Sri Lanka A in a strong position in Durban

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2012Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsOpening batsmen Dimuth Karunaratne followed up his first innings half-century with an unbeaten 99 in the second innings to put Sri Lanka A in a strong position in Durban. He was involved in a crucial 110-run opening partnership with Dilruwan Perera, who scored 51, to build on Sri Lanka A’s first innings lead of 46 runs.The day had started with the South Africa A side on 211 for 8. But Sri Lanka A’s hopes of achieving a big lead were dented by an 82-run ninth wicket partnership between Wayne Parnell and Simon Harmer. By the time the stand was broken, Parnell had scored 70 – the top score in the innings.However, when Sri Lanka came into bat for the second time, South Africa A bowlers struggled to make inroads. After a century opening stand, Karunaratne continued solidly and took Sri Lanka A past 200 putting Sri Lanka A in a position to square the two-match series.

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have absolutely erupted over a fresh transfer update involving Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are currently flying high near the top of the Premier League, well and truly in the title race alongside Manchester City and Chelsea.

Their latest win, a 4-1 derby triumph over Everton at Goodison Park, sums up the momentum gained under Klopp this season after Liverpool fell short in their title defence last time around.

The Reds had to cope with a plethora of injury issues throughout 2020/2021, bringing their strength in depth into question as the club seek to maintain their current heights at the top level. As such, fans will be eager for Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and Liverpool’s transfer chiefs to take significant steps to bolster Klopp’s options.

Bringing the latest, La Gazzetta dello Sport have shared some promising news involving Switzerland international and Reds transfer target Zakara. The 25-year-old’s current deal at Monchengladbach expires in 2022, meaning that he can leave for free at the end of this season, putting the Bundesliga giants under some pressure to sell in January.

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Liverpool are apparently leading the race for Zakaria, who would personally ‘love’ to work under Klopp. Also, if FSG decide to make an early move in the winter, it is believed they could secure him for as little as £7m-£8.5m.

Liverpool fans erupt…

Given his ability and the fact that he could leave for such a meagre fee, it’s little wonder so many Liverpool fans are raving as their club eye an ‘absolute bargain’ swoop. According to WhoScored, Zakaria has averaged a higher pass accuracy domestically (89.1%) this season than any Reds midfielder with more than four league starts.

The maestro has also made more interceptions in the centre of the park (1.8) than Liverpool’s entire midfield roster, supporting the theory that he would come as a solid alternative to Fabinho, especially for a maximum £8.5m fee or as a free agent next summer.

Here’s how some Liverpool fans reacted to the prospect of signing him at such a low cost:

“Ain’t no way. Edwards’ last dance”

Credit: @LFCHLEB

“wow”

Credit: @Abdriano

“Please”

Credit: @_JS98

“No brainer that!”

Credit: @LukeJones_10

“Buy him in Jan, what a bargain”

Credit: @Footbal22104495

“Would be a class backup for Fabinho, exactly the sort of depth that’s needed”

Credit: @6timesladd

“absolute pocket change, don’t really think we should wait, just splash it man”

Credit: @TobiasP88223924

“Similar to Fabinho in the way he plays but he has more pace. (Top speed of 35.07km) 7m for him is an absolute bargain, definitely would be a 25-30m player if it wasn’t for his contract.”

Credit: @umxr168

‘Sell’, ‘Another poor game’ – Many Liverpool fans slam ‘anonymous’ ace for ‘horrendous’ derby display, find out more here.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has issued an apology to the supporter he confronted during his team's 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford last month.

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Jackson involved in altercation with fanIncident happened as Chelsea lost to BrentfordStriker issued apology to supporterWHAT HAPPENED?

