Articles
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Redemption and Recognition – Andrea Pirlo and the 2000 Euro U-21s
Several great players have announced themselves on the international stage in youth tournaments for their country – Robert Prosinečki for Yugoslavia in the 1987 World Youth Championships, Lionel Messi in the 2005 U20 World Cup and Paul Pogba in the 2013 edition. Among such a list would be Andrea Pirlo who announced himself at the…
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Tactical Analysis: Mallorca vs. Barcelona
With La Liga resuming this week, relegation-threatened Mallorca took on league leaders Barcelona at the Son Moix stadium. Barcelona needed to win to maintain their charge for a third consecutive league title, and they did it in a dashing manner by romping to a 4-0 victory. Barcelona’s Possession Structure Barcelona’s 4-3-3 morphed into…
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Tactical Analysis: Real Madrid vs. Eibar
On Sunday, Real Madrid met Eibar at Real Madrid’s training facility – Valdebebas at Estadio Alfredo di Stefano stadium with a capacity of 6,000 instead of the 13 times bigger Santiago Bernabéu, currently closed for renovation. But it wasn’t to matter, since the game was played behind closed doors. It was the first of…
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The Copa Latina: A False Dawn for Continental Football in Europe
Consciously or unconsciously – we’re always borrowing from the past. We channel Aristotle every time we use deductive reasoning in even the most trivial of arguments. Half of the words on this page come from a single ruff-necked bard and the rest from ancient tribes in continental Europe. The false 9 had been around for…
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Francesco Totti and the Eternal City – How Rome’s Prodigal Son Bought the Scudetto Back to the Capital
“From the dome of St. Peter’s one can see every notable object in Rome…He can see a panorama that is varied, extensive, beautiful to the eye, and more illustrious in history than any other in Europe,”-Mark Twain. The Eternal City, a melting pot of history, a homage to the beauty and elegance of civilisation.…
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Como in the 1970s and 80s: When the Team by the Lake Became a Football Nursery
Known for the lake it shares its name with, the city of Como in northern Italy is a tourist attraction and a place where celebrities have their holiday houses, none more famous than American actor George Clooney. Photo: Hello Magazine From a footballing perspective, Como does not resonate a lot. The Lariani were…
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Tactical Analysis: The Miracle of Istanbul
Earlier this month, Liverpool fans celebrated the 15th anniversary of their famous Champions League victory in Istanbul. The Reds trailed AC Milan 3-0 at the break, but three quick goals from Steven Gerrard, Vladimír Šmicer and Xabi Alonso brought them back to level terms, where the trophy was eventually won on penalties. This tactical…
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Tactical Profiles – Bielsa’s Leeds
Wait, what? Everyone thought the same thing, didn’t they? When Marcelo Bielsa, THAT Marcelo Bielsa, was announced as the manager of Leeds United, who were predicted to finish 11th in the Championship that season and were only just recovering from the typically tumultuous tenure of Garry Monk. Photo: Sportsfile / Getty Then,…
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Trials and Tribulations: England’s U20s 2017 World Cup Squad: Part 2
Lewis Cook – Captain of the England U20s, the Bournemouth midfielder became the first English captain to lift a World Cup since Bobby Moore in 1966. Following such a milestone, Cook had a confident 2017-18 season, his steady displays being rewarded with his senior England debut in March and being put on standby for the…
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“Are We Stronger Together Than Apart?” – The Nearly History of Wimbledon Rangers
It’s the dawn of a new era at Loftus Road. In the next few minutes, the navy and white-hooped Wimbledon Rangers will kick off the first game in their history. The club is desperate to move on from the summer of controversy and focus on the future and promotion to the Premier League. Wimbledon…
