Barcelona is bracing for a turbulent summer as the club aims to strengthen its squad while adhering to financial regulations. The situation is complicated by recent events, including manager Xavi's unexpected reversal, which has led to rumours of his potential dismissal and highlighted the board's inefficiency. With the transfer window approaching, speculation is rife about which players might leave and which should stay.

One player who finds himself at the centre of these discussions is Ronald Araujo. Despite his importance to the team, recent uncharacteristically shaky performances against PSG and Real Madrid have raised questions about his future. However, considering his deep connection to the club and his previous crucial contributions, it would be wise for Barcelona to hold on to him. Araujo's passion and dedication make him a valuable asset, and a new contract should solidify his place in the squad.

In contrast, Frenkie de Jong's situation is more ambiguous. Despite his undeniable talent, the Dutch midfielder has struggled with consistency, which is a concern given his substantial wages. His contract runs until 2026, but with no signs of an extension, his future at the club remains uncertain. Barcelona could consider selling De Jong if a lucrative offer comes in, especially if it allows them to secure a quality replacement for the midfield pivot role. However, convincing De Jong to leave might be challenging, given his integral role in the team.

Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is another high-profile player who might be on his way out. Reports suggest that the club is open to offers for the German international as they seek to raise funds. Ter Stegen's recent performances have been inconsistent, leading to speculation about finding a new goalkeeper. While Barcelona would demand a significant fee for Ter Stegen, finding a quality replacement could be difficult. Current backup Inaki Pena, while talented, may not be ready to fill Ter Stegen's shoes.

Raphinha's future is also uncertain despite his impressive contributions. The Brazilian winger has been highly effective, delivering crucial goals and assists. His work rate and impact on the field have been notable, making him one of the team's most industrious forwards. However, financial constraints might force Barcelona to consider selling him if a substantial offer comes in. Raphinha's potential departure would be a significant loss, given his consistent performances and commitment to the team.

Barcelona's financial situation means they will have to make some tough decisions this summer. The club needs to balance strengthening the squad with complying with financial fair play regulations. This could involve selling key players to raise funds, even if it means losing some of their top talents.

As Barcelona navigates these challenges, they can learn from their rivals about the importance of knowing when to let go. Managing director Joan Laporta and his team must carefully evaluate each player's contribution and potential market value to make the best decisions for the club's future. By strategically managing their resources and making smart transfers, Barcelona can rebuild and come back stronger next season.

In summary, Barcelona faces a critical summer with numerous high-stakes decisions. Key players like Araujo, De Jong, Ter Stegen, and Raphinha are all under scrutiny as the club looks to balance its financial books and strengthen the squad. The outcome of these decisions will significantly impact Barcelona's performance and prospects for the upcoming season.

Barcelona orchestrated a stunning turnaround to clinch a 4-2 triumph over Valencia, with Robert Lewandowski's second-half heroics sealing the victory. Fermin Lopez initially propelled Barcelona ahead with a well-placed header, but Valencia responded swiftly, as Hugo Duro and Pepelu found the net to overturn the scoreline. However, Valencia's hopes were dashed when goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili received a red card just before halftime for a handball outside the box, reducing them to 10 men. Seizing the opportunity, Barcelona dominated the remainder of the match, with Lewandowski netting two headers from corners and completing his hat-trick with a sublime free-kick in stoppage time.

This crucial win momentarily postponed Real Madrid's expected LaLiga title celebrations, with Carlo Ancelotti's side leading the standings with 84 points. Barcelona's resurgence propelled them back into second place with 73 points, leapfrogging over Girona, who sit third with 71 points. The upcoming clash between Barcelona and Girona promises to be a fiercely contested Catalonia derby, with both teams eager to secure valuable points in the race for the league title.