The Senegal international was involved in an altercation with a Chelsea fan who told him to 'wake up' as he spoke with coach Mauricio Pochettino during the game. Pochettino then discussed the situation with the supporter as Chelsea went on to lose 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT JACKSON SAID

"To the fan, I have to say sorry. I never had this before. At Villarreal, you play without so much pressure because it’s a different team, but I know it comes from a good place," he told . “Normally, I don’t talk to fans or get distracted by what they say. I don’t know what came over me. It must have been frustration. It’s not a small thing, everybody at the game expecting you to do what they want you to. It’s because they love you, not because they hate you. They want you to make them happy. Now I know that. I was in Villarreal, but it was a different environment. You don’t have these kinds of things there. In Chelsea, it’s different."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Jackson was criticised by former England striker Alan Shearer after the game, who mentioned the 22-year-old's "complete lack of movement". Pochettino defended the attacker, and Jackson says he has no need to respond to critics, adding: "Cristiano [Ronaldo] would score 30 or 35 goals a season and people would criticise him. You’d never hear him talk about it, he’d just respond with a celebration. So it doesn’t affect me. I’m learning from him, I’d never answer back to criticism. I know what I can do, I believe in myself."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR JACKSON?

The ex-Villarreal forward will likely be in action on Saturday when his team visit St James' Park to face Newcastle in the Premier League.

Karim Benzema scored twice in the last 10 minutes to settle an uneasy Real Madrid as they picked up a 2-0 win against struggling Valladolid.

Karim Benzema had to wait. He stood over the ball for nearly a minute before taking the penalty, left to ponder his spot kick while cards were flashed around him. But when the whistle blew, Benzema was clinical, striding up to the ball and stroking it into the bottom corner.

His goal saved Madrid after a tepid showing against 15th-placed Valladolid. Real were on the back foot for long periods, and relied on the sharp reflexes of Thibaut Courtois to keep them in the game. And on his return, Benzema wasn't exactly sharp early on.

He fired over from close range, and Madrid had a penalty shout denied to mark a morbid first half for the away side. Meanwhile, Valladolid were dangerous on the break. They found holes in a makeshift Madrid midfield trio, testing an often sloppy backline for most of proceedings. Still, thanks to Courtois, they never found the back of the net, and their visitors made them pay. Benzema scored twice in the last 10 minutes, once from the spot and again following a flowing counter attack to make a tricky game seem routine.

This was never likely to be an easy contest for Los Blancos. With 12 of their players coming back from Qatar and in front of a hostile home crowd, here was a game near-destined to be uncomfortable. And Valladolid ensured it would be a tricky one.

Still, Madrid posted a mostly assured performance. Courtois kept them in it, and their star striker found the net twice. For all of the sluggishness of the first half and anxiety of the second, they picked up a win. And in a La Liga title hunt, it's the points that really matter.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Thibaut Courtois:

Is he the best in the world? After nights like this, it's hard to say anyone is better. Courtois made three diving stops to frustrate the home side, giving Madrid a foothold in a game they really should have been losing.

Ancelotti won't be happy to have to rely on his goalkeeper, especially with his side in the title hunt. But the Belgian kept Los Blancos in the contest for long enough for them to get the job done.

Karim Benzema:

It was a frustrating start for the striker. Benzema's first touch was lacking, and he wasn't as slick in his usual flowing interchanges with the Madrid midfield. But he grew into the game, forcing Jordi Masip into a few diving stops.

And when the clear chances came, Benzema struck. His penalty was a confident one, as he sent the keeper the wrong way. He added a second with less than a minute remaining in regular time, smashing the ball into the net after a fluid counter. In the end, it was an unlikely brace, but a vital one nonetheless.

Luka Modric:

Modric was only on the pitch for 10 minutes, but showed just how important he is to the team in a short spell. Madrid were transformed when he joined the fray. And he was influential in Real's second, winning the ball back before playing a wonderful ball down the line to Camavinga, who dutifully set up Benzema for the winner. Perhaps he can no longer play 90 minutes every week, but it was a delightful cameo from a player who still looks at his best.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Marco Asensio:

Asensio has made it clear that he wants to stay at Madrid, but isn't doing himself many favours on the pitch. The Spaniard often tried to do too much, and didn't jell with Valverde along the right wing. Although he worked hard off the ball, Asensio showed exactly why he's behind Rodrygo in Ancelotti's plans.

