Author Archives: 1960s: Days of Rage

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Inverted full-backs? It’s time to bring back the phrase ‘half-back’ instead


“Forgive the self-indulgent introduction here but, back in 2010, I devised the term ‘inverted winger’. In an article about the increasing tendency for managers to field right-footed wingers from the left and left-footed wingers from the right — then something of a recent trend — it was time to come up with a proper phrase. At the time, the trend was to refer to them as ‘inside-out wingers’, which was clearly unsatisfactory. Not merely did it sound somewhat childish, but it also accidentally implied the opposite of what was happening. The wingers were moving from outside to in, not inside to out. …”
The Athletic

Matchday 1: Kenneth Kaunda – Maher Mezahi


“In the final episode of ‘Matchday 1’ of the African Five-a-side podcast, we profile Zambia’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda. Kaunda so loved football and supported the national team that they were nicknamed the “KK11” in honor of him. We also explore how Kaunda got parastatal conglomerates in Zambia’s Copperbelt to sponsor domestic clubs and spur local football development. Special thanks to the research of Dr. Hikabwa Chipande and his extensive research on this subject which served as the basis for this episode.. …”
Africa Is a Country (Video)
Africa Is a Country  Maher Mezahi is a football journalist based in Algiers who studies the cross-section between history, politics and football on the African continent.

Why Newcastle conceded a Premier League record xG against Liverpool


“Sometimes statistics can be misleading, but there was nothing deceptive about Liverpool’s record-breaking expected goals (xG) return of 7.27 from their New Year’s Day game against Newcastle United. Head coach Eddie Howe may refute that his side were “open” in the 4-2 defeat at Anfield, but when your opponents take 34 shots, including 15 on target, then it is indisputable that there are fundamental deficiencies in Newcastle’s defensive setup. …”
The Athletic
The Athletic – Liverpool 4-2 Newcastle reaction: How Salah left for AFCON in style with double
The Athletic – Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah now heads to AFCON – how on earth can they replace him?

Kylian Mbappe’s transfer status: Free to talk to clubs, Real Madrid’s deadline, PSG’s stance


“Today, as we begin 2024, Kylian Mbappe enters the final six months of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), which means he will be able to negotiate with clubs who are interested in signing him on a free transfer at the end of that deal. Aged 25, Mbappe is already a World Cup winner, runner-up and Golden Boot winner, and widely recognised as one of the finest football players on the planet. His future has also been the subject of frenzied and protracted speculation with the Frenchman frequently flirting with Real Madrid and falling out with PSG. …”
The Athletic

Free agents in 2024 – the players who can now sign pre-contract transfer agreements


“This season’s winter transfer window is now open, meaning clubs can officially start the scramble to add reinforcements or offload players deemed surplus to requirements. Premier League sides can do business until 11pm GMT on Thursday, February 1 — and, following discussions with the major leagues around Europe, that will also be deadline day in La Liga (Spain), Serie A (Italy), Ligue 1 (France) and the Bundesliga (Germany). But while clubs who want to sign players under contract must negotiate and, usually, pay a transfer fee during a FIFA-determined transfer window, wise forward planning allows ‘pre-contract agreements’ in some circumstances. The Athletic explains what these are and which players due to be out of contract in the summer could now step up transfer plans. ….”
The Athletic

Debt-ridden and off the pace, Barça seek Davids Effect to revive season


“First they tried to bring back Lionel Messi, then they did bring back Dani Alves, briefly. Rafa Márquez returned to take over the B team, Xavi Hernández came home, this time as coach, and Deco arrived again, the former midfielder turned sporting director. They attempted to get Carles Puyol to join them. And now Joan Laporta, the president who also came back, re-elected to the post 17 years after he first ran for it and a decade after he had departed, wants Edgar Davids to return to FC Barcelona. …”
Guardian

Athletic Bilbao’s Basque-only ‘philosophy’ – and why some are calling for change


Athletic players celebrate their win over Atletico Madrid on December 16
“For much of their 125-year history, Athletic Bilbao have been recognised for their unique player policy. Known as a philosophy by those connected to the club, it dictates that Athletic only use players who have been born or brought up in what is defined as the Basque Country, a region of northern Spain and across the border in France of three million inhabitants that shares linguistic, historical and cultural ties. …”
The Athletic (Video)

Burnley 0 Liverpool 2: Can Nunez fill Salah void? And why was Jota return so crucial?