The absence of goal-line technology in La Liga sparked controversy during Barcelona's recent 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clásico. After a contentious moment where Barcelona felt they scored a legitimate goal, only for it to be disallowed due to lack of conclusive evidence, manager Xavi and goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen criticised the league for not implementing goal-line technology. The incident occurred in the 28th minute when Lamine Yamal's header seemed to cross the line but was not awarded. Referee César Soto's decision was upheld by VAR due to inconclusive camera angles.

La Liga stands alone among Europe's top five leagues in not utilising goal-line technology, a decision reportedly influenced by league president Javier Tebas's refusal to pay the €3 million cost. Goal-line technology, as endorsed by FIFA, employs 14 high-speed cameras to determine if the ball has fully crossed the line, providing an immediate decision. Tebas's response to criticism was met with backlash, with some likening La Liga's stance to ignoring technological progress.

Real Madrid ultimately won the match, widening the gap between them and Barcelona in the league standings. Ter Stegen and Xavi voiced their frustration, labelling the situation as embarrassing for football and emphasising the importance of implementing goal-line technology. Xavi expressed disbelief that such a technology is lacking in what is considered one of the world's best leagues, highlighting the need for its inclusion. Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti disagreed, stating there was no clear evidence to overturn the decision.

The incident reignites the debate over the necessity of goal-line technology in modern football and raises questions about La Liga's reluctance to adopt it despite its widespread use in other major leagues.

Xavi, the Barcelona boss, is rallying his team and fans ahead of the crucial return leg against Paris St Germain in the Champions League. With Barcelona holding a narrow 3-2 lead from the first leg, Xavi emphasises the importance of creating an electrifying atmosphere at their temporary home, Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, due to ongoing renovation work at the Nou Camp.

He calls for unity among fans and players, recognizing that PSG will pose a formidable challenge. Xavi acknowledges the absence of key players due to suspension but emphasises the need for a collective team effort to overcome PSG's strong opposition.

On the other hand, PSG's head coach, Luis Enrique, remains confident in his team's ability to overturn the deficit. Despite feeling aggrieved by the result of the first leg, Enrique is determined to see his team deliver a strong performance from the outset and make their fans proud.

In summary, both Xavi and Enrique are focused on their respective teams' performances and the importance of fan support in achieving success in the Champions League. They express confidence in their squads' abilities to deliver under pressure and aim to provide an exciting spectacle for football fans worldwide.

I pray everyone knows what team they are supporting because as Xavi said “It's going to be a major football war”. #Teambarcelona #Alltheway #Psgislame

Arsenal may have believed they were finally free from their nemesis, Harry Kane, when he departed Tottenham for Bayern Munich last summer. However, Kane's return to north London sees him aiming to knock Mikel Arteta's side out of the Champions League.

In Tuesday's quarter-final first leg clash, the Gunners will host Bayern.

Kane, now 30 years old, has proven to be a thorn in Arsenal's side, having scored more Premier League goals against them than any other player, with 14 strikes. Notably, five of those goals were scored at the Emirates Stadium, tying for the most by a non-Arsenal player.

Since his move to Germany, Kane has enjoyed a record-breaking start with 38 goals in his first 37 games. He is currently leading the race for the European Golden Shoe, having netted 32 goals thus far.

In addition to his domestic success, Kane has been lethal in the Champions League this season, leading the scoring charts with six goals.

Despite his individual accolades, Kane's move to Bayern hasn't yielded team success as expected, with the club trailing behind in the Bundesliga title race. However, pundits believe that Kane's adaptation to German football has been seamless, with his contributions vital to Bayern's campaign.

While Kane's goal-scoring prowess has never been in doubt, winning major trophies has eluded him during his time at Tottenham. His move to Bayern presents him with perhaps his best opportunity yet to secure silverware, with the Champions League representing a prime chance for success.

With his exceptional performances, Kane has garnered widespread acclaim, and pundits believe that his time at Bayern could elevate him to legendary status if he continues his impressive form.

