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The trio tap into a new audience to push the boundaries of soccer

With an overlapping aim to tap into the intersection of soccer and Black culture, Premier League club Wolves and Black Arrow FC release the second installment of their collaboration. 

The ongoing partnership sees Wolves attract a new type of soccer fan – calling upon the US audience –  through Black Arrow and New York-based influencer and creative, Nkenge Brown. 

Black Arrow FC

Wolves make use of their history to bridge the gap between soccer and fashion, all while attracting a new type of fan in Nkenge. Nkenge brings her digital platform to showcase her personal take on the intersection between soccer and style, with Wolves kits and clothing seamlessly incorporated into her everyday. 

Featuring soccer kits that look just as good off the pitch as they do on them, the iconic Wolves crest and bespoke retro kits get their moment in the spotlight through the project. Nkenge helping to push the boundaries of soccer culture, using Wolves’ retro kits to redefine her wardrobe and empower both herself and other women to view soccer as a women’s game, just as much as a men’s game.

Black Arrow FC

From 2022-23 season kits to classic retro’s dating as far back as 1974, all kits and clothing showcased are available to shop right now from the Wolves FC online store. 

Plus, you can bag free shipping to the US until December, 10. So, if you’re looking to treat a loved one this holiday season or indulge in something for yourself, there’s never been a better time. Here’s a closer look at some of GOAL’s favorite items from the Nkenge x Wolves FC edit: 

Shop: The Nkenge x Wolves FC edit

The Wolves 2022-23 season home shirt adds the perfect touch of colour to your wardrobe. Styled with black denim, Nkenge opts for an oversized style to keep the iconic Wolves yellow and black casual for her everyday. 

Commemorating the iconic win at Wembley for the Wolves back in 1974, the replica track jacket makes for an easy layering piece. 

For a fitted style, go for the women’s cut. Seen on Nkenge, styled with classic light denim to bring out the tonal geometric print we see on the base of the soccer shirt. 

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One of our top picks here at GOAL, with that classic ‘90s collar we don’t see so often anymore. Nkenge once again goes for an oversized fit to bring this iconic replica shirt into her wardrobe.

The Ligue 1 champions have been criticised for neglecting their domestic market in recent years, but this summer could see a change in strategy

This year might finally be the year that Paris Saint-Germain do it. They might be about to abandon the model of signing high-profile, expensive players, and instead bring in a raft of youngsters that they either failed to snap up, or indeed let go, a few years ago.

Football advisor Luis Campos has to realise the reality of the situation, trigger the rebuild, and trust that a young French core, buoyed by some world-class additions, will develop into a consistent European power.

That annual promise is always floated but never seems to hold up, though. Indeed, in Kylian Mbappe, the Parisians have the poster boy of young French talent.

But the rest of them — France's promising core of youngsters — are dispersed around Europe, spurned by PSG before they even had the chance to prove themselves.

A total revamp of the transfer strategy is admittedly unlikely, but PSG have cash to spend this summer, and some key areas to address. They need a No.9, a central midfielder, and perhaps an extra winger. A centre-back also wouldn't go amiss.

The good news is that there's French talent at all of those positions that can be plucked from around the continent. And why wouldn't a youngster want to move to the capital to play for the country's most successful club? The pride of representing PSG, opportunity to be a part of a new era, and, indeed, the payday involved, should appeal to any number of French nationals.

But on who should the Ligue 1 leaders be focusing their attention? GOAL takes a lot at some of the French signings PSG could make this summer…

GettyRandal Kolo Muani

PSG are unlikely to be the only club in the reckoning to sign Kolo Muani this summer, and it's easy to see why.

Despite his memorable miss in the final, the striker made a name for himself for the right reasons at the World Cup, and has only improved for Eintracht Frankfurt since.

At 24, he's older than most of the players on this list, but his experience has made him more well-rounded.

Although he's not necessarily prolific, Kolo Muani can do a bit of everything, and has proved for France that he can make an excellent strike partner for Mbappe.

The German side reportedly want upwards of €100 million (£89m/$107m) for their young star, but that is the going rate for a forward coming into his prime, especially one with 20 goals and 14 assists to their name this season.

