And then there were eight. With Round 1 of the MLS Cup playoffs in the rear-view mirror, Jason Davis and Arch Bell detail the four Conference Semifinal matches taking place on Wednesday and Thursday night. Who will move on to the final four?
Backstory: NYCFC are one of the richest clubs in MLS and play in the biggest market. While they can boast resources as good as any in the league, the recent trend in the Bronx is one of leveraging the City Football Group scouting network to sign under-the-radar talents. Playoff glory is still yet to be achieved.
Toronto got back to the playoffs and back to winning in the playoffs in the first round. That it managed the feat without Jozy Altidore and Omar Gonzalez will only boost confidence ahead of a conference semifinal showdown with NYCFC. It's all hands on deck for the Reds.
Playoff path: The top team in the Eastern Conference earned its way to the No. 1 seed with a remarkably consistent regular season and a well-balanced team that went down the roster for contributions. NYCFC took full advantage of their unique home field but was also the best team in the conference on the road.
It took the Reds more than 90 minutes to get going, but when they did, the dam burst. What was an overly tight affair for Greg Vanney's liking turned into a rout in the first stanza of extra time. If there's a lesson for Toronto, it's that there is enough talent in the team to overcome high profile absences.
Connecting thread: Both these teams reached the playoffs thanks in large part to the creative abilities of their playmaking dynamos. For NYCFC, it's Maxi Moralez, the league assist king from the hole in NYCFC's formation. For TFC, it's Alejandro Pozuelo, a 2019 newcomer who will pop up anywhere on the field but is often pushed out wide.
Tactical contrast: NYCFC keeps the ball. Using a flexible system that aims to generate fluid soccer, Domenec Torrent's team works forward by staying committed to a shape that still allows for freedom of movement to get the ball in dangerous areas. Players will interchange within the shape, making it a difficult task to defend them.
TFC's tactics are something of a mystery without Altidore in the lineup. With him, the focus is on playing off his hold-up abilities, with runners latching onto passes and flick-ons. Without him, the attack is a hodgepodge. Defensively, pushing the full-backs high up the field could open up space in behind.
Headaches: Just about the only thing that could be termed a "headache" for NYCFC is the unfamiliar venue that will serve as "home" for their first playoff match. The decision to move the game to Citi Field proved not to be necessary -- the Yankees will only watch the World Series rather than participate in it -- but was made with lead time in mind.
Toronto's goal explosion against D.C. will paper over the gigantic crack left by Altidore's absence. Against a team able to dictate terms like NYCFC, the lack of a point forward like Altidore will be more difficult to overcome. Set pieces and quality finishing carried the day on Saturday: Can TFC do it again?
Star man: Spotlight on Michael Bradley, TFC's man in the middle. Although he's not as athletic as he once was, the U.S. international is still a force to be reckoned with as a passer. It was Bradley's vision that started the sequence that led to Richie Laryea's goal in extra time, sparking the win over D.C.
With Moralez's influence already mentioned, Brazilian forward Heber gets the nod for NYCFC's star play. A versatile and multi-talented presence up front, Heber has been a hit in the Bronx with his smart play and quality finishing. He averaged nearly a goal a game in 2019.
Where it will be won: The cliche holds that games are won in the midfield because it's largely true. In this case, it's up to Bradley -- with help from Marky Delgado -- to slow down NYCFC through the center of the field. If Bradley is easily bypassed and the home team finds space in front of the backline, watch out.
X factor: NYCFC's Anton Tinnerholm is an end-to-end full-back who provides width in the attack while rarely taking a step wrong on the defensive end. Covering ground at Yankee Stadium is a little easier because there's isn't all that much of it -- will Tinnerholm's game be as strong at Citi Field?
Richie Laryea came off the bench and scored the eventual winner for TFC against D.C. United. Vanney may turn to the Canadian forward again to give his team life if the attach founders without Altidore up top.
NYCFC will win because: They have the better team and an understanding of Torrent's system that can make them irresistible at times. Playing in awkward confines is nothing new for them and though they've swapped one baseball stadium for another, no one else can claim such familiarity.
Toronto will win because: They're feeling good about themselves and can point to several in-form attackers after the victory on Saturday. There's enough depth to weather some injuries and Vanney knows how to coach in the postseason.
Prediction: New York City FC 2-0 Toronto FC -- Jason Davis (@davisjsn)
Backstory: For Seattle, the surreal basically serves as their normal when it comes to the MLS postseason, and Saturday's extra-time win over FC Dallas embodied that. But the one constant is belief and the Sounders have that in spades, none more so than head coach Brian Schmetzer, who almost always seems to pull the right strings.
This season, Real Salt Lake have been a team that rises up when things are rocky, and Saturday's playoff win over Portland was the perfect example. Just when you think RSL are headed for disaster, they survive.
Playoff path: Seattle reached this phase of the postseason with one of the nuttiest games you'll ever see. Twice they coughed up leads at home to Dallas only to emerge with a 4-3 triumph. The hero with a hat trick was Jordan Morris, who is staking an early claim that these will be his playoffs.