Revenge is Sweet

Arsenal beat West 6-0 away from home at the London Olympic Stadium. Arsenal started slowly, not scoring for 30 whole minutes, before a beautifully skilled whip-cross was bent in by Declan Rice against his old mother club, ending up on William Saliba’s head. This would scored after Arsenal had already taken 7 shots, showing their dominance throughout the game. The game would later on fold in as Arsenal scored again and again. This game was a very important booster before the big game next week against Porto in the long-awaited Champions League Round of 16. Great weekend for the Gunners!

Early ride home?

West Ham fans were seen leaving the stadium at halftime when the scoreline was at 4-0. This resulted in over 5000 fans leaving altogether to go home. Very bad look for the Irons as they were “battered” at home against a London Rival. Declan Rice being their old player, must’ve hurt them harshly as he was Arsenal’s most key player in this game after netting in a screamer and getting two very important assists. It has been a very good season for a very important midfielder. 

Next week…

Next week is a very important week for the Arsenal boys as they go to Portugal to beat a very qualified team. This team plays a very possession-based game with two good ball-playing defenders. Great challenge to prove why we’re such a wrath in 2024.

-Hakan Malmqvist, February 13th 2024

Arteta acknowledged Klopp's unique qualities, such as his personality, charisma, and the way he communicated his ideas and passion for the game. According to Arteta, Klopp significantly contributed to the league's growth and made it more captivating with his emotional approach. Mikel admired Klopp's human side, especially in explaining the reasons behind his departure.

Regarding the challenges of being a successful Premier League manager in the present compared to previous years when figures like Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson had long-term positions, Arteta emphasised the demanding nature of the job. He pointed out that managers invest a significant amount of time and energy into their roles, and eventually, there comes a point where one might feel they don't have it in them anymore. Arteta, recognising the inevitability of such feelings, highlighted the importance of managing one's energy and time wisely in the demanding profession of football management. 

With that, many had come after Arteta after a piece of leaked fake news from a Spanish News Outlet said that he was willing to leave Arsenal at the end of the season. The Arsenal boss later denied this in a press conference, where he was outraged to hear the fake news.

-Hakan Malmqvist, January 30 2024

It's possible that the amazing American boxer Gervonta Davis is organizing his next boxing match in the UK. This information follows Davis' legal troubles and his 44-day jail sentence for breaking the conditions of his home detention order.

Davis has made hints that his forthcoming battle could not even be in the United States, despite predictions that it will be in Las Vegas. Last year, the 29-year-old boxing prodigy won two fights via knockout, including a spectacular matchup with Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas. Ever since his victory in April, Davis has not been seen in the ring. Therefore it has been conjectured that he may face Frank Martin in the first-ever PBC PPV on Prime.

But Davis faced a blow when he was jailed for forty-four days for breaking his home detention order. The infraction happened when he tried to finish the order in the opulent Four Seasons Hotel and a $3.4 million apartment, instead of the judge's original recommendation that he do it at his trainer's one-bedroom residence.

Davis disagreed with a tweet implying that his next bout will probably take place in Las Vegas. He stressed the need of staying in one's own lane and attending to one's own obligations. According to Davis, some parts of the boxing world lack professionalism.

It's interesting to note that Davis has battled in the UK before. At the Copper Box Arena in London, England, in 2017, he successfully defended his IBF super featherweight championship by stopping Liam Walsh in three rounds. This encounter might be the reason behind his desire to go back to the UK for his impending battle. Awaiting official word on the venue and opponent for Gervonta Davis's much awaited comeback to the ring, fans are ecstatic. The boxing community continues to be enthralled by Davis's career as one of the sport's most promising stars. 

This week’s Arsenal talk will be about Redemption. What a game, redemption for the team, but specifically for some players. Arsenal’s downfall has now been overturned by an amazing 5-0 win over Crystal Palace at home. This stunning victory puts Arsenal back on track, saving their hopes to win a trophy this season. Gabriel was unbelievably strong, scoring 1.5 goals (one was counted as an own goal but he impacted it completely). A two goal cushion by Martinelli in a matter of 3 minutes, scoring in minute 92 and 95. Arsenal will now have a long run of games before the big game against Porto at the end of February. 