Liverpool are back at the top of the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp’s side made the most of playing before Arsenal and Aston Villa in this round of fixtures, beating hosts Burnley 2-0 in a curious game which showcased their best and worst characteristics. Liverpool were far superior for long spells at Turf Moor but only led through Darwin Nunez’s sixth-minute goal for the vast majority of the evening, courtesy of a combination of poor finishing and some controversial refereeing decisions. Diogo Jota, back after injury, finally made certain of the points and ensured a two-point cushion over Arsenal, who play West Ham on Thursday. …”
The Athletic
The Athletic: A Liverpool matchday in The Albert – the pub next door to the Kop

Barcelona review of the year: La Liga triumph – but problems are mounting


“This has been a strange year for Barcelona. They started by winning the Supercopa de Espana in January with a scintillating display against rivals Real Madrid. One month later, the Negreira case emerged — and we are certainly far from the end of that. Xavi’s side were crowned La Liga champions in May, but defeat by Madrid in the Copa del Rey and Manchester Unitedin the Europa League saw them fall short on other fronts. …”
The Athletic

First World War Christmas truce: How much football was actually played?


“It’s one of the best-known stories about the First World War: the Christmas truce of 1914, when soldiers from both sides spontaneously laid down their guns and, for a few hours at least, acted as if they weren’t trying to wipe each other out in a cruelly pointless war. Part of the story was the football match that broke out in No Man’s land. The image of the two sides uniting, in a manner of speaking, over the common language of sport became incredibly evocative, a slice of normality amidst the horror. …”
The Athletic

Coventry City 2–2 Bristol City (1977)


“On 19 May 1977, the English association football clubs Coventry City and Bristol City contested a match in the Football League First Division at Highfield Road, Coventry. It was the final game of the 1976–77 Football League season for both clubs, and both faced potential relegation to the Second Division. A third club, Sunderland, were also in danger of relegation and were playing their final game at the same time, against Everton at Goodison Park. As a result of many Bristol City supporters being delayed in traffic as they travelled to the game, the kick-off in the Coventry–Bristol City game was delayed by five minutes, to avoid crowd congestion. … Sunderland made a complaint about the incident, and the Football League conducted an investigation, but both Coventry and Bristol City were eventually cleared of any wrongdoing. …”
YouTube: COVENTRY CITY 2 BRISTOL CITY 2 MAY 1977

Through the Looking Glass of Big Data: SSC Napoli 2015/16 and the Vindication of Maurizio Sarri: Part One


“Before Luciano Spalletti’s new-look Napoli led by Kvicha ‘Kvaradona’ Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen conquered the Serie A in 2022/23 for the first time since a certain Argentinian had led them to the Scudetto over 30 years prior, it was the unassuming rise of Maurizio Sarri seven years prior that had seemingly marked the start of a new era in the history of the club. Sarri’s appointment to the top job in July 2015 at Napoli had come as a surprise to many in the Neapolitan media as he beat out the more-vaunted likes of Cesare Prandelli and Luciano Spalletti himself to replace Rafa Benitez, freshly departed for Real Madrid. ‘We won’t have a winning Napoli with him,’ the typically outspoken Diego Armando Maradona told the press at the start of the season. …”
Breaking the Lines
Breaking the Lines – Part II: A First Campione D’Invierno (Or, Tuscan Men Love to Curse)
Breaking the Lines – Through the Looking Glass of Big Data: SSC Napoli 2015/16 and the Vindication of Maurizio Sarri: Part Three

The top 5 surprises of the 2023/24 season so far, featuring Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen and Serhou Guirassy


“There was plenty of interest over the summer in how much momentum Xabi Alonso‘s Bayer Leverkusen could take from their great end to the previous campaign. A 14-match unbeaten run in the spring had seen them into the UEFA Europa League semi-finals and carried them up to sixth in the Bundesliga. Few could have possibly foreseen that everything would click into place so seamlessly for Die Werkself to rise to the top of the table and stay there with the swagger of real league leaders – putting together another astonishing unbeaten run stretching to 25 matches in all competitions (and counting) this autumn. …”
Bundesliga (Video)