Dani Ceballos:

With Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni all returning from World Cup duty, this was Dani Ceballos' chance to justify more minutes in a deep Madrid midfield. And he squandered it. The Spaniard was often caught lagging on the ball, and failed to pick out Benzema on a number of occasions.

The gap in quality between the 26-year-old and Eduardo Camavinga is immense, as Madrid looked a different side altogether when the young Frenchman was introduced. He can still offer , but it looks increasingly like Ceballos' future lies away from the capital.

Barcelona:

It was likely a frustrating one for the league leaders, who watched their nearest rivals snatch a perhaps undeserved victory at the death. They still have a game in hand, but find themselves in second place heading into the new year. Based on the calibre of Valladolid's performance, Xavi's side might feel as though they should still be top.

Getty ImagesReal Madrid Ratings: Defence

Thibaut Courtois (8/10): Made one crucial diving stop in the first half when his side lost control of the game. Did so again to keep Sergio Leon out. Incredibly, this was his first clean sheet of the season.

Dani Carvajal (6/10): Reliable defensively, covered for Rudiger well on a couple of occasions. Ran out of legs after an hour.

Antonio Rudiger (7/10): The bright spot at the back. Won his aerial duals and distributed well. One fantastic burst of pace stopped Leon on the break.

David Alaba (6/10):Fortunate to not concede a penalty for a silly first half challenge, but was otherwise solid.

Ferland Mendy (6/10): Not the best night in attack for the left-back, but was assured defensively. Average, which was enough.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Federico Valverde (6/10): Has an unfortunate habit of disappearing for long spells, and did so here. He will have better showings.

Toni Kroos (7/10): Fantastic early on, dictating play and imposing himself on the game. His influence faded over time. Not at his best as a No.6, but played 90 valuable minutes.

Dani Ceballos (6/10): An ineffective performance. Made one crucial interception to stop a Valladolid counter. Substituted for Camavinga after 70 minutes, who looked far more composed.

The Toffees legend joins a number of world-class footballers who have returned to their national sides after initially retiring

England and Everton veteran Wayne Rooney recently announced his decision to come out of international retirement for a one-off special charity match against the U.S. National Team – but the Three Lions' all-time record goalscorer isn't the first player to have reversed his decision and feature for his country again.

Getty1George Weah | Liberia, 2018

Liberia legend George Weah returned to the national team for a special friendly against Nigeria in September 2018, playing at 51 years of age while also balancing his duty in office as the country's president.

The No.14 shirt which was worn by Weah at the peak of his playing career was retired during the friendly, and the former striker received a standing ovation when substituted in the game.

AdvertisementGetty Images2Tim Cahill | Australia, 2018

In July 2018, the Australia veteran announced his retirement from international football shortly after the end of the World Cup finals in Russia, but immediately overturned with the decision to participate in one final home friendly planned against Lebanon in November 2018.

AFP3Kevin-Prince Boateng | Ghana, 2013

In November of 2011, Boateng announced his retirement from the Ghana squad due to fatigue from travel at 24 years of age – and missed out on participating in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

In October 2013, however, the midfielder was called up for Ghana's 2014 World Cup qualification play-offs against Egypt, and his goal against the Pharoahs in the 89th minute secured qualification for the Black Stars in Brazil.

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Getty4Asamoah Gyan | Ghana, 2014

During the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2008, Gyan and his brother Baffour opted to leave the Black Stars after his team were criticised for their unconvincing 1-0 win over Namibia.

The media became aware that the brothers intended to walk out on the Ghana side and were ready to leave the team hotel, but were persuaded to stay by their teammates.

After Gyan missed a crucial penalty kick in the 2012 African Cup of Nations semi-final, however, that led to Ghana losing 1-0, he decided to take an 'indefinite break' from international duty – but announced his return to the Black Stars a few months later and still features for the side.