It seems as if Arsenal’s preseason run in Dubai worked out, shaping the team to what it was earlier this season. A good redemption is always a good way to start off a run of winning ways. As players return from injury, Arsenal look to sign a few players in January to keep this going. There are many names on the list, however, many Arsenal scouts were seen at the Bayer Leverkusen vs Leipzig game, scouting Frimpong, Xavi Simons and a few others. Bringing in a new fresh striker has been left on a standstill recently. Gyokeres, Toney and Osimhen were the players they had been scouting but no further deals have undergone in the recent days, and with the window closing in a weeks time, there is still time to pull off a last minute top signing. 

Martinelli needed his goals as now he hopefully could get going, however Trossard had also scored and may also believe that he should start as well. Naturally it’s a very difficult choice for Arteta, but he almost always picks the right player for the right game, making minimal errors. The question is: Is Arteta’s time running out? I believe no… many need to trust the process and understand that he has dragged this team to what it is now, building up the young talents to become world superstars, e.g: Saka, Saliba and Martinelli. 

The future is looking very colourful for Arsenal even though it looks rough now. There will be a change and hopefully a positive one. Come on, you Gunners!

Ups and Downs

Great start this weekend which was sadly blown away by Aston Villa as they took the 3 points away from Arsenal. The Gunners were strong all week, beating Luton in the last minute by Rice in a chilling, nail biting affair, it came down to the wire where CDM Declan Rice came out and scored a header saving the winning streak. This was then shut down by Aston Villa as Arsenal lost 1-0 away from home and Villa ended up making history winning 15 games in a row in the top flight for the first time in 149 years, basically when they were formed. However, Arsenal weren't struggling at all and were quite dominant in the game against Villa. With some poor referee decisions and a rough start we lost 3 points. 

League standings

As it stands now, Arsenal are in 2nd place one point behind Liverpool who scraped a win against Crystal Palace. This isn’t a bad situation whatsoever but there is work to be done and Artera has said so in his latest press conference. His statement was that referees are making far too many mistakes but avoided to speak about it due to his past incidents where he was fined a lot of money and given a ban as he spoke out. 

Champions League

Arsenal play in the Netherlands tomorrow against PSV, however Arsenal have already confirmed a spot in this season's round of 16. Looking to be Reuell Walter’s first team debut as a starter. Exciting times and a great start to December!

Arsenal have snatched top position but this isn’t the first time. After the win against Wolves, Arsenal take a more comfortable position as Man City draws against Tottenham. This draw caused Man City to go 3 games without a win, a very unusual situation for them as they are so used to winning. As it stands now, Arsenal will play their 15th game tomorrow night against Luton the 5th of December. If they are to win that, they will be looking good to be top of the league by Christmas.

Wolves Left Shocked

Arsenal usually aren’t too fond of playing Wolves as they always struggle to break through, however Arsenal proved every pundit wrong, scoring 2 in less than 20 minutes. The game was won as soon as Captain Martin Odegaard scored his 4th of the season. Saka also scored more and more, proving his talent. This player will be up there with the very best soon. 

The World Isn’t Ready

Arsenal have confirmed their Champions League spot, topping their group. This means they will be playing against a second place team in the round of 16. This is Arsenal’s first season back in the Champions League and the fans have been waiting for this moment to host a round of 16. Arsenal is one of their favourites to win the entire tournament, thus that match will go down in history. 

Prediction

Luton vs Arsenal = 0-3

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira or famously known as Ronaldinho is one of the most iconic unique players of all time in football. He was born in the 21 of March, 1980. He retired from playing football when he was 37 years old and his bright career was full of achievements that made him the best of the best.

Ronaldinho's first decision was joining a Brazilian club called Gremio in Porto Alegre in 1998, During this time he unleashed his talent which made the famous European countries shed the light on him. After the transfer market struggle between the European clubs, Ronaldinho finally chose to play for Paris Saint-German from 2001 to 2003 and during this period he didnt win much trophies with them.