Tear gas, cages and midnight lock-ins: The reality of being an away fan in Europe


“Penned in cages. Tear-gassed by police. Forced to queue for hours by heavy-handed stewards. Locked in stadiums until midnight and enduring transport chaos. This has been the reality of life for travelling supporters in European competition this season, with seemingly every fanbase having a horror story at their treatment by host clubs or local security forces. When set against a general backdrop of disorder across the continent — from fatal stabbings in France to games being played behind closed doors in Greece or called off altogether in Turkey — it appears that life for away fans in Europe is grimmer than ever. So, what is the reality? In the last week, The Athletic attended three games in two countries — Napoli vs Braga and Atletico Madrid vs Lazio in the Champions League, and Real Betis vs Rangers in the Europa League. This is what we discovered. …”
The Athletic

Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd: 34 shots for Klopp’s team, Varane impresses, Onana passing key


Liverpool were frustrated against Manchester United as they dropped two points at Anfield in a 0-0 draw. The home side dominated possession and had more chances but the visitors, arriving on the back of their midweek Champions League exit, showed resilience. Liverpool’s 34 shots are the most in a Premier League game by a team that failed to score since Manchester United’s 38 against Burnley in October 2016 and the fifth most in the competition’s history (since 2003-04 when Opta have the data). …”
The Athletic
Guardian – Erik ten Hag: from Ming the Merciless to circling the Old Trafford plughole – Jonathan Wilson
Guardian – United stoop to trench-digging for pragmatic draw at Liverpool

World Cup 2022 migrant worker diaries, one year on: Death, regret, joy and trying to return


“One year ago tomorrow, a bisht-wearing Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy into the Qatari night. That moment would not have happened without migrant labour. Foreign workers, making up more than 90 per cent of Qatar’s population, built eight stadiums, miles of roadway and dozens of accommodation blocks. The deaths of thousands of these workers remain unexplained. During the tournament, FIFA and Qatari organisers have pushed back against discussion of migrant worker rights, insisting that it was time to focus on football. Over that month, with the help of human rights researchers Equidem, The Athletic published four instalments of diaries written by migrant workers. …”
The Athletic

The story of Saddam Hussein’s psychopath son Tifo Football


“Uday Hussein was a sexual sadist, drug addict and psychopath – but he was also the man in charge of Iraqi sport, especially Iraqi football, which he ran using torture, theft, extortion and murder. This is his story, his lengths to control Iraqi football, and how he was brought down. Written by James Montague. Illustrated by Philippe Fenner.”
YouTube

France struggles to find right balance as violence at matches escalates


Marseille’s supporters light flares at the Stade Vélodrome.
“When Fabio Grosso’s bloodied face was plastered across the front page of L’Équipe on 30 October – ‘Disgust and shame,’ the headline read – there was already a prevailing sense that the spate of violent incidents in French football was plumbing new depths. Lyon’s Italian coach was injured as the team bus was pelted on its arrival at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille for a high-stakes Olympico showdown. To make matters worse, Nazi salutes and racist chanting were seen and heard from a small minority of the Lyon fans who were already inside the stadium. The match was postponed and played without away fans more than a month later. …”
Guardian

Liam Henderson: the Scottish footballer who built his career in Italy


“… Liam Henderson has been living in sunny Italy for almost six years now but he still seems amazed by the endless summer. Last August, as the transfer window was about to close, he left Serie A side Empoli on loan for Palermo in the second tier, heading down to Sicily. It wasn’t a career setback though. Palermo is 80% owned by the City Group and they have assembled a highly competitive, ambitious squad with the goal of promotion. Henderson is a key piece of the puzzle. …”
Guardian

Spain: 2023-24 La Liga – Location-map, with 3 charts


“… The map page shows a location-map for the 20 clubs in the 2023-24 La Liga, with recently-promoted and -relegated teams noted. (Promoted in 2023: Granada, Las Palmas, and Alavés; relegated in 2023: Valladolid, Espanyol, Elche.) The map also shows the 17 Autonomous Communities of Spain, and the 20 largest Spanish metropolitan areas. Those 20 largest Spanish metro-areas, with their 2018 population estimates, are listed at the top-centre of the map-page. …”
billsportsmaps
W – La Liga