AdvertisementGettyMarcus Thuram

Thuram has steadily become more and more effective over the past four years, and seems to be linked with a move to a big club every summer.

Now, though, is the ideal time for PSG to strike.

Thuram is enjoying his best-ever season, with 16 goals and six assists to his name in all competitions, and is set to be a free agent this summer after Borussia Monchengladbach confirmed that they had failed to agree a contract extension with the France international.

Thuram has immense potential as a central striker. At 6'2, he has the sufficient size to play as a No.9 alongside Mbappe, while his dribbling ability and pace make him a viable goal threat in his own right.

Getty ImagesKhephren Thuram

PSG know the younger Thuram brother all too well. The midfielder danced around the Parisians for Nice a couple of weeks ago, terrifying a clueless Achraf Hakimi and Marquinhos in a slightly unfortunate 2-0 loss for the underdogs.

The midfielder isn't exactly the most polished player, but he's immensely dangerous in one-on-one situations, and can pick a pass in the final third.

PSG can be void of ideas in and around the box when Lionel Messi and Mbappe are swarmed — and need an attacking wildcard.

Having Thuram would open up the pitch, and provide options for the Parisians against the litany of Ligue 1 sides that look to sit deep.

Real Madrid are supposedly interested in the youngster, but PSG could comfortably match — or beat — any offer Los Blancos make.

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GettyRayan Cherki

PSG have been here before with Cherki, having tried to sign him in the January window. Lyon, however, were far from impressed with their rivals' pursuit, club president Jean-Michel Aulas dubbing their offer "insulting."

Chances are, the Parisians could return with a better offer this summer, though, and it would be a smart piece of business.

PSG covet an attacking midfielder, and Cherki has the ability to change the game with his dribbling ability.

Scouts have compared him to Hatem Ben Arfa, although it's likely that Cherki would enjoy a more successful tenure at PSG than Ben Arfa's forgettable two-year stint.

The 16-year-old is is regarded as the best talent to ever emerge out of Ecuador, and he has completed a move to the big-spending Blues

The finest footballing exports from the continent of South America are invariably associated with either Brazil or Argentina, but one precocious Ecuadorian is out to change the narrative.

Kendry Paez has long mixed it with the big boys. Having outgrown both the Under-17 and Under-19 sides, the attacking midfielder made his first-team breakthrough for Independiente del Valle in his home country at just 15 years old, inevitably drawing the attention of some of Europe's elite in the process.

A move to Chelsea beckons when Paez turns 18 in 2025, with the Blues having agreed to pay up to £17 million ($21m) to bring the playmaker to west London as their drive to add bright young talent to both their senior and academy ranks continues apace.

It feels strange to look back at the origins of a career that's still in its infancy, but Paez has come so far in such a short time. GOAL breaks down the prodigy's rise to prominence…

Where it all began

Paez has come a long way, both metaphorically and geographically, in his budding career. Born in Ecuador's second city, Guayaquil, in 2007, the midfielder took a huge leap of faith aged 11 by joining Independiente del Valle's academy in Sangolqui on the outskirts of the capital Quito, 260km to the north.

He played for three clubs at youth level before making his big move, including for Barcelona – the most successful team in Ecuador and one of Independiente's biggest rivals. Paez's willingness to leave his hometown at such a tender age reflects the fearlessness he shows on the pitch; this is a player who is determined to succeed no matter what it takes.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break

Paez's name has been on people's lips for some time in his home country – perhaps indicative of the huge expectation on his shoulders in a nation that isn't known for producing world-class talent. However, it was in consecutive youth tournaments in the summer of 2022 that he made himself known to the world, including some of Europe's elite.

In July, Independiente's U18s won the Copa Milo on their home ground, and Paez was the star. With scouts from the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund in attendance, he scored a brace in the final against Colombia's Atletico Nacional – sweeping home two fine finishes from the edge of the box in the first half.

The following month, he was voted outstanding player at the 2022 Next Generation Trophy in Salzburg, where Independiente's U15s defeated youth teams from the likes of Inter and RB Leipzig before suffering defeat in the final. Paez's most telling contribution was an audacious lob from inside the centre circle against Leipzig. The ball didn't bounce once before hitting the back of the net.