During the summer he have taken the best decision of his entire career which is moving to FC Barcelona. Ronaldinho golden era was with barcelona where he won the La Liga trophy twice , the UEFA Champions League once, Supercopa de Espana twice, and the FIFA world cup in 2006. On the personal level he won the Ballon D'or golden ball in 2005 for the best player in the world and he also won the FIFA world player of the year twice in 2004, 2005.

Ronaldinho end of era was when he went from Barcelona to AC Milan in 2008 to 2011 for €21 million, He won the Serie A(Italian Language) title in 2010 and 2011 and also the Supercoppa Italiana in 2011. During his entire career he was playing football at professional level just for fun,not for money and this was the last time that Ronaldinho will play at the professional level in the five major leagues.

His love and passion for football made him give his best performance during his career, and at the end of the story Ronaldinho retired in 2018 at age of 37 years old when he was playing for Fluminense club. On the day of his retirement, there was lot of tears from all fans around the world since they were certain that a play like Ronaldinho will not be repeated in the coming years and in the end he deserved the title of “The Magician Of Football”

Early Life and Rise to Fame

Lionel Andrés Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. His journey to becoming a global football icon is a remarkable story of talent, unwavering dedication, and hard work.

Messi's football journey began in 1991 when he started playing for Grandoli as a young boy. His exceptional talent was evident from a young age. At the age of 13, he and his family faced a crucial decision: to move to Spain and join FC Barcelona's youth academy known as "La Masia." This decision marked the beginning of Messi's meteoric rise in the football world. He made his debut for FC Barcelona's first team at just 17 years old and quickly became the linchpin of the club's success.

Over the course of two decades with FC Barcelona, Messi amassed numerous La Liga titles, Champions League trophies, and an astounding seven Ballon d'Or awards, recognizing him as the best player of the year. His mesmerising dribbling, impeccable ball control, and prolific goal-scoring record left fans and experts alike in awe. Throughout his 17-year tenure with Barcelona, he played 778 games, scored 672 goals, and won 35 trophies.

The Move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)

In August 2021, the footballing world witnessed a seismic shift as Messi left Barcelona due to financial constraints and joined Paris Saint-Germain. This transfer sent shockwaves through the football community, marking the end of an era at Barcelona. At PSG, Messi continued to display his brilliance, forming a formidable attacking trio alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. Fans were thrilled to see Messi don the PSG jersey, reigniting hopes for further achievements in his illustrious career.

Messi Leads Argentina to World Cup Victory

In a stunning turn of events at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Messi emerged as the tournament's hero. His exceptional performance was nothing short of incredible, making him the undisputed best player of the competition. During this exceptional World Cup, Messi led Argentina to a historic victory in Qatar 2022. In the final against France, the match went to a thrilling penalty shootout, with Messi's poise and precision securing the title. His remarkable skills, marked by breathtaking goals and incredible assists, tilted the "GOAT" debate firmly in his favour, reigniting discussions about whether he or Ronaldo deserves the title of the greatest player of all time.

Messi's Global Impact

In 2022, Messi reached an agreement with Saudi Arabia to support Middle Eastern tourism and was linked to potentially high-paying transfers to the region. Rumours also circulated about a potential return to Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his career, or a move to the United States to compete in Major League Soccer (MLS). This period in Messi's career was undoubtedly challenging, as he knew that any decision he made would likely be his last, and his options were limited.

The Final Chapter

In a surprising turn of events, Inter Miami underwent a remarkable transformation in the MLS league starting in July 2023. Their trajectory was nothing short of astounding, thanks to an influential figure who needs no introduction. The team, which had previously struggled and faced relegation, suddenly became a force to be reckoned with, with Messi deserving all the credit for this turnaround.

Forget Lens! WHAT A WEEK!