Turkish referee punched: League suspended after Ankaragucu club president hits official


“Turkish football has been suspended by league bosses after the referee in a top-flight match was hospitalised after being punched to the ground by a club president at the end of the game. Faruk Koca, president of Super Lig side MKE Ankaragucu, raced onto the field and hit referee Halil Umut Meler after a draw against Caykur Rizespor. Meler was left hospitalised after being knocked to the floor by Koca, whose team had conceded a 97th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw. …”
The Athletic
NY Times: A Referee Is Punched in the Face, and Turkish Soccer Feels the Blow

How often do Premier League champions score last-minute winners? Less than you might think


Trent Alexander-Arnold smashing home a late winner against Fulham in front of the Kop. Declan Rice clambering above a defender to nod in against Luton Town. Or Rice, for that matter, striking late against Manchester United back in September. We see these goals and we think of Steve Bruce’s header against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993 or Federico Macheda’s curler against Aston Villa in 2009. We’re conditioned to think that late goals are a regular feature of title-winning champions. But is that really the case, or do we simply remember a few standout examples and exaggerate how frequently champions rely on late winners? Let’s look at the numbers… ”
The Athletic (Video)

Barcelona’s Champions League loss means more damage for Xavi – not just for the result


Barcelona’s Champions League defeat by Antwerp did not stop them from progressing to the knockout round as group winners, but it can certainly affect Xavi’s position as manager. On Wednesday night in Belgium, Barca went 1-0 down after just 76 seconds to a goal scored by 18-year-old Arthur Vermeeren, the quickest strike the Spanish side have conceded in 12 years in the Champions League. …”
The Athletic (Video)

Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool: Determined table toppers, penalty delays and Alisson’s return

“Substitute Harvey Elliott was the hero as Liverpool came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park. The 20-year-old hadn’t scored since January’s FA Cup tie against Brighton but he put that right with a brilliant stoppage-time winner. Jean-Philippe Mateta had fired Palace ahead from the penalty spot on a day when Jurgen Klopp’s side were far from their best, but after Jordan Ayew’s red card the visitors stepped up a gear late on. Mohamed Salah equalised before Elliott delivered the killer blow to spark wild celebrations. …”
The Athletic
The Numbers Behind Mohamed Salah’s 200 Liverpool Goals
YouTube: Mo Salah’s 200th Goal & Late Elliott Winner! Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool

Manchester United 0-3 Bournemouth: Ten Hag’s toothless side outfought and outpressed – The Briefing


Manchester United suffered a humbling defeat at home to Bournemouth, losing for the sixth time at Old Trafford this season. Erik ten Hag’s side, who began with Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund on the bench, were toothless, struggled against the press and conceded sloppy goals as they lost 3-0. In winning, Bournemouth became the last of the current 20 Premier League teams to claim a win away at United in their history. …”
The Athletic
Guardian: Manchester United stunned 3-0 as Bournemouth break Old Trafford duck
YouTube: INCREDIBLE win at Old Trafford | Manchester United 0-3 AFC Bournemouth

What happened to Andres Iniesta after Barcelona?


When Andres Iniesta announced he was leaving Barcelona in 2018 many thought he would announce his retirement from the game. But no, now approaching his 40th birthday he is still playing professional football. But where? What happened to Iniesta after Barcelona? Written by Seb Stafford-Bloor. Illustrated by Alice Devine.”
YouTube

The biggest punishment in Premier League history


Everton have been given the heaviest points deduction in Premier League history. It is a ruling which puts them at serious risk of relegation and it’s a judgement they also intend to appeal. How did they get here? What have they done wrong? Why are they going to appeal? Explained by Patrick Boyland and Matt Slater.”
YouTube

Euro 2024 draw analysis: Spain, Italy, Croatia in toughest group, England happy, France v Netherlands


“A virtual ‘group of death’ for Spain, Italy and Croatia, a kind draw for England and a juicy meeting between France and the Netherlands were some of the highlights of the Euro 2024 draw. Our expert panel of James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Matt Slater, Dermot Corrigan and Mark Critchley assembled to offer their verdict on what lies ahead in Germany next summer — from the players who can make the tournament their own, which group they consider the toughest, and, crucially, who they are backing to win it. …”
The Athletic
W – UEFA Euro 2024

Newcastle 1 Manchester United 0 – Listless Rashford, flash Gordon and which United can challenge?