After coasting to a 1-0 halftime lead in the first round against Portland, RSL can count themselves lucky that the Timbers rallied to tie before Jefferson Savarino's late winner punched RSL's ticket to Wednesday night's date in Seattle with a 2-1 victory.
Connecting thread: This will be the second playoff matchup between the two sides. RSL won the previous one 3-2 on aggregate in 2011. During the regular season the teams split, with Seattle winning 1-0 at home and RSL a 3-0 victory in front of the home fans.
Tactical contrast: This stands to be an intriguing matchup pitting a very direct Seattle Sounders attack against a pretty solid defensive front for Real Salt Lake. RSL gave up just 41 goals during the regular season and they won't be allowing the same gaps and spaces that a young FC Dallas side conceded on Saturday.
Seattle's defense reverted to their midseason struggles by giving up set piece goals against the Texans, and RSL's attacking quartet of Savarino, Albert Rusnak, Damir Kreilach and Corey Baird have the goods in that area to punish the hosts.
Headaches: RSL interim coach Freddy Juarez is going to be really tempted to slot in the previously out-of-favor Joao Plata for Baird. Plata replaced Baird in Saturday night's game in the 77th minute and completely changed things for RSL, leading eventually to the Savarino winner.
Victor Rodriguez came on as a substitute in the second to firm up a Sounders midfield that was starting to suffer against Dallas and did well. Joevin Jones was terrific in the first half but tailed off. It all could lead to Schmetzer doing some reshuffling and moving Rodriguez back into the starting XI over Jones.
Star man: The big players make big plays at the big moments and that's what Savarino did with his late strike against Portland. Now going against a Seattle defense that raises red flags, Savarino should have the time and space to do some damage.
A playoff hat trick is no easy feat, so no doubt for Seattle this distinction belongs to Morris. He fulfills the role of goal scorer to a tee by getting the ball in the back of the net, even if it comes while he's sitting on his backside.
Where it will be won: The RSL midfield faced questions going into the Portland game and emerged alive, but the Seattle midfield poses another hurdle. With the slightest lapse or giveaway at the center stripe, Seattle can break and put teams to the sword. How RSL handle their midfield and leverage a strong back four to limit Seattle's counters will decide this one.
X factor: Kreilach has become the new Mr. October. The Croatian has played in four MLS playoffs games and has four goals after finding the back of the net against Portland on Saturday. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Jones is likely to feature and if he does, he can change the game with his ability to push forward and send balls into the box.
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Beckerman proud of RSL 'weathering the storm'
Kyle Beckerman talks through all the ups and downs during RSL's win over Portland Timbers.
Seattle will win because: The Sounders' superiority in midfield becomes too much for the RSL defense to hold down for a full 90 minutes, leading to a straightforward win for the hosts.
Salt Lake will win because: Savarino continues to wave his magic wand and produces something special, while the RSL back line locks down Morris and the Seattle attack.
Prediction: Seattle Sounders 2-0 Real Salt Lake -- Arch Bell (@ArchBell)
Backstory: Atlanta took the first step toward a repeat on Saturday with the win over New England, but there's something of an ominous vibe around the champs. The loss of Miles Robinson before the playoffs started and the late-game injury to Michael Parkhurst suddenly have Frank de Boer dealing with a defensive crisis.
Ten seasons in, the Union have their first-ever playoff victory. The incredible comeback nature of that win has only lifted Philadelphia higher as they head to a hostile environment to take on last year's champions. Jim Curtin's team has confidence and a health advantage on their side and that makes them dangerous.
Playoff path: It was never going to be easy against a Bruce Arena-coached team. The narrow victory against the Revs did belie the chances Atlanta managed to generate, particularly through Ezequiel Barco and Josef Martinez. There should be no doubt that Atlanta is the favorite on Thursday.
The Union had effectively zero momentum going into the playoffs and still managed to fight back from two goals down on two occasions to beat the Red Bulls. In contrast to the remaining teams in the East, Philly is a side with no true stars -- four different players found the net in the win over New York.
Connecting thread: Few teams in MLS are lucky enough to have one player who represents the club's heart and soul. As different as they are, Atlanta and Philadelphia each have that player in Martinez and Alejandro Bedoya, respectively. Whatever goes down on Thursday, those two figure to be at the center of it.
Tactical contrast: De Boer's shift late in the match against New England allowed goal scorer Franco Escobar to range forward and find space behind defense, indicating a tactical flexibility that will likely come into play against on Thursday. Atlanta will control possession and try to play to the feet of Barco as much as possible.
Against the Red Bulls, Philly moved to a system in the second half that allowed it to spread out a tired team. On the road in Atlanta, Curtin might take a more conservative approach, sitting in the 4-4-2 diamond to slow down Atlanta's transitions through midfield.
Headaches: Center-back injuries. Already missing Robinson, Atlanta could be without Parkhurst for the remainder of the playoffs after the veteran defender dislocated his shoulder on Saturday. De Boer will have to get creative to cover for the pair of absences by leaning on United's depth.
Andre Blake's form is a concern going into Thursday's match after the former Goalkeeper of the Year struggled against the Red Bulls. The comeback win overshadowed Blake's poor day, but it seems unlikely he can get away with a similar performance against Atlanta United.