Getty ImagesHow it's going

Having turned 16 in early May, it seems Paez's days in Independiente's youth teams are already behind him. His exploits in the U18s last year earned him a place in the first-team squad ahead of the 2023 Ecuadorian Serie A season, which got underway in February, as Independiente fast-tracked him amid interest from Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.

He marked his debut against Mushuc Runa in style on the opening day, producing an instinctive, first-time volley to lob the goalkeeper and round off the scoring in a 3-1 victory, becoming both the youngest debutant and goalscorer in Ecuadorian top-flight history.

Having only been left out of La Tri's most recent U20 squad to aid his first-team transition with Independiente, Paez was called-up for the recent U20 World Cup in Argentina, where he was the youngest player on show at the tournament. He impressed against players three or four years old than him as Ecuador reached the knockout rounds, with his displays coming hot off an impressive U17 South American Championship.

The midfielder scored two goals and provided six assists in just eight games as Ecuador finished as runners-up on home soil, with Paez one of the stars of the tournament.

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Getty ImagesBiggest strengths

Paez possesses all the attributes you would seek in a modern attacking midfielder; he has dazzling technical dribbling ability, his excellent vision lends itself to pinpoint passing, his feather touch helps him glide past opponents, and he is adept from dead-ball situations thanks to his wand of a left foot.

His height, too, is a significant advantage. According to , Paez already stands at 5'8 (173cm) and, given he is only 16, he still has plenty of room to grow. His rangy frame makes him a formidable opponent at youth level as he towers over average-height youngsters around him and make good use of his physical dominance.

Beyond all of that, though, he evidently has that elite mentality that can so often be the difference between success and failure when a player is first breaking through, and that is reflected in his ability and willingness to mix it with players who are several years his senior, and even lead them on the pitch.

That is something his club manager, Martin Anselmi, has perceived in him: "In Kendry we find someone daring. A boy who asks for it. He is 15 years old and he doesn't care who is in front of him, and he asks for it," he told recently. "He is different type of player. It is the first time that I have seen such a small boy and that…'Well, let's see, what are you made of', and he shows you, he challenges you."

In a previous interview, Anselmi added: "It is not normal for a 15-year-old boy in the first division to have earned the respect of the soccer world in such a short time. He runs, recovers, interprets the game, he is very intelligent to play. When we ask him to get into a certain position to generate an advantage, he does it. All his movements are trained, he carries them out perfectly, understands the game very well and is a guy who is very down to earth in all those ways".

The Gunners boss has gone to great lengths to accommodate the £65 million man, disrupting the team's overall balance in the process

This time last season, Arsenal had already announced themselves as potential title contenders – seeing off Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Bournemouth in their opening three games with nine goals scored and only two conceded.

The Gunners would go on to complete their best-ever start to a Premier League season and stay on top of the table for 248 days, only to surrender the trophy to Manchester City down the finishing stretch. Mikel Arteta's side were unstoppable for much of the campaign, and came up short due to a lack of experience more than anything else.

The Spaniard addressed that by making three huge summer signings, starting with Champions League winner Kai Havertz. Arsenal paid £65 million ($82m) to sign the Germany forward from Chelsea, despite the fact he only managed to score nine goals across all competitions in 2022-23.

Subsequent deals for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, which took Arsenal's spending past the £200m ($252m) mark, made perfect sense. Arteta's side needed a combative all-rounder of Rice's class in the middle of the park, and Timber was an excellent addition to bolster the defence.

But it wasn't immediately clear why Havertz was brought in. The 24-year-old played in several positions at Chelsea after joining the club from Bayer Leverkusen in September 2020, without ever really justifying his £72m ($90m) price tag.

And just three games into the new season, Arsenal are looking like a weaker team with Havertz forced into the starting XI in place of Granit Xhaka – who departed for Bayer Leverkusen in July. After failing to impress in unconvincing wins over Nottingham Forest and Palace, Havertz was hooked after just 54 minutes as the Gunners limped to a 2-2 draw against Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arteta clearly has a vision for Havertz, who does have plenty to offer Arsenal if used in the right way. But if he remains in his current role, they won't have any chance of knocking City off their perch.