Newcastle United epitomise what Manchester United wish they could be. They are tactically astute, travelling on an upward trajectory, organised off the pitch, and now — courtesy of Saturday’s 1-0 victory at St James’ Park — deservedly above their visitors in the Premier League table. Manager Erik ten Hag, who spent most of the 90 minutes on Tyneside standing alone in the technical area with his arms crossed, said he was trying to ‘energise’ and get a ‘reaction’ from his team. It didn’t work — and that is either down to the players not being capable of carrying out his instructions or choosing not to listen. The same could not be said for his hosts. …”
The Athletic
The Athletic: Newcastle 1 Manchester United 0 – Listless Rashford, flash Gordon and which United can challenge?
YouTube: Newcastle United 1 Manchester United 0 | Premier League Highlights

The politics of hosting AFCON


“A decade later, in January 2024, Ivorians will finally welcome the continent and the world to the next AFCON. Economic and sporting realities are making it harder for sporting tournaments to find hosts. In the past, hosting gigs were keenly sought after and contested by different countries. The appeal of welcoming thousands of visitors and positively impacting economic and tourist activities was usually viewed positively while winning bids was always a good tonic for political leaders. Yet, expansion means growing tournament costs and the need to maximize economic output, while mitigating CAF’s financial difficulties is making it harder to find hosts. This trend might impact AFCON, the continent’s premier football competition. …”
Africa Is a Country
Africa Is a Country: Who are you rooting for – Laurent Dubois

Liverpool 4-3 Fulham: Was this the moment Anfield started to believe in a title bid?


Liverpool are renowned for their comebacks, but even by their standards, this was special. Two goals in the last 10 minutes, scored by Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold, turned a damaging 3-2 defeat against Fulham into a 4-3 win that kept Jurgen Klopp’s side firmly in contention near the top of the Premier League table. …”
The Athletic

Thirty years of the backpass ban: The story of modern football’s best rule change


“… [Kyle] Campbell is a real estate lawyer in California these days. But back in 1991, he was playing in goal for the United States at the Under-17 World Championship in Italy, where he performed brilliantly and was named in FIFA’s team of the tournament. Campbell saved a penalty from Alessandro Del Piero in that opening game against the hosts, and Pele presented him with his man of the match award afterwards — a state-of-the-art twin-cassette JVC stereo. Yet the story that he dines out on is handling that first ever backpass. …”
The Athletic

Champions League grades: Arsenal earn high marks, Celtic woes drag on


“A+ Five Arsenal goals by half-time, and six different scorers by full-time, this was Mikel Arteta’s team at their attacking best, and they took heavy vengeance on the French team they previously lost to. Kai Havertz, after his goal at Brentford at the weekend, began the scoring on a night when Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka in full flight tore their opponents apart. Top of the Premier League and safely qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League in their first appearance for five seasons, things are shaping up very well for the Gunners. …”
Guardian

Manchester City keep conceding from counter-attacks – should Guardiola be worried?


“Pep Guardiola was presented with an observation following his side’s 3-2 home victory against RB Leipzig on Tuesday. The five goals his Manchester City side have conceded in the Champions League this season have all been essentially the same. Whether it has been against Leipzig, Young Boys or Red Star Belgrade, City have been undone by a ball in behind the defence leaving the opposition in a one-against-one with their goalkeeper. …”
The Athletic

The Drug That Football Fears


There is a painkilling drug in football that is described as ‘Evil’. It is feared within the game, and can be highly addictive. It will be added to the banned substance list, leaving many players in a race against time to wean themselves off it. This is the story of Tramadol’s use in football. Written by Daniel Taylor. Illustrated by Marco Bevilacqua.”
YouTube

Daniel Heuer Fernandes, Hamburg’s goalkeeping playmaker – ‘I’m our 11th outfield player’


“Hamburg’s Daniel Heuer Fernandes might be the most watchable goalkeeper in Europe. Those who have seen him know why. For those who have not, the best way to describe him is as two separate players: the goalkeeper and the footballer. Heuer Fernandes, 31, is an excellent shot-stopper. He is nimble and agile and has made some brilliant saves over the past few years. But he is really Hamburg’s 11th outfield player, too, and not in the cliched, ’keeper-who-is-good-with-his-feet sense. He can actually play. …”
The Athletic
W – Daniel Heuer Fernandes