Star man: Everyone knows about Martinez's goal threat, but the key to Atlatna unlocking Philly's defense and advancing to a conference final is Barco. The Argentine attacker came into his own this season and played the pass that led to Escobar's game-winner against the Revolution.
Marco Fabian was supposed to be more than a bench player when he arrived in Philadelphia. His winner against the Red Bulls shows he still has the ability to change the game, even if he's relegated to a substitute role. If Philly is going to spring an upset in Atlanta, Fabian will need to do it again.
Where it will be won: United's wing play can be devastating, thanks to the talents of players like Justin Meram and Julian Gressel. With Barco's abilities in the open field, the game could be decided by the Union's ability to slow down that trio and prevent Martinez from getting free runs that result in scoring chances.
X factor:Darlington Nagbe, shooter. Although Nagbe's role doesn't require him to be a goal threat, he is known to occasionally pop up with a surprise shot. The midfielder came close against New England and his ability to test Blake from distance with a low, hard shot could be a factor.
Ilsinho's exploits off the bench are near-legendary in Philadelphia at this point. With his ability to beat defenders in 1-v-1 situations, the Brazilian can change a game at a moment's notice. If the Union are in the game in the second half, Ilsinho will have something to say about the outcome.
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Moreno lauds Ezequiel Barco in Atlanta United's win
ESPN FC's Ale Moreno explains why Ezequiel Barco was the key in Atlanta's win over the Revolution.
Atlanta will win because: The unrelenting energy of its attacking group. At their best, United come at teams in waves that are difficult to handle for even the best defenses. Philadelphia has momentum, but this Atlanta team has homefield advantage and more than enough weapons to put them to the sword.
Philadelphia will win because: The energy from Sunday's win carries over to a full team effort at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Blake stands on his head. Ilsinho and Fabian conjure magic off the bench. It's the playoffs and anything can happen.
Prediction: Atlanta United 2-1 Philadelphia Union -- Jason Davis
Backstory: LAFC have been the best team in MLS all season and arrive into the encounter as the top seed in the west after a 72-point regular-season haul to set a league record. It has been a roller-coaster season for a Galaxy side that have their fair share of shortcomings, but still with an unwavering belief that when it comes to facing their city rivals, they will never lose.
Playoff path: LAFC begin their second-ever postseason campaign with a full 18 days of rest, for better or worse, and a chance to extinguish the ghosts of last year's wildcard loss to Real Salt Lake. The Galaxy won for just the second time in their past 10 road games in Sunday's 2-1 win over Minnesota United in Round 1.
Connecting thread: With LAFC still new to MLS waters, this marks the first ever playoff match between the two, however there is plenty of familiarity. This rivalry is barely 18 months old, but for LAFC fans it feels like a lifetime. Five games, no wins for the boys in black and a lot of heartbreak dished out by Galaxy superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Tactical contrast: Like they have done all season long, expect LAFC to be the team to own the ball in this one, with Eduard Atuesta pulling the strings in midfield to set up the likes of Latif Blessing, Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi against a Galaxy defense that has plenty of holes. However, as they showed in the teams' 3-3 draw earlier this season, the Galaxy can put teams to the sword when they break in transition. If LAFC get caught out, a historical season could come to a crashing halt.
Headaches: The injury to midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye while on international duty with Canada was a setback for LAFC coach Bob Bradley, but they are not the league's deepest team for nothing. If Kaye is not recovered, there are several options to turn to, with Lee Nguyen the best choice.
After doing some reshuffling for Sunday's affair in Minnesota, Galaxy coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto will likely make several chances for Thursday, and one player could find himself back in the starting XI is Romain Alessandrini. The Frenchman looked great as a sub against Minnesota in his first match back from injury, and it leaves Barros Schelotto with the hard decision of going with Alessandrini or Uriel Antuna in attack.
Star man: In the history of match previews, there has never been an easier thing to write. Vela had 34 goals and 15 assists for LAFC in 31 games. Ibrahimovic scored 30 goals and dished out seven assists in 29 games for the Galaxy. Fin.
Where it will be won: It is all going to come down to the Galaxy's ability to defend LAFC's suffocating attack. LAFC completely overwhelmed the Galaxy in their last meeting in the second half, and if not for some last-ditch clearances from the Galaxy and wayward finishing, LAFC would have broken the spell. Also, if LAFC go up, it will be crucial for them to keep their heads because the slightest hint of a Galaxy comeback could summon the ghosts of Traficos past.
X factor: For all the talk and attention that Ibrahimovic warrants when these two teams meet, Jonathan dos Santos is the key cog in the Galaxy wheel. The Mexico midfielder was running the show when the Galaxy leaped out to a 3-1 lead in their last meeting, but was then kept under wraps in the second half. The more Dos Santos touches the ball for the Galaxy, the better.
Blessing didn't score his first goal against the Galaxy until the 3-3 draw in late August when he notched a brace, but he has always been a thorn in their side. His movement and ability to get in past defenses wreaks havoc and creates the kind of chaos in front of goal that Vela feeds off of in these games.
LAFC will win because: The mistakes that have felled the Galaxy defense will rear their head against the league's best attack and LAFC finally break their Trafico curse.