(C)Getty ImagesGuardiola's disciple

Arteta honed his coaching skills while working as Pep Guardiola's assistant at City between 2016 and 2019, and learned exactly what it takes to build an successful squad.

Guardiola is rightly revered as the best manager in European football, not least because of how many players he has been able to mould into world-class operators. Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and John Stones are among those who have taken their game to new heights after linking up with Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. All three men faced criticism in the earlier stages of their careers, but unlocked their full potential under the tutelage of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss while playing in a number of different roles.

Guardiola has never been afraid to experiment. He constantly tweaks his formation and often asks his players to adapt to unnatural positions. Arteta witnessed the benefits of that approach up close, and has followed a similar blueprint at Arsenal. He tried Bukayo Saka at left-back in the early stages of his reign, before transforming Xhaka from an unspectacular defensive midfielder to an all-action No.8.

Replacing the Swiss international was always going to be a tough task, though, and Arteta took another leaf out of Guardiola's book by targeting Havertz instead of a player better suited to the position. He was wrong to take such a huge gamble.

Havertz has not looked comfortable on the left of Arsenal's midfield three, and his presence there has unbalanced the team. Arteta is trying too hard to be like Guardiola instead of sticking to the principles that helped the Gunners re-emerge as a formidable force after so many years of mediocrity.

AdvertisementGettyDefensive chaos

Havertz is not the only one playing out of position at Arsenal right now. In order to accommodate the former Chelsea star, Arteta has completely reshuffled his defensive line – with mixed results.

Thomas Partey, who shone for the Gunners in the heart of their midfield last season, has been moved to right-back, while Oleksandr Zinchenko has fallen behind Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the squad pecking order due to his recent struggles for fitness. William Saliba formed a rock solid partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back after returning from a loan spell at Marseille, but the Brazilian has now been dropped for Ben White. Saliba is also being forced to adapt to a role on the left-side because White is more comfortable on the right. All this, just so that Havertz can operate in Xhaka's old role.

Arsenal were far stronger when Gabriel and Zinchenko were in the starting line-up, with White granted licence to push forward and link up with Bukayo Saka from right-back. Arteta would be wise to go back to basics, especially with Timber having been sidelined for a lengthy spell due to an unfortunate knee injury.

The current set-up is unsustainable – a fact that was exposed by Fulham at the weekend. Arsenal were undone by defensive errors and dropped two points against a team that had to play the final 10 minutes of the game with 10 men after a red card for Calvin Bassey.

The Gunners are currently way too open to counters. Saliba was left alone in the centre of the pitch for Andreas Pereira's early opener after Partey had moved into midfield and White had drifted over to the right as Arsenal built an attack – only for Saka to give the ball away cheaply.

Arteta's men are still dominating games and creating plenty of openings in the final third, but they look far more vulnerable at the other end of the pitch. And with huge games against Manchester United and Tottenham looming large on the horizon, something must be done to address their fragility.

GettyHavertz 'missing' scoring touch

Havertz can be forgiven for looking like a fish out of water in midfield right now, as he is having to shoulder unrealistic expectations in an alien role. However, his lack of clinical edge should be a real concern for Arteta.

Its no coincidence that the Germany international has had a hatful of chances in his first three appearances for Arsenal. He is adept when it comes to finding space in the box and carries a genuine aerial threat.

But Havertz continues to frustrate with his finishing. Arteta said as much after the Fulham game, telling reporters: "He’s had a lot of situations, he should have scored already a lot of goals this season, and that’s the thing that is missing there."

Chelsea fans certainly won't be surprised by Havertz's struggles for goals. He had an xG of 10.8 in his final Premier League season at Stamford Bridge and 44 percent of his shots hit the target, but he only scored seven goals.

For Arteta to justify sticking with Havertz, he is going to have to drastically improve his output. The German had just 28 touches against Fulham compared to Xhaka's 71 in the same fixture last season, which proves that he is not involved enough in Arsenal's build-up play.

If the goals were flowing, it wouldn't matter so much, but the Gunners can't afford to carry a player who isn't making any meaningful contribution to the team. Havertz is already firmly under the microscope, and it remains to be seen whether he will thrive or fold in the face of that pressure.