When is the Copa America 2024 group stage draw? Date, teams, pots and format explained


“The Copa America returns to the U.S. for its 2024 edition and there is a little more than half a year until it gets underway. The USMNT were one of the teams to confirm their place at the tournament during the most recent international break, leaving just two more of the 16 participants to be decided. Before those remaining spots are filled, the draw for the tournament’s group stage will be made in Miami. Here is everything you need to know. …”
The Athletic
W – 2024 Copa América

Why are football stadiums so expensive to build?


Manchester United and Chelsea share a problem they cannot hope to run away from. Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge might be able to narrate storied chapters of the Premier League’s history, but neither can project a compelling future. At least not in their current states. The famous homes of Manchester United and Chelsea have become weights that threaten to hold back their owners. They are not fit for an elite long-term purpose. …”
The Athletic (Video)

2023-24 FA Cup, 2nd Round Proper: Location-map, with fixtures list & current league attendances


“… Eighth-tier side Ramsgate (from the Isthmian League South East Division) beat 5th division/National League side Woking, 2-1, at Ramsgate’s ground, Southwood Stadium, in Ramsgate, on the northeast coast of Kent. There was a packed crowd of 3,000 there, which exceeded the ground’s capacity by 500. Woking took an early lead, with a goal in the 13th minute. But Ramsgate equalised in the 40th minute, when Canterbury, Kent-born GK Tom Hadler boomed a long 70-yard goal-kick that London-born MF Tijan Jadama deftly trapped, on the fly, then bundled in {see photos and captions below.} Ramsgate took the lead for good in the 72nd minute, when former Man Utd MF Lee Robert Martin scored, on a nicely played set piece from a corner kick. …”
billsportsmaps
W – FA Cup

Arsenal have accepted how they must play to win a Premier League title – Jonathan Wilson


“A sign of champions, the theory has it, is winning ugly. No side can be at their very best all the time and so, over the course of a season, there will be occasions when a team that is going to win the league has to gut it out, to keep going with their plans, to keep believing, whether that means withstanding pressure or burgling a late goal. Not all points are won with beauty; some have to be fought for or stolen. In a title race, character matters as much as ability. …”
Guardian – Jonathan Wilson

Juventus make a point against Inter as talk of title grows louder in Turin


“On the eve of this season’s first Derby d’Italia, both managers insisted they would not “sign for a draw”. Simone Inzaghi was pragmatic, claiming he would never do that ‘unless it’s the second leg [of a knockout game] and you already won the first.’ Massimiliano Allegri found a way to be even more so, saying: ‘No. We need to play the match that starts at 8.45pm.’ Those replies were as inevitable as the question being posed. Neither manager could pre-declare a willingness to settle for a point in a game against their most likely rival for the Serie A title. Yet it was reasonable to think that outcome might suit them both. …”
Guardian

Conspiracies, suspicion and mutiny – this is the Premier League in 2023


“Walking down Goodison Road can feel like stepping back to a time a world away from the steel-and-glass office-block conformity of the modern Premier League landscape. On one side of the road are terraced houses as well as the Blue Dragon Chinese takeaway, the Goodison Cafe and The Winslow Hotel. On the other side, the faded grandeur of one of England’s most historic football grounds. …”
The Athletic

Union bid farewell to Urs Fischer, the FußballGott who created dreams


“It is often trite to describe a particular goal as the turning point of a season. Especially with late goals, we have the tendency to let the emotion describe them, as if they are more important than they actually might be. Divorcing events from emotion has never been a speciality of Union Berlin, however. This is a club and a fanbase that feels everything. The club whose supporters literally gave their own blood to raise funds to fill empty coffers, who rebuilt a crumbling stadium with their own hands – and who, on the back of a horrendous run of 12 successive defeats which turned what should have been a dream season into an unfolding nightmare, chanted not for their head coach to be sacked, but emptied their lungs with the gospel that he was still a FußballGott to them. …”
Guardian

Eurowatch: Paulo Fonseca’s Lille rediscover their rhythm to end November on a high


