This week’s roundup also features West Indies in their pomp, the new wonderkid of table tennis and Ayrton Senna putting his foot down

1) The first international weekend of the season is already upon us, butting in on the frenzy of the domestic transfer window. But at least there are a few evocative match-ups taking place. Holland travel to France needing a result to keep them in touch with the Group A pace-setters and a performance against Les Bleus along the lines of this one, in 2000, or this one, eight years later, would set them up nicely. But France won their most recent encounter, last October, thanks to a Paul Pogba stunner. In the same World Cup qualifying group, the leaders Sweden meet Bulgaria, which reminds us that this pair finished third and fourth respectively at USA 94, Sweden winning a feisty third-placed play-off. Savour the finishing of Henrik Larsson and the scowling of Hristo Stoichkov here. England meanwhile, travel to their first competitive game in Malta since 1971. Here’s a black-and-white local documentary on the occasion, which Alf Ramsey’s side won 1-0, before cruising to a 5-0 win in the return.

2) West Indies’ sensational run-chase against England at Headingley on Tuesday inevitably stirred memories of a similarly improbably charge to victory by a much more formidable Windies side in 1984: Gordon Greenidge at his best. Though England have had their fourth-innings successes themselves in Leeds, notably in the 2001 Ashes, also after the opposing captain had declared. Mark Butcher’s finest hour.

3) Amid the sound and fury of transfer deadline day, time to savour some of the more enjoyable farces of yesteryear, including Peter Odemwingie stuck in his car and Jermaine Jenas finding himself locked out at QPR.

4) Andrea Belotti for Torino against Sassuolo at the weekend: woof!

5) When Toronto Blue Jays’ Kevin Pillar takes off his glasses, we bet Lois Lane doesn’t recognise him.

6) Meet the new star of table tennis: 14-year old Tomokazu Harimoto.

1) “Total chaos on the base plates” during last week’s MLB meeting of the Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves.

2) Here’s a fine solo goal from Daniel English for England’s blind team against France.

3) Ayrton Senna’s heel and toe. The great man puts his foot down.

4) Scott Fox must briefly have been rather pleased with himself at the weekend. The Ross County goalkeeper had just flummoxed Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos with a nifty little turn. Time to pick out a pa … oh.

5) Some astute technical analysis of how Ali felled Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle.

Spotters’ badges: The Cedar Room, whobroughoranges, BlackCaesar

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