Galaxy will win because: The Galaxy run their offensive transition to perfection and use their existing mental edge to continue LAFC's Trafico misery.
Chris Lynn wasn't holding his breath when Australia announced their latest T20I squad earlier this month but he has taken a swipe at a lack of communication from the selectors.
It was not a huge surprise that Lynn's name was missing for the matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan given the returns of David Warner and Steven Smith created a logjam at the top of the order.
Lynn, who has become a freelance T20 player, did not have his cause helped by two T20 leagues he was meant to be playing in - the Euro T20 Slam and Afghanistan T20 league - being cancelled, his decision to participate in the former meaning he wasn't up for the CPL this year.
When naming the squad, national selector Trevor Hohns said he wasn't aware if Lynn was in the country although he was dropped for the series in India earlier this year and it is CA policy that players omitted from the previous squad will be called by selectors.
"The lack of communication hasn't been great," Lynn told ESPNcricinfo. "I kind of saw [being omitted] coming, I'm not disappointed. Through no one's fault, I haven't played any cricket, but a phone call wouldn't hurt. I'm not going anywhere, I will keep trying to score runs and keep knocking on his door. It's all part of the journey. If you are going to sit at home and be negative, then nothing will happen."
"You can go through patches where you are really keen to train, and then others you might not want to get out of bed, but having someone give you a little kick up the backside is perfect."
Chris Lynn
Lynn, who will line up for the Prime Minister's XI against the Sri Lankans in Canberra on Thursday, hasn't played since the Global T20 in Canada in early August but he is determined to make a push for next year's T20 World Cup after spending his downtime working on his fitness, which he believes is the best it's been for two years.
He still avoids diving around in the field due to his past shoulder problems but does not think that should be a deciding factor in whether he gets to extend his international career which currently stands at 19 matches and an underwhelming return of 291 runs at 19.40 without a fifty, albeit alongside a strike-rate of 131.67.
"You can always take the positive, this is the longest period I've had at home in six or seven years so it's been a great chance to get fitter and stronger, build my base for the next 12-18 months," Lynn said at Kayo's Summer of Cricket launch in Sydney.
"I haven't dominated by any means. I have to stamp my case again then try to really dominate the international stage. Think I'm always going to be there or thereabouts but that's the beauty of Australian cricket, the depth is really good. I'm not the only to miss out. Matty Wade, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, they are some good names. It doesn't mean your career is over, it just makes you hungrier."
Lynn insists he is finding fulfillment in his career path and sees himself as something of a "trailblazer" having taken the decision to become a T20 gun for hire while in what should be the prime of his career.
"A lot of the guys who do it are towards the end of their careers, so to be a bit of trailblazer in this space is a little bit different. With that it takes a lot of risk. A lot of people think you are doing it because you want to play T20, travel round and the cash might be good but you are actually taking more of a risk. That keeps me hungry because I know if I fail in one tournament I might not get that opportunity the following year."
He now travels extensively with his mentor and personal coach, Gavin Fitness, which he says helps balance the fact he is not in a full-time contracted cricket set up at state level, although he retains access to Queensland's facilities through his Brisbane Heat deal.
"You can go through patches where you are really keen to train and then others you might not want to get out of bed, but having someone give you a little kick up the backside is perfect," he said. "It's a different dimension to what the cricket scene has had. We've seen some private physios and trainers go on tour, but not like your mentor or personal coach. You never know, it might be the norm in 10 years' time."
IAAF series will feature 15 meetings next year, with a second fixture in China also added
The Müller Grand Prix in Gateshead is among 15 meetings announced as part of the 2020 IAAF Diamond League season.
Gateshead replaces Birmingham as a Diamond League meet host, with the Alexander Stadium unavailable due to its redevelopment for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Before the August 16 meeting in Gateshead, the Diamond League will first make a UK stop at the Müller Anniversary Games in London on July 4, while there will also be two meetings in China, the first on May 10 with the venue to be confirmed and the second in Shanghai on May 16 – a move that will please the Diamond League’s new title sponsors, the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group.
All other current Diamond League meetings remain in the series for next year, with Doha kicking off the series on the unusually early date of April 17.
2020 DIAMOND LEAGUE MEETINGS
Doha – April 17
China (venue to be advised) – May 10
Shanghai – May 16
Stockholm – May 24
Rome – May 28
Rabat – May 31
Eugene – June 7
Oslo – June 11
Paris – June 13
London – July 4
Monaco – July 10
Gateshead – August 16
Lausanne – August 20
Brussels – September 4
Zurich – September 11
The governing body said that further work is being undertaken on whether each meeting will be able to host 11 or 12 Diamond League disciplines in the available time frame and which events each meeting will host outside of the 90-minute broadcast window. A final decision on the disciplines to be included in the international broadcast window is set to be made at the beginning of November.
On Monday it was also announced that the IAAF will launch a second international series of one-day meetings in 2020 entitled the World Athletics Continental Tour, which is designed to provide “world-class competition, top flight world ranking points and earning opportunities for many more athletes”, with a focus on the disciplines which do not feature regularly in the Diamond League. It is also set to be broadcast around the world.