“Lille have regained their stride. Until Sunday night, November had been a frustrating month for Paulo Fonseca’s team. They had been held in Marseille, dropped points carelessly at home to Toulouse and, in between, failed to beat Slovan Bratislava in the Europa Conference League. But Lille ended the month well, proving too sophisticated for Lyon at the Groupama Stadium. They produced a stylish attacking performance to move up to fourth in Ligue 1 and the 2-0 win also offered a reminder of how watchable their head coach’s brand of football can be. …”
The Athletic

Darwin Nunez’s game for Liverpool and Uruguay is benefiting from the Marcelo Bielsa effect


“So many players cite Marcelo Bielsa as having had a transformational impact on their career: Gabriel Batistuta, Mauricio Pochettino, Diego Simeone, Alexis Sanchez, Ander Herrera and Kalvin Phillips, to name just a few. Argentine coach Bielsa’s ability to craft and tweak systems and tactical plans to maximise individual strengths, as well as notice the tiniest details to raise a player’s level, are legendary. Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez can be added to the above list. …”
The Athletic

The cautious contenders: How Nice became the most effective team in Ligue 1


“Every season, Ligue 1 has a surprise package. This season, it is Nice. A plucky underdog story? Not exactly. They are bankrolled by INEOS, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company, who took over in 2019, and are playing their 22nd consecutive Ligue 1 campaign. Nice have recorded top-half finishes for eight years in a row but never truly challenged for the title or had any European success. …”
The Athletic

Swedish Soccer Prioritized Fans Over Finances. Now, Business Is Booming.


Supporters of Malmo, the Swedish soccer team, set off so many flares during the season finale against Elfsborg this month that the match had to be stopped for 30 minutes.
“The warning sounded over and over, first in Swedish and then in English. A fire had been detected. Please evacuate the stadium. The players left the field. Outside, fire crews were arriving. But in the stands, as a thick cloud of smoke wreathed and coiled in the floodlights, nobody moved. The fans were going to make the game happen by sheer force of will. It was a game they had been anticipating for some time. The top two teams in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s elite league, had gone into the final day of the season separated by just three points. …”
NY Times

Are the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers a new era for African Football?


Spain-Morocco match, Group B, 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“This week on the African Five-a-side podcast, we have a two editions of the African Football Roundup, adding a special extra episode as we preview the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Africa and recap the handful of matches that have already been played. Matchday 1 will resume next week! Throughout the history of the FIFA World Cup, Africa has often found itself underrepresented. In 1966, the African continent boycotted the World Cup in England to send a message to FIFA that it demanded a guaranteed place at the tournament, which it subsequently secured in 1970. …”
Africa Is a Country (Audio)

Transported to Another World: The Art of Radio Football Commentary


“Time and time again, radio football commentary has engaged me in the game like no other medium. My infatuation with it was actually born from my environment rather than personal interest. I will never forget the long family car journeys as a kid—my brothers and I crammed into the back of our car, fighting for leg space as we endured the hours of motorway to some random holiday destination. More often than not, my dad would tune the radio into whatever football match was being broadcast on local or national radio to pass the time, and to most likely have some relief from the jam-packed, overfilled, and usually too hot or cold family car. Looking back now, I realise that I would also use the football commentary as an escape through the commentator’s words. …”
Football Paradise

England are real Euro 2024 contenders, a fact Southgate’s carping critics ignore – Jonathan Wilson


“… Then suddenly something clicked, England started posting scores of 350+ as standard and began beating the best sides in the world. Just as the thought began to crystallise that in a World Cup on home soil they might not actually just be genuine contenders but perhaps even favourites, an astonishing generational talent became available to them in Jofra Archer. …”
Guardian

How Italy won Euro 1968: Catenaccio, a coin toss and a goal worthy of any final


“This is the third in a series about the 16 triumphant teams in the European Championship, ahead of the 17th edition in Germany next year. So far, we’ve looked at the USSR in 1960 and Spain in 1964. This time, it’s the turn of Italy. The point of this series is to redress the balance — the history of the World Cup is incredibly storied and famous, while the history of the European Championship feels entirely unknown to many. And there’s no better example of that than Italy’s triumph in the European Championship of 1968, which seems entirely forgotten by almost everyone. …”
The Athletic