Arsenal had a rough start to the week losing to French side Lens in a 2-1 away game loss. This was Arsenal’s first loss of the season and it really didn’t feel great among the Arsenal supporters. Losing Saka (Starboy) out due to an injury was the first blow as he has consistently been there for Arsenal, playing 87 consecutive Premier League matches. That came to an end when Arsenal defeated World Champions Manchester City in a 1-0 home win keeping Arsenal unbeaten in the league but also it is the first time the Gunners beat Man City after 12 consecutive losses at home. This win will change the season not just now but in the long-term. Arsenal have it all in their hands and really need to focus on beating the weaker teams as they are the teams that come out of nowhere and beat big teams which breaks their season. The game was intense but at the end Arsenal were dominant throughout, keeping Haaland quiet throughout the game. Martinelli was the super sub who came to rescue Arsenal. The prolific Brazilian winger was assisted by Kai Havertz after a long ball was sent up towards Tomiyasu, he then headed it down for Kai. Kai then turns back and lays it off for an oncoming Martinelli who smashes into Ake’s face which deflects another direction, confusing Ederson making him dive the wrong way. This 1-0 lead was so late on that it was tough for City to even get a shot off after. Great weekend for the GOONERS and a great weekend for Arteta as he celebrates against his past boss. Now the gunners prepare for the international break.

Saka!!!

Saka has missed his first Premier League match for the first time in 3 years. This is a crazy stat which is so impressive for anyone to do. Saka is Arsenal’s biggest talent seen in the last 10 years and he has proved his worth and ability as he racks up 10+ g/a per season and also being a key part of England’s run to winning a trophy. He is fit and back in the squad preparing for England’s Euro Qualifiers.

What’s next?

Arsenal will prepare for a huge return after the international break playing against a redeeming young Chelsea team. What a London Derby that will be as no one can predict how Chelsea will line up as their squad is one of the largest in the league. Arsenal in my opinion will pull through, win and take those 3 points at Stamford Bridge. Nothing new, as long as it’s our strongest lineup, I don’t see any team beating Arsenal at the moment. Exciting start for all Arsenal fans, it is looking good!

Injury Report

• Saka - Back in the team

• Timber - Still under control after surgery but progress is great

Hakan Malmqvist , October 17th 2023

Vs Bournemouth, 4-0

Arsenal are still unbeaten this season fighting for that Premier League title at the end of the year. Stunning performance from our captain once again as Odegaard scored and assisted once again now at 4 g/a this season. He has been outstanding all season and has been key to Arsenal’s success so far. Question is, will he be the first captain, since Patrick Viera in 2003/04, to lift the Premier League for the Gunners. Others who outplayed Bournemouth were Ben White, who bagged his first goal for the season, and our StarBoy Bukayo Saka who again showed the world why he deserves all the praise. It is always great to see the team behind Kai Havertz gaining some confidence as he was given the penalty to make it 3-0, a great sight to see for football and Arsenal. Excited to see more from him!

Vs Man City, Sunday 8th October 

Manchester City lost against Wolves 1-2 making the hopes for a chance at the Premier League much more open than anyone intended it would be. A very surprising loss but it is 100% due to the absence of some key players which gives Arsenal a good chance to beat them on Sunday as they lack some important players which they had against the Gunners last year. Missing Kevin De Bruyne means Haaland will have less service as he would like which will help Saliba and Gabriel, however Arsenal were missing their best defender in Saliba last season and he could play a key part to Arsenal’s success this coming weekend. Both teams will start with a fluid 4-2-3-1 which then in game turns into a 3-2-4-1 later on in the game. This will cause interesting football as Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant just 4 years ago and learnt a lot from his Professor. The game will spark a lot of attention as it is seen as one of the key games for Arsenal’s road to the top and if Arteta and his men can take advantage of the brutal circumstances Man City are dealing with, there may be a good result in there for the mighty Gunners. I am predicting a 2-0 win for Arsenal at the Emirates.

