FIFA president Gianni Infantino has made a call for “way more football” to be played following his recent re-election. This will have been music to the ears of some of the federations that voted for him. However, many others were letting out an exhausted sigh when hearing this refrain from the boss of global football. […]
World Cup
World Cup 2018 Teams To Watch
The excitement for World Cup 2018 has reached fever pitch, with fans from all over the world travelling to Russia for the tournament. The rest of us will be watching the spectacle from afar, with the tournament set to be the most watched event in the world. There are 32 different nations competing against each […]
England boss Southgate wants captain Kane as one among many leaders
Harry Kane may be the lionheart skipper chosen to inspire England at the FIFA World Cup in Russia this summer — but coach Gareth Southgate wants leaders all over the pitch. That’s according to Kane’s team-mate for club and country Eric Dier, who was touted by many as a possible candidate for the role as […]
Messi and Ronaldo are stars who can shine brightest at World Cup
A veritable galaxy of stars are poised to light up this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia. And while the spotlight will inevitably fall on the players we are all champing at the bit to watch during the tournament, there are a few relatively unknown aces who will no doubt come to the fore, too. […]
Schillaci: When The World Met Toto
They say the ‘brightest stars burn out the fastest’. In the case Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci his star shone blindingly for four weeks in the summer of 1990. Host nation Italy began their World Cup campaign in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico against Austria. Salvatore Schillaci took his place on the substitutes bench. Ahead of him in the […]
Why Dele Alli should or shouldn’t start for England
Dele Alli made a major statement last weekend. His two goals in Tottenham’s 3-1 victory against Chelsea demonstrated his vast array of skills that have made many football critics regard him as being one of the most talented young players in the world today. A beautiful first touch, followed by a composed finish past Willy […]
England Host City Guides: Kaliningrad
As the plane touches down in the middle of a ploughed muddy field, you would never guess that the world was coming to town. The first 10 minutes on the bus from the tiny airport past the most barren, featureless landscape do little to alter your perception. As the suburbs lurk into view, it isn’t […]
State of the Nations: A look at how the major nations are shaping up prior to this summer’s FIFA World Cup
With the 2018  FIFA World Cup kicking off in just over two months, Oliver Miller casts his eye over the European and South American nations likely to have a say in Russia. The Favourites The current favourites to win the World Cup in Russia – and retain the trophy – are Germany. Coach Joachim Low […]
Panini Pride: The Stress of the Stickers
“Got. Got. Need” These three words have become synonymous with the cult classic which is Panini World Cup football stickers. These words are being said with more and more frequency in the past days due to today’s release of their new World Cup sticker book. The company was set up in Modena, Italy, 1961, coming […]
Second Half Scare For Senegal At 02′ (Senegal 3-3 Uruguay)
Senegalese football hit new heights in 2002, with their fairytale World Cup campaign surpassing any expectations as they reached the Quarter-Final stage only to be halted by Turkey on the Golden Goal ruling. However that run in the tournament was nearly thrown away when opponents Uruguay almost overturned a three goal deficit in the final […]
The Greatest Show on Earth, if You Can See It: Coverage of ’82 World Cup on TV
When you sit down and plan your viewing for the upcoming World Cup, there will be a plethora of choices available with virtually every match live. 1982 was my favourite tournament yet so much of it was only available via a highlights format. My first World Cup was the 1978 tournament in Argentina. FIFA hadn’t […]
Vida El Loco – Ten Moments Which Shocked the 1982 World Cup – Final Part
World Cup 1982 is often remembered for the greatest team never to win one, Brazil, or Italy who looked barely fit to deserve a place yet recovered to win the thing. For me, it was a World Cup of incidents, shock events, OMG moments. Most have them, some more than others (2002) but Spain 1982 […]
Tim Howard: An eventful journey to a record-breaking World Cup display
In July 2014, goalkeeper Tim Howard became a worldwide sensation overnight after more than ten years as one of America’s leading elite athletes. His record-breaking 15 saves for the United States in the World Cup against Belgium exhilarated a nation that had only recently announced itself on the world football stage after years of hibernation. […]
Vida El Loco: Ten Moments Which Shocked The World Cup 1982 – Part Four
World Cup 1982 is often remembered for the greatest team never to win one, Brazil, or Italy who looked barely fit to deserve a place yet recovered to win the thing. For me, it was a World Cup of incidents, shock events, OMG moments. Most have them, some more than others (2002) but Spain 1982 […]
Klose Encounters: The World Cup Goals
The World Cup has graced a plethora of remarkable strikers since its creation in 1930, from every corner of the globe. Some of these strikers went on to lift the trophy, such as the iconic Pelé. Others, such as Cameroon’s Roger Milla, never even advanced as far as the semi finals, yet still managed to […]
Vida El Loco: Ten Moments Which Shocked The World Cup 1982 – Part Three
World Cup 1982 is often remembered for the greatest team never to win one, Brazil, or Italy who looked barely fit to deserve a place yet recovered to win the thing. For me, it was a World Cup of incidents, shock events, OMG moments. Most have them, some more than others (2002) but Spain 1982 […]
Vida El Loco – Ten Moments Which Shocked The World Cup 1982 – Part Two
World Cup 1982 is often remembered for the greatest team never to win one, Brazil, or Italy who looked barely fit to deserve a place yet recovered to win the thing. For me, it was a World Cup of incidents, shock events, OMG moments. Most have them, some more than others (2002) but Spain 1982 […]
Vida El Loco: Ten Moments Which Shocked the World Cup 1982
#1 World Cup Draw Before a ball was kicked this World Cup produced a farce and we really should have known it was going to be like no other. If you were going to write a comedic take on a draw organised by FIFA it would have things like men in suits looking like they […]
The Japanese Set-Piece Masterclass (Denmark 1-3 Japan)
A dazzling knuckleball free kick from 35 yards. A curled set piece from 25 yards. A tap-in after some dazzling skill and trickery. June 24th 2010 provided three resplendent goals which defined a memorable FIFA World Cup South Africa win for Japan over Denmark in the final round of Group E games. Going into the match, […]
Mexico ’86 – Sombreros and Sunshine
…that’s what springs to mind when harking back to that glorious summer when football once again won the heart of the world. It could all have been so different. The finals had been awarded to Colombia but they withdrew from hosting duties in late 1982. The country had more serious issues to contend with such […]