How Spain won Euro 1964: Unheralded manager, Franco’s approval and Luis Suarez


“This is the second in a series about the 16 triumphant teams in the European Championship ahead of the 17th edition in Germany next year. Last time, the focus was the USSR in 1960. Four years on, Spain are victorious. The previous edition of the European Nations Cup featured the USSR receiving a bye at the quarter-final stage because General Franco was so afraid of them beating Spain on home soil that he ordered the Spanish side to withdraw. …”
The Athletic (Video)

Leadership vacuum hurting fragile Napoli as Rudi Garcia nears the end


“… Those might have been his final remarks as manager of the Partenopei. Napoli lost 1-0 and the club’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, imposed a press silence at full-time. He was understood to be exploring his options to replace Garcia on Monday, a decision that some fans might celebrate even more enthusiastically than a win. …”
Guardian

Leverkusen’s latest exhibition shows Alonso’s leaders are in it for long haul


“How to turn a football team around 180 degrees, parts one and two. Even after Bayer Leverkusen made the 4,000km journey back from Thursday night Europa League duty in Baku, and even after Union Berlin stopped their losing streak by picking up a point in Diego Maradona’s back garden, this could not have run more faithfully to current script. At this time last year, Leverkusen and Union were polar opposites. Or almost. To be more precise at this exact point 12 months ago, the former were in 13th and the latter sitting up in second. The weeks immediately preceding that, even, had been the first evidence of the Xabi Alonso effect. …”
Guardian

Inside Man: How FIFA Guided the World Cup to Saudi Arabia


Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, with Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, at the 2022 World Cup.
“As the world reeled from the coronavirus crisis in the fall of 2020, the president of soccer’s global governing body, Gianni Infantino, headed to Rome for an audience with Italy’s prime minister. Wearing masks and bumping elbows, Mr. Infantino, the president of FIFA, and the prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, greeted each other in front of journalists before disappearing with the president of the Italian soccer federation into one of the ornate state rooms of the 16th-century Palazzo Chigi, the Italian leader’s official residence. …”
NY Times

Chelsea 4-4 Manchester City: Old boys Palmer and Sterling key, City don’t like chaos, more VAR delays


“A late penalty from Cole Palmer earned Chelsea a 4-4 draw with Manchester City in a thrilling match at Stamford Bridge. Erling Haaland put the visitors ahead after winning a penalty before Thiago Silva equalised with a header from a corner less than five minutes later. Raheem Sterling tapped in against his former club, only for Manuel Akanji to level things again on the stroke of half-time with a free header. …”
The Athletic

Scottish Premiership roundup: Celtic hit Aberdeen for six; Rangers win away


Celtic put their mauling in Madrid behind them with a symmetrical 6-0 win over abject Aberdeen in their Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park. The home side had been defeated 6-0 by Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Aberdeen exited the Europa Conference League on Thursday despite an impressive 2-2 draw with PAOK in Greece. …”
Guardian

Matchday 1: Kwame Nkrumah


Watching the game from the top of the Jamestown Lighthouse in Acrra, Ghana
“Episode 2 of Matchday 1 of the African-five-a side podcast continues to explore the stories of five African heads of state and their influence on football. This week, we’re introducing our central defender: the intellectual, inspiring, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. As the first head of state of an independent Ghana, Nkrumah quickly understood the power of football as a unifying tool. He appointed Ohene Djan as the director of sports in 1960, and put in place structures to support the success of the national team, sometimes to the detriment of local clubs. Nkrumah’s interest in soccer was so great that he proposed the formation of a model club to offer leadership and inspiration to other clubs in the country. …”
Africa Is a Country (Audio)

As Welcome To Wrexham reaches second season climax, a drama-free win in League Two was ideal


“Welcome To Wrexham’s eagerly awaited season two finale hits the screens this week. If the rest of its second series is anything to go by, an episode simply titled Up The Town? is likely to be a cracker as we reach the climax of a thrilling title race that will go down as an all-time classic. Those supporters who lived and breathed every second of last season’s titanic National League title tussle between Wrexham and Notts County will tune in knowing the result. But, that’s unlikely to prevent the myriad of emotions experienced six months ago once again bubbling to the surface, meaning there will be tears as well as cheers in households from Llangollen to Los Angeles. …”
The Athletic (Video)