Vs Lens, UCL Round 2

Arsenal play their second UCL game and it’s been exciting to watch Arsenal’s comeback in the UCL as they beat PSV 4-0 at home. Playing in France and preparing for their game changing title charge game on Sunday may put Arteta in a tough position as Arsenal do have their own injury issues and lack fit wingers to replace the likes of Saka and Jesus to keep them fresh for City. However, Lens aren’t exactly doing so good themselves sitting only 1 point away from relegation. I think this game will be used a rotation game to give the players who aren’t getting much game time in the Premier League such as Cedric and the fans are also hoping a young Arsenal talent such as Shelly or Nwaneri get a chance to make their UCL debut as they have been on top form for the U21 and U18. I think this will be another high scoring game with a comfortable flight home to London after. 0-3 Arsenal.

Injuries

Thomas Partey - Still out with a groin injury, back in a couple of weeks to a month.

Jurrien Timber - Knee surgery, expected back sooner but still months to go.

Gabriel Martinelli - Minor injury expected back in a week or two.

Leandro Trossard - Minor injury expected back in a week or two.

Hakan Malmqvist, October 3rd, 2023

The bouts were as follows:

• Spud vs 2Saint (smash-boxing)

• KJH vs Fiction (smash-boxing)

• Stanz vs BoxBox 

• OvertFlow vs Abroad in Japan

• Hugs vs Toph

• Lawrence vs Aman

• Dina vs Anrea Botez

• Cherdleys vs Myth

• DisguisedToast vs Pointcrow

• Ludwig vs CDawgVA (chess-slap bonus)

Winners of each bout are highlighted in blue*

But before I continue, what even is chess-boxing?

Simply put, chess-boxing is when you combine chess with boxing. The exact way it plays out in the ring varies between events since it is a more unknown sport and doesn’t have specifically set rules for the games. Other lesser known sports include car fighting and phone booth fighting. But a general consensus is that there is a round of chess followed by boxing and this will continue back and forth until a winner is decided from either the boxing or the chess. In the case of Ludwig’s event for chess-boxing, it was seven rounds total starting with one and a half minutes of chess followed by one minute of boxing. If the game continues as a stalemate until the seventh round then there will definitely be a winner based on time for the chess. Chess-boxing is also a rather new sport in the competitive space as the idea was first invented in 1992 and was only brought to the competitive space in real life in 2003 – making it a 20 year-old sport.

However, not only was there chess-boxing but also smashboxing, which revolves around the exact same concept except instead of chess there is a round of Super Smash Bros for a minute and a half. Chess-slap, is the same as chess-boxing except the boxing is replaced by a single slap from each side with the chess remaining the same. This game simply was a bonus round between the creator of the event and another popular streamer and friend to Ludwig, CDawgVA (Connor).

Leo De Beer

11 April 2023

This approach was backed up with England going at over 6 runs an over against Pakistan in the first test in Rawalpindi. They racked up 605 runs in the first innings and then forced the win on the last day with a bold declaration from Stokes. Another positive for this brand of cricket is that the spectators don’t have to sit through 5 days of cricket, just for the match to turn out a draw. The mindless blocking is replaced with an intent to score and get the game running. It clearly seems to be working for this English side as on a flat pitch in Rawalpindi, they were able to rack a mountain of runs. 

But then the argument comes into play - can England replicate this on a turning wicket on day 5 against India? Can they replicate this against a rampaging South African pace attack on a green bouncy top at the Wanderers in Johannesburg? Only time will tell whether this newfound approach to the traditionally slow Test cricket will work as well as it has so far, or whether it will flop and fail against some of the more accomplished teams in cricket.     