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GettyVieira stakes his claim

Havertz's ineffective showing against Fulham was made all the more glaring by the impact of his replacement, Fabio Vieira. The Portuguese won the penalty for Saka to equalise for Arsenal in the 70th minute, and provided the assist for Eddie Nketiah to fire the hosts in front two minutes later.

Vieira was also seen as a strange signing when he arrived at the Emirates from Porto for £35m ($44m) last summer, and started just 14 games in his debut season for the Gunners. But the 23-year-old, who has famously compared his playing style to a certain Lionel Messi, may just have given Arteta another selection dilemma.

"Fabio was excellent. It is the first minutes he’s played in the Premier League this season and I was really impressed with how he wanted the ball and how positive he was, the decisions that he made and the attitude that he had straight away," the Arsenal boss said. "Fabio was involved in everything we created and I am really happy with that. To see players with the ability to make and take chances with quality. It is my fault that Fabio has not played more and today he gave me reasons to play him more."

Vieira deserves to start against United on Sunday after such an eye-catching performance. He looks hungry to show that he belongs at Arsenal, while Havertz is still very much finding his feet.

Dropping Havertz to the bench for such a crucial game could also serve as a kick up that backside. He probably thinks he's untouchable right now due to his hefty transfer fee, and a brutal reality check might be exactly what he needs.

It's been a wild summer of comings and goings in Europe – so who did the best deals – and who made an absolute mess of the market?

The transfer window has closed – in Europe's 'Big Five' leagues, at least – and now the first international break is upon us, which means this is a perfect time to reflect on one of the craziest summers in football history.

The emergence of Saudi Arabia as a major power in the market was arguably the major talking point, with the Pro League's pursuit of many high-profile players bringing with it both positives and negatives for Europe's elite.

On the one hand, the Public Investment Fund's (PIF) willingness to pay over the odds for thirty-something reserves was a huge boost for those looking to clear some dead wood. At the same time, the incredible amount of money on offer in Saudi Arabia proved an unwelcome distraction for some top teams, as it led to key men looking to leave.

On top of that, there was also the usual in-house drama in Europe, with Chelsea's new owners embarking on another historic spending spree that put several noses out of joint once again.

So, who coped well with the chaos? And who made a mess of the market? GOAL ranks and grades the business done by the 15 biggest clubs on the continent…

Getty Images15Chelsea

Pure madness. Manchester United disproved the notion that you can't win anything with kids many, many years ago – but people often forget that Sir Alex Ferguson already had a solid base in place when he blooded 'The Class of '92'. Chelsea have no such foundation.

They signed potential stars of the future but they need success now in order to cover the cost of their historic expenditure. Chelsea have overpaid for nearly every single player they've signed, and while they should come good if Mauricio Pochettino is given time to develop the likes of Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer, there are no guarantees on that front, as Graham Potter learned earlier this year.

However, the most worrying thing is that despite another record-breaking window, which has taken the new owners' total outlay to more than a £1 billion (£860m/$1.1bn) since taking over, Chelsea still look four world-class players short of a title challenge – as Saturday's home loss to Nottingham Forest hammered home. It's often said that Todd Boehly & Co don't have a plan, but they do. It just doesn't appear to be a very good one. Grade: D-

Advertisement(C)GettyImages14Juventus

Financial irregularities have hit Juventus hard. The Old Lady would have finished fourth in Serie A last season had they not been hit with a 10-point penalty deduction, and then they had their Conference League place taken away by UEFA.

So, after such a chaotic and costly campaign, it was unsurprising to see very little transfer activity in Turin. Indeed, Timothy Weah was the only new arrival, with the American replacing veteran wing-back Juan Cuadrado.

Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria and Leonardo Bonucci also left on free transfers, severely reducing the wage bill as Juve are forced to put their faith in youth, while the fans are ecstatic that a player-plus-cash deal involving Dusan Vlahovic and Romelu Lukaku collapsed, meaning the Serbian could yet form a formidable partnership with fully-fit-again Federico Chiesa. Grade: D

Getty Images13Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid didn't hang about when it came to getting some defensive reinforcements through the door, with Cesar Azpilicueta among four players to arrive during the first week of the window.