The IAAF added that the world rankings system will be structured so that athletes in every discipline will earn the same level of points at their highest available one-day meeting series, whether that is in the Diamond League or the new tour.
“The Diamond League is our shop window and we want to attract new fans with a fast, action-packed format that is commercially attractive to broadcasters and partners. That approach has already been endorsed by our new title sponsor Wanda,” said IAAF president and chairman of the Diamond League board, Sebastian Coe.
“I am delighted that the Diamond League meetings have chosen to actively support the creation of the World Athletics Continental Tour as this will enable us to maintain strong international competition opportunities for all our world class athletes as they come through their continental structures.”
Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards says South Africa wing Cheslin Kolbe reminds him of England's 2003 World Cup winner Jason Robinson.
Diminutive Kolbe has scored seven tries in 13 Tests and his elusive style prompted Edwards to compare him with his ex-rugby league team-mate Robinson.
Wales face South Africa in the World Cup semi-final on Sunday.
"If you want to watch a game of rugby, you want to go and watch Cheslin Kolbe," said Edwards.
"We'll have to keep an eye on him because he's one of the most dynamic players I've ever seen.
"I was lucky enough to play with Jason Robinson for many years. I was his captain at Wigan when he first came in the team there.
"Kolbe is a similar player to Jason, incredibly explosive, short and defies the fact that you have to be big to play the game of rugby.
"It's a game with all shapes and sizes. Let's hope that continues."
Kolbe epitomises a South African size that is blessed with pace as well as their traditional power.
"They have got blowtorch speed on the edges," said Edwards.
"Out wide they've got incredible speed. If there was a 4x100 relay race with all the teams in the World Cup, they would probably be the fastest."
The Springboks power game remains though after they battered hosts Japan into submission with their quarter-final victory.
"We'll have to muscle up on the advantage line," said Edwards
"They're huge men and are fantastic defensively. They're statistically the best defensive team in the world at the moment.
"Any team coached by Rassie Erasmus are going to be well organised, they'll have a strong defence and a strong kicking game.
"They've got two pretty canny half backs. I'm a huge fan of both those players at nine and 10.
"I hope it is the most physical yet because I feel like you are playing against a team like the Springboks who have huge forwards who like to get over the advantage line.
"It will be a battle royal on that advantage line.
"You don't want to miss tackles, but it is not one of the key performance indicators on whether you win a game.
"One of the biggest one is the gain-line and whether you gave it up. That is the biggest indicator whether you win or lose the game in defence."
Edwards' hopes for Davies fitness
Wales will be hoping centre Jonathan Davies proves his fitness for Sunday's World Cup semi-final as he faces a continued fitness battle.
The 31-year-old picked up a knee injury against Fiji and missed the last two matches against Uruguay and France.
The British and Irish Lions centre played in the first three games in Japan before sitting out the last two matches, despite being initially selected for the France quarter-final.
Edwards seems more optimistic about Davies facing the Springboks in Yokohama this weekend with the centre training on his own with medical manager Prav Mathema on Tuesday.
"He has had some serious injuries over the years and missed out on competitions," said Edwards.
"Jon missed the last World Cup, but I am pretty sure he will be ready for the weekend.
"You want the more experienced players back ready for the big games."
In Davies' absence, France centre Virimi Vakatawa caused problems in the Welsh midfield in Oita against an unfamiliar combination.
Wales centre Hadleigh Parkes was also carrying a shoulder injury into that game while Owen Watkin was a late starting replacement for Davies.
Australia and Fiji caused Wales problems with a further three tries conceded in the first-half against France where they missed 18 tackles in the opening 40 minutes.
"I was pleased we only conceded 19 points against France, but wasn't happy the way we conceded those 19 points," said Edwards.
"We are struggling to stop teams on the goal line like a lot of teams.
"We need to get back down to the 14-point line we were conceding in the Six Nations, we are averaging around 18-19 in this tournament so far.
"If we get down to that 13-15 points that will help us for our attack to try and cover that."
Barcelona and Neymar have failed to reach an agreement over a dispute based around a €43 million renewal bonus included in the last contract the Brazilian signed with the club in 2016, sources have told ESPN FC.
Neymar received around €14m at the time and was due the remaining €29m on Aug. 1, 2017. However, Barca refused to pay the rest as the forward neared a world-record €222m move to Paris Saint-Germain. He eventually signed for the French club on Aug. 3, 2017.
ESPN FC have learned that, in total, the paperwork from both sides equates to over 3,000 pages. Therefore, an immediate resolution is not expected. It could take longer than a month for the judge to announce the final ruling.
Barca and Neymar had looked close to reaching an out-of-court agreement before September's hearing. However, a late request from the Brazilian's representatives regarding guarantees that the Blaugrana would re-sign him from PSG saw talks break down.
In September, the judge had suggested May 18, 2021 as a potential date for a court case to finally settle the disagreement. However, Neymar's representatives argued that was too long to wait, which led to both sides instead presenting their cases at a second hearing on Monday.
Neymar is demanding pay the full €43m. Barca, meanwhile, are suing the Brazilian for breach of contract. They are asking to be paid back the €14m given to Neymar in 2016 as well as €8.5m in damages plus interest.
