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Tactical Analysis: O Clássico
The Clássico between FC Porto and Benfica is by far the biggest game of the country. The two teams have been almost the only contenders for the Portuguese title in the past 10 years and are not only the best teams on the pitch, put also in terms of their club administration and structure. The…
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BTL’s Championship Team of the Decade
GK: Kasper Schmeichel Kasper Schmeichel is undoubtedly one of the best Championship goalkeepers of the past decade. His career got off to a slow start as he struggled for game time at Manchester City and had to move to Notts County, in League Two, to play regularly. Schmeichel did well at Notts and earned…
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Austria’s 1978 Odyssey: Chapter 3 – The Miracle of Córdoba
The second group stage ratcheted the step up in opponents for Austria. Group A was an all European affair, as the Austrians faced Italy, the Netherlands and West Germany. Only the winners of the group would progress to the World Cup final and finishing second meant a trip to the 3rd place playoff. There was…
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Austria’s 1978 Odyssey: Chapter 2 – Delightful Shocks
It took just nine minutes for the deadlock to be broken in Austria’s opening World Cup fixture against Spain in Buenos Aires. Centre back Bruno Pezzey’s anticipation helped quickly snuff out a pass that was intended for Spain’s full back Antonio De La Cruz. Pezzey then sprayed the ball to Walter Schachner near the touchline…
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Austria’s 1978 Odyssey: Chapter 1 – Road to Argentina
Austrian football has a rich history that goes back decades – from the Wunderteam of the 1930s to finishing third at the 1954 World Cup. Yet the 1978 World Cup in Argentina is fondly etched into the hearts of Austrian fans – a last hurrah where they made their mark on the world stage. Their…
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Jude Bellingham’s rapid rise to stardom
Since the start of the season, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best young prospects in English football. Despite only being 16-years-old, Bellingham has made 25 appearances in the Championship for Birmingham City, smashing a plethora of records in the process. Unsurprisingly, his performances have attracted the attention of European giants such as…
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No matter what, Kobe’s legacy lives on
There are too many words to describe NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant. The ex-Los Angeles Lakers player this past Sunday passed away along with his daughter Gianna, who was 13 years old. Kobe, also known as the Black Mamba, had an impact on many people throughout the sports world. People took the time on Sunday to…
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L’última Dansa: Pep Guardiola’s Final Season in Barcelona: Part 1
At the time of writing, Barcelona have just concluded their final match of the 2019/20 La Liga season and defeated Alavés 5–0. They finished second, five points behind a defensively sound but by no means stellar Real Madrid. Barcelona seems to be in a state of turmoil, as a disorganized squad seems to be…
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Serie A Power Rankings: Top 10
As we get ready for match day 21, find out which teams are looking the most competitive in Italy’s top flight. January 23, 2020 – This year’s Serie A has been more engaging than what most fans would have expected. Now that the second half of the season has just started, here is which…
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Exclusive Interview with FC Dallas Academy VP Chris Hayden
Breaking The Lines’s Abhishek Mishra interviews Vice President of FC Dallas Youth Chris Hayden. Q: How does FC Dallas create a culture to prioritize player development vs game results in the younger age groups? A: We have more than 250 teams in Dallas (both boys and girls) beginning with players at 6 years…