However, Diego Simeone made no secret of his desire to bring in another midfielder this summer, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Sofyan Amrabat among those heavily linked with the Rojiblancos, but not one arrived.

Joao Felix's loan move to Barcelona removes an unwanted welcome distraction for at least a season, while Atleti have shown during the early rounds of the new campaign that they look more than capable of building on a tremendous second half of last season, but the fear is that they won't have sufficient strength in depth to sustain a title challenge. Grade: D+

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Getty Images12Manchester United

This negative appraisal isn't a knee-jerk reaction to Sunday's loss at Arsenal; we called it after the transfer window closed – Manchester United are no stronger than they were last season despite investing nearly £200m in new players.

Rasmus Hojlund could yet develop into the prolific No.9 the club is so sorely lacking, Sofyan Amrabat should help solidify the midfield once he's eligible to play, while Andre Onana is already showcasing his fantastic array of passing. But there are a lot of question marks surrounding these signings.

Furthermore, it already looks like the money spent on Mason Mount should have been put towards a world-class centre-back. The fact that United finished the game against Arsenal with both Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans on the field tells you everything you need to know about United's worrying lack of strength in depth in defence. Grade: C-

Ricky Hatton has named Cristiano Ronaldo as his dream boxing opponent as the Manchester City fan would like to give the Portuguese “a slap”.

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Portuguese took in two spells at Old TraffordWon domestic & European titles with Red DevilsFormer world champion would like a fightWHAT HAPPENED?

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo will forever be synonymous with Manchester United having taken in two spells at Old Trafford. The first of those saw him claim Premier League and Champions League titles, while also picking up his first Golden Ball.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo helped the Red Devils to dominate domestically in England under Sir Alex Ferguson, with rival fans often being rubbed up the wrong way. Hatton falls into that category as someone who followed City long before they became perennial challengers for the biggest prizes on offer.

WHAT THEY SAID

With that in mind, former light-welterweight world champions Hatton has told when asked to pick out his dream opponent: “Cristiano Ronaldo. He used to play for Man United. United fans love him, he’s good looking so why would you not want to give him a slap? I’d have to catch him first, but he was certainly some player, wasn’t he?”

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Ronaldo hit 118 goals for United through 292 appearances between 2003 and 2009 – before heading off to take in a record-breaking spell at Spanish giants Real Madrid. He returned to England in the summer of 2021, but was released in November 2022 after speaking out against prominent figures from United’s past and present.

Taylor Swift may become the next VIP guest at Wrexham, with Ryan Reynolds sharing a box with the pop superstar during an NFL game in New York.

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A-list guests can often be seen in WalesHollywood co-owners make that possiblePop icon will visit the UK in 2024WHAT HAPPENED?

Swift was in the Big Apple to take in the Jets’ home date with the Kansas City Chiefs – as she continues to be romantically linked with American football ace Travis Kelce. She took in that contest alongside Reynolds’ wife Blake Lively, and saw the Chiefs collect a narrow 23-20 victory to make it two wins out of two for her while following Kelce around.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Reynolds was a couple of seats along from Swift and will have had ample opportunity in which to extend an invitation to the ‘Shake It Off’ songstress when it comes to paying a visit to StoK Racecourse and watching his Wrexham side in action – with the Deadpool actor a co-owner of the Dragons alongside Rob McElhenney.

DID YOU KNOW?

Several big names have already made their way to North Wales since Reynolds and McElhenney moved into sports ownership, with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd among the A-list stars to have watched the Dragons.

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Swift’s world tour will bring her to Europe in 2024, but she will not be in the United Kingdom until next summer. A visit to Wales will be made when playing Cardiff on June 18, but Wrexham’s season will have come to a close by then and Reynolds would need to put tickets in place long before that if another global icon is to provide competition for the guest lists that Lionel Messi continues to generate at Inter Miami.

Paul Mullin admits he does not “expect” to be handed a call-up by Wales, but he will be doing all he can to make his international “dream come true”.

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Goals aplenty scored in the lower leaguesPlaced on standby for last squadHopes to earn senior cap at some stageWHAT HAPPENED?