Those in charge of squad planning at Camp Nou still believe he would be a good addition to the side, but there are other voices at the club who don't even want to talk about the possibility of bringing him back at the moment. Last week, Barca captain Lionel Messi, who has previously gone on record saying he would like Neymar to return, admitted it will be complicated to re-sign him from PSG.
"It's difficult for him to come back," the Argentine said. "As he left here, many club members and people do not want him to come back. From a sporting point of view, he would be wonderful, but the other view is also understandable. It is a bit difficult."
It was typical Roy Keane: blunt, perhaps a little unrealistic, and demanding of only the very best, regardless of what it takes to get it.
Speaking in his role as a Sky Sports pundit following Manchester United's 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, the club's former captain suggested that the solution to their goal-scoring problems would be to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham. "Just go and get Kane from Spurs," he said. "Easy. They [Spurs] are in disarray. Go get him."
Keane then appeared incredulous when his studio colleagues -- Gary Neville, Graeme Souness and Jose Mourinho -- looked at him in silence. "What are you all staring at?" he said. "He'd scored 20 goals a season with his eyes shut. Go and get him."
Keane was serious, but there was also a hint of mischief about his comments. Maybe the Irishman knows that United are simply no longer capable of landing the biggest names like they used to, but was throwing it out there, regardless.
Back in the days when Keane ruled the roost at United, the club would regularly sign the best players in the country. United may have twice missed out on Alan Shearer during the 1990s, but they broke the British transfer record to sign Andy Cole from Newcastle in 1995, Rio Ferdinand from Leeds in 2002 and an 18-year-old Wayne Rooney from Everton two years later.
During Sir Alex Ferguson's reign, United also pulled off the signing of Robin van Persie from Arsenal in 2012 and were prepared to engage in lengthy battles with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy before completing big-money deals for Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov. All resulted in plenty of silverware.
If this was the old United, a world-record move for Kane would be the obvious next step for a club in desperate need of a talisman and goal scorer to breathe new life into the team.
Since the start of this season, United have only scored more than one goal in a game once -- when they hit four past Chelsea on the opening weekend. Meanwhile, Kane has already netted five goals in nine Premier League games for Spurs this season, with another two in the Champions League.
Even in a team that is struggling almost as badly as United, the 26-year-old is still able to find his way to goal as consistently as he has always done. He has scored 122 goals in his last five full Premier League seasons -- 10 more than Manchester City star Sergio Aguero over the same period -- making Kane the most consistent goal scorer of his generation.
The England captain would be a transformative signing for United should they actually pull it off. He would bring goals and leadership, his presence as centre-forward would enable Marcus Rashford to play in his favoured position on the left of a front three, while he would also be the signing that could unlock the best of Paul Pogba, giving the French midfielder a similarly high-profile teammate who puts the finishing touch to his creativity.
Even with a midfield that is in desperate need of reinforcements, signing Kane would instantly take United to another level and make them capable of scoring more than once in a game again.
But here comes the reality check, both for Keane and anyone else who thinks that Kane can be United's saviour: Manchester United, for all of their history and wealth, are no longer the attractive destination they once were for the best players.
Kane may be reaching the stage in his career where he has to decide whether his best chance of winning major honours will come at Spurs or elsewhere, but if he does choose to move on, it is doubtful that Old Trafford would even be in the top five of his preferred options.
There is too much uncertainty hovering over United for Kane to even consider a move to the Premier League's most successful club. Most notable are the question marks over Pogba's future and that of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who, despite the public backing of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, will come under increasing pressure if results continue to leave United in the bottom half of the table.
The United of old, of Keane's era, would have made Kane their No. 1 target. A £200 million move for the Premier League's top striker would have been their catalyst for a rise back to the top.
United are not the force they once were, but if they are serious about reversing their fortunes, perhaps they should heed their former captain's advice and be bold enough to make Spurs, and Kane, an offer they can't refuse.
Faf du Plessis will continue to captain South Africa despite overseeing one of their worst Test results since readmission - he sees it as his responsibility to ease them through the transition. South Africa last suffered successive innings defeats in Tests in 1935-36, and though they have been whitewashed by Australia twice since 1992, their defeats then were not as stark as they are now. Du Plessis, who has led the side since mid-2016, will not use the results as a reason to jump ship and wants to oversee a process that will enable a new leader to take over in due course.
"How I see my journey unfolding with this team is to help with the transition period," du Plessis said at the press conference after the Ranchi Test. "That's something we spoke about before that wasn't necessarily the case before. Graeme Smith was a successful captain for a very long time and then after that, it was like, 'what now, who is going to captain the side, what's going to happen?' This period is to try and make that process a bit smoother, identifying the next leaders, identifying the next captains, working with them, and then when that time is right, that time will be right."
His reference to Smith and his golden generation will only make the India series' result sting even more. It was under Smith that South Africa last won a Test in India, in 2010 and remained unbeaten in an away Test series for nine years. But earlier this year, South Africa lost a home Test series to Sri Lanka and now they haven't merely lost in India, they have been outplayed and exposed, something du Plessis puts down to inexperience.
