Articles
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25 Years Later, Ajax’s Unbeaten Double Remains Unparalleled
There have been clubs that have won their respective leagues without losing a game, like Arsenal (2003-04 season) and Juventus (2011-12). There have been clubs that have won the Champions League without losing a game, such as FC Barcelona (2005-06) and Manchester United (2007-08). However, no club has managed to match Ajax’s incredible feat of winning…
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Scouting Report: Lautaro Martínez
From Liniers to Racing Club to Inter Milan, there has always been one thing that has remained consistent with Lautaro ‘El Toro’ Martínez: goals. With Barcelona eyeing the 22-year-old striker to replace the aging Luis Suárez, I will analyze the boy from Bahía Blanca, assess his strengths and weaknesses, and evaluate whether or not he…
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A closer look at Real Madrid’s young Brazilians
Ever since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid haven’t quite lived up to their supporters’s lofty expectations. Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale and Luka Modrić are all approaching the end of their time in the capital, while the signings of Luka Jović and Eden Hazard have failed to click thus far. However, there is hope…
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The Utility of the 3-2 Build-Up Structure
The 3-2 build-up structure entails having a consistent back three with two players ahead. This typically manifests itself either in a 3-4-3, where the three centre-backs and two midfielders ahead form the shape, or in a 4-2-3-1 where one full-back adapts his positioning to create the back three, while the double-pivot forms the midfield two. …
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Victorien Adebayor: Niger’s National Treasure
Niger, a sparsely populated country in West Africa, is better known for its uranium ore exports than its footballing exports, but in Victorien Adebayor, they have a young gem who could help put Niger firmly on the map. Adebayor, aged 23, was born on 12 November 1996 in Niamey, the capital city of Niger.…
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Tactical Analysis: Bayern Munich vs. Union Berlin
After a two month-long break due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Bundesliga has finally returned. On Saturday, Dortmund defeated Schalke 4-0 to go within one point off Bayern Munich in second place. On Sunday, Union Berlin welcomed Bayern Munich for Matchday 26. Bayern had to win to maintain their four-point lead with eight league games…
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An Ode to Paul Gascoigne and Italia ’90
The biennial celebration of Italia ’90 is perhaps one of the most fascinating rituals in England. Forget Cheese-Rolling, forget Cornish hurling, forget burning 17th-century arsonists with your children. Every English football fan has been bought up on tales of Paul Gascoigne’s tears and Chris Waddle‘s penalty, and it’s no doubt this tradition would have played…
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Scouting Report: Dwight McNeil
Dwight McNeil has been starring at the role of left midfielder for Burnley this season, conveying competence in both the attacking and defensive aspects of the game. This has caught the eyes of many who believe he could thrive in an attacking system at the fullback role. Today we are going to analyse McNeil’s qualities,…
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Scouting Report: Myron Boadu
AZ Alkmaar sat level on points with Ajax at the top of the Eredivisie when the season was cancelled due to COVID-19. They had conceded the fewest goals in the league and scored the second most, alongside a Europa League run that saw them reach the last 32 before being knocked out by Austrian side…
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Progression, Principles and Player Development: An Interview with FC Helsingør Co-Owner Jordan Gardner
Although Denmark might not be the first name that comes to mind when discussing international football, it’s worth remembering they are ex-European Championship winners and the Danish Superliga is increasingly yielding teams such as Midtjylland and FC Copenhagen that are starting to make a splash in UEFA Competitions on a more regular basis. However,…
