The platitude of football being a team game has been heard by everyone, but we…
World Cup 2018
A walk through Hungary: Once the axis of football, now a distant admirer
Our in-house writer visited Budapest, the focal-point for the best of European football not so…
Neymar: Brazil’s little misunderstood genius behind all the theatrics
Neymar at Russia 2018 came out with the reputation of a farceur, but behind everything…
Doped Up on Delirium – The madness of World Cup 2018
World Cup 2018 was one of the most memorable major football tournaments in recent times,…
Argentina at Russia 2018: The self-destructive version of viveza-criolla
There was a lot to dislike about Argentina’s conduct at this World Cup, and it’s…
Jo Hyeun-woo – South Korea’s accidental World Cup hero
When the World Cup started, South Korea’s choice of goalkeeper lay elsewhere. Jo Hyun-woo used…
“If He Was Brazilian” – In Defence of Jordan Henderson
If Jordan Henderson’s surname was Hendrao or Hendrinho, every forward pass would have been memorable…
Luka Modric – The Monk of Silent Spaces, Between Bombs and Bravura
You might not see his face on magazine cover pictures or Times Square billboards, but…
No Man’s Land: Navigating an increasingly political World Cup 2018
FIFA has gone to great lengths talking about the separation of football and politics, but…
Belgium’s Exemplary Success Through Ethnic Integration
For long, Belgium had struggled to integrate the ethnic groups that form their demographic. Their…
Hidetoshi Nakata – The real-life Captain Tsubasa
Peroxide-bleached hair, a passion for sake and a career that showed light to the entire…
Iceland’s Long Trek to the World Cup – A Tale of the Nordic Nerve
Even with Iceland’s elimination from their maiden World Cup, their tale of fearless Viking vigour…
Croatia’s ‘Golden Generation’ and their chance of redemption at Russia 2018
It has taken twenty long years, and many tournaments, but Croatia finally have a team…
How Denmark’s 1986 World Cup Shirt Became the World’s Best
1986 was a prolific year for pop-culture: The Oprah Winfrey show aired on national tv,…
Alan Dzagoev’s Glass Ceiling – Rise and Fall of Russia’s Original Wonderkid
Four years ago, there were very few Football Manager saved games without Alan Dzagoev in…
Wembley ’73: When a Socialist Poland Clowned Sir Alf Ramsey’s England
1973 was a good time to be an Englishman in London, until Poland and Jan…
March of the Lions of Teranga: Senegal’s David and Goliath Story
Senegal are back after a sixteen-year-long wait and with them have brought a hope of…
Here Comes the Cavalry – Mexico and the Breaking of Psychological Barriers
In a time when Trump’s politics has reduced Mexican citizens to an inhumane narrative focused…
The Curious Case of Xherdan Shaqiri – A Career in Reverse
If you read Xherdan Shaqiri’s career, it’s upside down. It’s easy to imagine stepping from…
Nigerian football: A Love of the Game in the Face of Corruption
Nigeria have failed to impress in Russia, but we should hardly be worried about their…