"I found the tour really tough," he said. "We have had a very mature Test team for a while, guys that have played 30, 40 and more Test matches. Now you look in the dressing room and its five, six, seven, eight, ten Tests."
South Africa's most experienced player on this trip is du Plessis himself, with 61 Test caps, and only five of the 16-man squad had toured India before. Of those, Dean Elgar showed he has made some progress from 2015 by scoring a century, but Temba Bavuma did not. Similarly, in the bowling department Kagiso Rabada, who debuted in that series, showed flashes of brilliance but Vernon Philander, who was injured after one Test on the 2015 tour, didn't. A combination of the inability to bowl out the opposition even once and a failure to bat big is how du Plessis summed up what went wrong.
"When we play in the subcontinent, our style of bowling is not successful. You have to adapt your style to the style that is required. Obviously, someone like Dale Steyn was effective in the subcontinent because he has a similar skill set. He is a skiddy bowler off the pitch, hits the stumps, whereas if you are missing the stumps a lot or bouncing it over the stumps, it's not as effective here.
"Seam bowling is one area; spin they [India] were better than us and from a batting unit, exceptional ruthlessness in the way they put massive scores on the board. That's one of the reasons why mentally we were so weak towards the end. Obviously, they did bat first every time, which made it easier but they still to put on 500, 500, 600 and the scoreboard pressure, the effect that it has on you mentally as a batting line-up, it takes a lot of energy and it takes a lot of toll. You just feel like there's no opportunity or no moment in the game when you can hide. Your body is tired, your mind is tired and then you make mistakes."
Mind games have long haunted South Africa, mostly at major tournaments but now even in the longer format and du Plessis believes its an area that needs improvement fast. "Our next journey is to try and make sure we get a lot stronger as a cricketing team mentally. As you can see, a tour like this reveals that there is a lot of mental scars that can happen and then obviously it's difficult to come out of the hole. We played our best match in the first match and the consistent pressure that was on us made us weaker with every Test match that we played. It tells me we are not mentally strong as a team and that some work is required in that department."
This tour is the first place du Plessis will look at when it comes to identifying who is mentally strong enough to keep playing at this level and who will form the next leadership group. "When you go through extreme hardships like this, in the hardships, you will still find guys that are up for Test cricket."
Like who? Quinton de Kock scored one century, Keshav Maharaj was brave with ball and bat, Senuran Muthusamy showed all-round potential and Zubayr Hamza played one sprightly knock.
The same cannot automatically be applied to Bavuma, the man being groomed as du Plessis' successor. He scored 96 runs in six innings and was moved down the order from No.4 to 5, swapping places with du Plessis. His numbers suggest he is not ready to take over just yet, but his mindset reveals something else. In a revealing press conference in the second Test, Bavuma spoke frankly about his battle to convert and acknowledged that his best was not good enough at the moment. Like du Plessis, he recognised his responsibility and he knows what's expected of him. For now, that's all South Africa can ask for. It will take time before Bavuma is performing at the level required of a captain, or South Africa find someone else who is and no-one can say how much.
The next few months will not be easy as South Africa host England at home for four Tests. When the same sequence of fixtures was played four years ago, South Africa lost both series and their captain, Amla. This time, if du Plessis sticks to his word, they are are only at risk of the former.
Virat Kohli wants India to play their home Tests at only five venues. He did not name them but said Test cricket in India should be distributed across "strong Test centres" as they are in other countries.
Kohli said this in response to a question about whether India should restrict the home Tests to the traditional big-city venues - Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
India follow a rotation policy to allot their home games in all formats, and South Africa's just-concluded tour took place at three venues that were each hosting just their second-ever Test matches: Visakhapatnam, Pune and Ranchi.
"We've been discussing this for a long time now, and in my opinion we should have five Test centres, period," Kohli said, after the conclusion of the Ranchi Test. "I mean, I agree [with] state associations and rotation and giving games and all that, that is fine for T20 and one-day cricket, but Test cricket, teams coming to India should know, 'we're going to play at these five centres, these are the pitches we're going to expect, these are the kind of people that will come to watch, crowds'.
"So that becomes a challenge already, when you're leaving your shores, because we go to any place, we know we're having four Test matches in these venues, this is what the pitch is going to offer, it's going to be a full stadium, the crowd's behind the [home] team, and look, you want to keep Test cricket alive and exciting. I totally agree with the fact that we need five Test centres at the max.
"It can't be sporadic and spread over so many places where people turn up or they don't, so in my opinion, absolutely. You should have five strong Test centres that teams coming to India know that this is where they're going to play."
England play most of their Test matches at their six traditional venues - the two London grounds Lord's and The Oval. Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham. Australia play the bulk of their home Tests in six cities too - Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart. In both these countries - and in South Africa and New Zealand as well - there is usually a set order to which cities host which Tests; The Oval always hosts the last Test of the English summer for instance. Also, in the Southern Hemisphere, traditional dates are fixed for certain venues to host their Tests, such as Boxing Day at the MCG or Durban, and the New Year's Tests in Cape Town and the SCG.
India, in contrast, spread their Tests all over the country. They've played home Tests at 27 venues overall, and 18 grounds since the turn of the millennium. The major venues have usually hosted the most Tests in this period, but, as Kohli said, sporadically. Mumbai and Chennai, for instance, haven't hosted any Tests since late 2016.
