Related items

• Jamaica names youthful squad for Fast5 Netball World Series in New Zealand

  Jamaica has selected a youthful squad to compete in the 2024 Fast5 Netball World Series, which will take place from November 9-10 at the Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch, New Zealand. The team, led by a mix of emerging talent, is eager to make its mark in this high-intensity, fast-paced tournament format.

  The squad includes Tiffany Langley, Amanda Pinkney, Simone Gordon, Kimone Shaw, Cornelia Walters, Paula Ann Burton, Kestina Sturridge, Roxana McLean, Zaudie Green, and Shadene Bartley. These players will represent Jamaica in the two-day competition, where the unique Fast5 rules – such as power plays and shortened quarters – bring an added level of excitement to the game.

  The tournament format features a round-robin stage, where each team plays each other once. The top four teams will advance to the finals on the second day. The 1st-ranked team will face the 4th-placed team, while second will play third, with the winners progressing to the Grand Final. The remaining teams will contest third- and fifth-place playoffs.

  Jamaica has a proud history in the Fast5 series, finishing as runners-up in 2009, 2017, and 2018, and securing third place in 2010 and 2013. Currently ranked fourth in the world, Jamaica will be looking to improve on their past performances and push for a podium finish.

  This young team represents the next generation of Jamaican netball talent, and although relatively inexperienced, they are determined to bring their flair and skill to the competition and make their country proud on the global stage.

  As the tournament approaches, fans of Jamaican netball will be eagerly awaiting the team's performance, hoping that this new-look squad can continue the nation’s strong tradition in Fast5 netball and perhaps bring home their first-ever title in the tournament.

   

   

• Trossard to bring 'best form ever' to Belgium's Nations League matches

  Leandro Trossard will be trying to bring his Arsenal form into the international break after coming back into the Belgium squad this month.

  The 29-year-old has scored two goals in seven Premier League appearances for the Gunners and is enjoying a positive start to the season.

  He has the joint second-best conversion rate (20%) of any Arsenal player to have featured in every league game, with his goals having come from 10 shots.

  He also ranks third in the squad for expected goals (xG) generated (1.46) and has averaged 0.15 xG per shot.

  When asked about how he has performed so far for his club, Trossard was pleased with how things were going.

  "I feel good, yes," he said. "Is this my best form ever? I dare not say, but I think I'm performing quite consistently at Arsenal."

  Trossard has played a variety of positions for the club this season, following an injury to captain Martin Odegaard. While his preferred position is on the left, he has also worked well with Kai Havertz as a second attacker.

  With Jeremy Doku likely to take the left-hand side for his national team, Trossard could be used centrally to cover for the absence of the injured Kevin De Bruyne.

  "That hasn't been discussed with the coach yet, but that will become clear today or tomorrow," Trossard said.

  "I don't know yet what position I will play, but it's always nice to be played in your best position. At the European Championship, for example, I had to fill many roles."

  Trossard's inclusion in the Belgium squad came after manager Domenico Tedesco surprisingly left him out in September.

  They face Italy and France in the Nations League Group A2 over the course of the international break, while the Arsenal man explained he was relaxed about not featuring last month.

  "[Tedesco] said he knew my qualities, wanted to try out new guys and give them some experience,” he said.

  “The Nations League offers the opportunity for that. I agreed to that. It was a good agreement."

• Greenwood excited by Man City playing in 'pinnacle' of football

  Manchester City captain Alex Greenwood is excited by the challenge that competing in the Champions League will bring to the club as they aim to win it for the first time.

  They face Barcelona at home on Wednesday in their opening match in Group D, having failed make it past the qualifying rounds in the previous two years.

  City ensured they would avoid the same fate this time around though, with an emphatic 8-0 aggregate victory over Paris FC.

  The significance of being in the competition was not lost on Greenwood.

  "It's the pinnacle to win the Champions League. To win this competition is another level," she said.

  "It's exciting. I'm looking forward to that. We belong here, we've missed out and been frustrated by that."

  Barcelona have won the tournament in three of the last four seasons, while they were beaten finalists in 2021-22, losing 3-1 to Lyon.

  City last faced the Spanish giants in their last appearance in the competition, losing 4-2 on aggregate in the 2020-21 quarter-final before Barcelona went on to win their first Champions League.

  Despite being knocked out, City did win 2-1 in the home leg in 2021. Of the team that played that day, only England team-mates Greenwood and Chloe Kelly remain at the club.

  "I don't remember it clearly, but I do remember the game," said Greenwood.

  "Our team has changed so much since then. The way we prepare is different, we look different now and are a lot more prepared."

  One familiar face who could line up against Manchester City on Wednesday is Keira Walsh, who moved from them to Barcelona for a then world-record transfer fee of approximately £400,000 in September 2022.

  "I could speak about Keira all day, she’s an incredible footballer," said Greenwood.

  "What she does off the ball and on the ball, she's an incredible player. She's improved and added assists to her game, hopefully not tomorrow!"

  Meanwhile, Gareth Taylor believes his club are about to face the biggest challenge they possibly could.

  "I would say they are the best team in the world, especially over the period of the last four or five years," he said.

  "Barcelona have really dominated this last three-year period. In terms of that taking the pressure off us, not at all. We've worked tremendously hard to be here.

  "The cream always rises to the top. We want to see the best players on the best stage and this is what it is."