Kirthan Sai Duttulur

10 February 2023

Though, one day later Messi came out, and promised the supporters not to keep them stranded as there is more to come and the dream isn't over yet. The next game against Mexico was very decisive for Messi and his team’s future in the World Cup, as a loss will end their dream and lead to their relegation which meant that winning was the only solution. The team went into the match with a strong winning spirit, though the Mexican defence was rock solid, not allowing any shots go past them. The time was ticking, an hour into the match and the score was 0-0. The fans started to worry as the dream was getting close to an end. Three minutes later Messi striked a spectacularly banger  from outside the box, reviving the hopes of the fans. With a striking performance Messi ended up being the man of the match with a goal and an assist – keeping the dream alive. Argentina ended up winning the last match of the group stages against Poland with another glorious performance from Messi, carrying Argentina on his back to the round of 16. Messi and his team ended up through all stages straight to the finals of the World Cup against France, with Messi winning the man of the match title on every appearance. 

The 18th of December is the date on which Messi fulfils his lifelong dream of winning the World Cup with Argentina, after failing to do so in the final of 2014. The final against France was breathtaking and stressful as Argentina dominated the first half with Messi opening up the score line. However, things changed in the last 10 minutes of the match, as France managed to equalise the score line to 2-2 in just under two minutes which shocked the Argentinian players, and the supporters made them think of the 2014 devastation. Messi once again carries Argentina by scoring in the extra time to make the score 3-2. Though Mbappe equalised the score, which led to the match moving to extra time. Finally, at the age of 35, Messi brought back the long lost trophy to the nation of Argentina. Also adding another trophy to his cabinet, increasing his chances of an 8th Golden Ball and settling the ‘greatest of all time’ debate which was started by his haters. Once and for all Lionel Messi has proved that he is the GOAT of the game and that no one has ever been close to him.

Ali Albidany

8 January 2022 

Each year during the summer, the Board organizes various leagues for adults and more recently for more talented U19 players. The players need to be part of clubs to take part in the leagues.  In case you didn't know, there are 2 cricket clubs in our very own Helsingborg and they have practice sessions in the summer in the cricket ground in Dalhem. During the winter, they usually have indoor practice sessions at a specified location. 

Before going into more detail, here’s a document to understand the basic rules of Cricket if the terms used are confusing

About the Swedish cricket board: 

The board was founded in 1990 and to this day has partnered with the ICC or the International Cricket Council to promote cricket in Sweden which has witnessed major growth in the last 5 years.

The board is run in a very democratic manner where everyone involved is treated with equal respect and fairness. Many cultures are involved in Swedish cricket and the goal is to unite these cultures with the spirit of cricket. 

Leagues:

In Sweden, there are many different official leagues, and the leagues usually are divided into a Allsvenskan, and Superettan category. In the Allsvenskan league, the best teams play against each other all over Sweden while in the Superettan, less developed teams play matches in the summer against each other.  Some of the leagues in Sweden are:

• Allsvenskan T40- which consists of 40 overs per innings 

• Superettan T40

• Allsvenskan T20s- which consists of 20 overs per innings.

A more attractive league for the youth is the upcoming UPL or ‘Undgoms premier league’. This league has a total of 4 teams, Skåne, 2 Stockholm teams, and a Gothenburg team. 2021 is the inaugural edition of this youth cricket league and anyone born after 01/01/2002 is eligible to play provided they fill in a form to participate in trials. 

Now that we have talked about cricket in Sweden, this website shows all the games or series of cricket games taking place across the world. And here is the homepage of ESPNcricinfo consisting of all the latest results and games:

Apart from international cricket, the world's richest T20 league is about to commence in April in India known as the IPL, or Indian Premier League. Here is their website.

Bibliography

“England Tour of India, England Tour of India 2020/21 Score, Match Schedules, Fixtures, Points Table, Results, News.” ESPNcricinfo, ESPNCRICINFO, 16 Feb. 2021, www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-india-2020-21-1243364.

“Indian Premier League Auction 2018.” IPLT20.Com - Indian Premier League Auction 2018, www.iplt20.com/auction/2021.

“Vision Och Värdegrund.” Svenska Cricketförbundet, www.swedishcricket.org/OmOss/visionochvardegrund/.