Crowds for Test cricket at newer venues in smaller cities and towns has been a talking point for quite a few years, though there isn't a clear pattern to suggest that Tests at all such venues are poorly attended. The three grounds that hosted the series against South Africa are all located at a fair distance from the city centre, and the facilities at some of the grounds aren't particularly spectator-friendly - three-fourths of the stands in Pune, for instance, don't have roofs. Still, though there were no full houses, there was a decent turnout on most days in Visakhapatnam and Ranchi, and over the weekend in Pune.
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen is "100% confident" captain Kieran Read will be fit for Saturday's World Cup semi-final against England after the back row missed training on Tuesday.
Read has a tight calf and so rode a bike in the gym instead of training in the Tokyo rain.
The 33-year-old is aiming to win his third World Cup after leading the All Blacks to an emphatic 46-14 victory against Ireland in the quarter-finals.
"There's no issue," said Hansen.
"We just weren't prepared to put him on a wet track today."
Tournament favourites New Zealand powered past their pool-stage opponents with ease, beating second-favourites South Africa 23-13 in their opening game.
The All Blacks scored seven tries against Ireland on Saturday, including one when they were down to 14 men late in the game.
But Hansen says his side must "do something England haven't seen before" when the teams meet in Yokohama.
"It's our job to do something different," he said.
"You practise it, implement it. If it works you're a superstar and if it doesn't you're an idiot.
"England would say they can tuck the ball up their jersey and do that game and they'll say that they can run it. We can match it with our forward pack.
"I don't think the forward pack gets as much credit as it should because it's overridden by the other things we do. We want to run with the ball and we've got a good kicking game too."
Team-mates, room-mates, brothers
Lock Scott Barrett was one of three brothers on the field by the end of New Zealand's win against Ireland, alongside siblings Beauden and Jordie.
It was not the first time they had teamed up for their country. The Barretts became the first sibling trio to start in a World Cup for New Zealand in a pool-stage game against Canada three weeks ago.
And Scott and Beauden have the chance to spend time together off the field this week, as they are sharing a room for the first time in 17 years.
"This week I've roomed with Beaudie for the first time since 2002, when he was in the top bunk," Scott joked.
"Back then, there were two sets of bunks and there were four of us in there. He's a key driver of our game so to room with him is great.
"It's my first semi-final and we're considering it as a final. It is a huge week."
Playing against Heinz 'a bit weird'
Fellow lock Sam Whitelock will also be sharing the field with a familiar face on Saturday, but his will be on the opposing team.
Whitelock played alongside England's New Zealand-born scrum-half Willi Heinz at Super Rugby side Crusaders and provincial side Canterbury until Heinz moved to Premiership team Gloucester in 2015.
Whitelock's wife stayed with Heinz, who qualifies for England through his grandmother, while the All Blacks forward was playing in the 2015 World Cup in England so he says they "know each other pretty well".
"I haven't had a message from him [this week] yet," Whitelock said. "We'll leave it out there on the field.
"I haven't played against him while he's been playing for England so it's a little bit weird."
Sourav Ganguly is confident that Bangladesh's tour of India next month will take place as scheduled, despite concerns to the contrary following Bangladesh's top cricketers announcing a strike on Monday.
"It's an internal matter, they will sort it out. No, no, they'll come," Ganguly, the BCCI's president-elect, said on Tuesday morning in Kolkata when asked about the situation. "We [he and the BCB president Nazmul Hassan] speak every other day, but this [the strike] is not my job."
Bangladesh's cricketers got together on Monday and made their decision public to not to participate in any cricket-related activity until the BCB addresses their demands for the improvement of cricket in the country. The players, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah and other prominent names among them, released a list of 11 demands, with Shakib saying, "When the demands are met, normal service will resume." The BCB has since called an emergency meeting of its directors to discuss the matter.
That, understandably, cast doubts over Bangladesh's tour of two Tests and three T20Is in India, slated to begin on November 3 and run till November 26. But not only is Ganguly certain of Bangladesh making the tour, he is also firming up plans to have the Indian and Bangladeshi heads of state attend the second Test, to be played at Kolkata's Eden Gardens from November 22.
"The prime minister of Bangladesh will be attending. We haven't yet sent the invitation to the Indian prime minister, but we will be sending it," Ganguly said. "We will be inviting the chief minister [of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee] also, for Day 1 of the Test match. I will go meet her"
Not only does Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal share a long history - the Indian state was partitioned to form the country - Bangladesh's first Test match was against India, back in 2000. With this being the first time Bangladesh are playing a Test match in Kolkata, Ganguly, who led India in that Test in Dhaka, wants to make the occasion even more memorable.
"We will write now to the Bangladesh board - Bangladesh's first Test was with India, so we want to invite those players [who played the match]. And I will write, as the BCCI president as and when I get elected, to players of that team. The Indian players too. So we will do a felicitation when the game [day's play] finishes at 3.30pm," Ganguly said, adding that the prime ministers - both of them, depending on their availability - would also be requested to ring the bell to announce the start of the Test.
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