The prolific Wrexham striker was placed on standby when Wales boss Rob Page named his last squad. He was not drafted into the fold, but continues to knock on the door with his exploits at club level. Mullin hit 47 goals last season, as he helped to secure promotion back into the Football League, and has four efforts to his name this term.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Quizzed on as to whether he hopes to be capped at some stage, Mullin said: “My dad’s mum was Welsh, she was born in Newport and grew up there. It’s something I would love to do. It would be a dream come true. I think it’s documented elsewhere that I’ve always said, even when I was younger, I never really followed the England national team. I’d love to represent Wales. It’s been said in quite a lot of places and surprisingly it got put forward to the Wales manager quite a lot last year. I don’t expect to be called up. I obviously hold out hope that if I’m playing well enough and somehow I get the chance to do so, I’ll be over the moon. It’s not something I expect, but it’s something I would relish and enjoy. I think I could do it.”

WHAT THEY SAID

When it was put to him that all he can do is keep scoring goals and hope that the call eventually comes, Mullin added: “Hopefully that’s the case, but I understand as an international manager you have players that are registered for the country and play at higher levels. People look at it that way. I could have played higher but I chose not to, so I can’t really hold a grudge for not being selected at the level I play at because I chose to come and play here. I don’t think it should be a problem. One of the interviews was ‘if he scores goals in League Two then the call will come’. I have already got the record for scoring the most goals in a season in League Two [while at Cambridge]. I play football for Wrexham, I’ll give my all and score as many goals as I can. If the opportunity came then obviously I’d be over the moon, it would be beyond the wildest dreams of a player at this level to get called up for the national team. I’d be quite comfortable going to represent Wales.”

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Mullin boasts plenty of supporters for his cause at Wrexham – including club co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney – with the 28-year-old having shown that he could have plenty to offer the Wales camp with his exploits in the lower leagues.

The Liverpool winger scored twice for Colombia, and celebrated wildly as his father was moved to tears in the Estadio Metropolitano stands.

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Forward bagged a brace to help Colombia down BrazilFather in stands less a week after kidnapping releaseDiaz's parents were abducted in late OctoberWHAT HAPPENED?

Diaz's father was moved to tears in the Estadio Metrpolitiano stands after the winger scored twice to help Colombia overturn a 1-0 deficit. The two were reunited just 48 hours ago after Diaz's father was kidnapped in late October.

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Diaz has only made a handful of appearances for Liverpool since his parents were kidnapped by members of the National Liberation Army in late October. His mother was released shortly after, but his father was held until November 9.

Tonight, the Colombian has his moment on center-stage, scoring twice after a rollercoaster two-plus weeks leading up to the night.

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Diaz is set to play for Colombia next Tuesday, when they face off against Paraguay as they continue their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Then, he's set to return to Liverpool as the Reds look to improve their table standings in the English Premier League.

FC Cincinnati defender Yerson Mosquera scored a stoppage-time winner to send his club through to the MLS Eastern Conference Finals.

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FCC advance to Eastern Conference finalsDefeat Philadelphia UnionMosquera scores stoppage-time winnerWHAT HAPPENED?

In the 94th minute of the match, the Colombian defender found himself in the perfect place at the perfect time, tapping home down the middle of the net after a bit of pinball around the box. It came off a driven Cincy attack, with Philadelphia sitting back and absorbing the press from the Orange and Blue. It wasn't USMNT striker Brandon Vazquez or even MVP favorite Lucho Acosta – it was Mosquera, who scored only his third goal of the season.

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FCC are on to the Eastern Conference finals for the first-time ever in their cub history, with the Orange and Blue continuing their historic campaign. After winning the MLS Supporters' Shield, the No. 1 overall seed advanced via a 1-0 victory over the union through their defender, who scored his first of the postseason. Pat Noonan's squad are now just one win away from a berth in 2023 MLS Cup.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR FC CINCINNATI?

Lucho Acosta and co. will now have a date with the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference finals on December 2. The match will see the winner advance to MLS Cup and the loser header home, in a single-match format wit both extra-time and penalties alive. The Crew, who won MLS Cup in 2021, will look to spoil the party as the derby takes center-stage in the Eastern Conference finals.