Team of the Week - 10.04.26

Southampton FC

The best team in the world right now?

Few can argue that Saints are on fire at the moment, and I truly hope that this Team of the Week selection won’t curse Tonda’s Red and White Army. Tonda Eckert has risen from a somewhat unknown coach at the club to first team manager, rising Saints from a relegation battle to promotion contenders. All with a lovely FA Cup run - seeing off Fulham and Arsenal along the way to Wembley, in what marks the club’s 50-year anniversary of winning the FA Cup. This last week has seen Saints beat Arsenal 2-1, followed by a 5-1 demolition of play off rivals Wrexham.

Roy Hodgson

Bristol City manager

The legendary manager made it two wins from two in his interim stint as Robins boss thanks to a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United. The 78-year-old may have ruled out a permanent extension at his former club but is currently making it look easy as the Championship club steady themselves after a drop in results. Seven points off the playoff spots, could Roy add one final flourish to his illustrious career?

Marlie Packer and Rosie Galligan

Red Roses duo

The World Cup winning duo are expecting a baby together, due in October 2026. In women’s sport, pregnancy has too often been seen as the end of a career, or at the very least a long spell away from the game. It is brilliant to see that mindset continuing to shift, with more recognition that women can be mothers and elite sportspeople, not one or the other. Congratulations to both of them, there could be a future England international on the way.

Laura Cardoso

Brazilian cricketer

Brazil's Laura Cardoso has become the first ever player to take nine wickets in a T20 international, recording figures of 9-4 against Lesotho. The Brazilian bowler created history in the Kalahari Women’s T20I tournament, as the 21-year-old allrounder broke the nine-wicket barrier for the first time in T20Is, including a hat-trick for figures of 3-2-4-9.