Articles
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Canada Roars to Victory Over Dominica
Dominica proved to be a good sparring partner in Canada’s second Nations League match. Our guest writer, Rocco Fasano, was there for Breaking The Lines. Canada hosted its first ever Nations League match in Toronto’s BMO Field. Dominica, a tiny island nation, with vivid memories from their last visit to Toronto when they suffered a…
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Table-topping Sevilla Are Emerging as La Liga’s Entertainers Once Again
Sevilla are flying high at the very top of the La Liga table after eight matches played, but manager Pablo Machín has called for his men to keep their feet firmly on the ground. “We must remain calm and realise how long the season is, that there will be tough runs of results and if…
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The Decline of El Turco
El Turco. The Turk. This was the moniker Arda Turan was given after his stellar first year in Spain, being a key player at Diego Simeone’s Atlético de Madrid. Wearing the iconic #10 shirt, he played an essential part in the club’s transition from a midtable side to the champions of Spain. He signed…
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Italy Have Found Its Identity Under Roberto Mancini
After some early struggles under new coach Roberto Mancini, Italy seems to have developed a new football identity during the latest international break. The Azzurri drew 1-1 against Ukraine in Genoa in a friendly last Wednesday, and on Sunday, defeated Poland 1-0 away in Chorzow in their UEFA Nations League A Group C encounter. 11…
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Giovanni Simeone: The Battling Center Forward That La Albiceleste Need
After an uninspiring start to senior football with River Plate in his native Argentina, Giovanni Simeone is slowly establishing himself as a player in his own right. The 23-year-old may not be a natural finisher like compatriots Mauro Icardi and Gonzalo Higuaín, but he is a combative striker that has inherited the work ethic that…
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Liverpool Have Everything It Takes To Win The Champions League
For any football club with lofty aspirations, signing the right type of players for a coach’s tactics is absolutely critical. There are also different paths that can be taken, in terms of winning league titles and making a run in a cup competition. For Liverpool and manager Jürgen Klopp, a Champions League triumph feels within…
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Forget The Big Names, Dean Smith Is The Right Choice For Aston Villa
Last Wednesday, it was announced that Dean Smith would leave Brentford to become Aston Villa’s new manager, following Steve Bruce’s sacking. John Terry was named as Smith’s assistant coach, while Jesús García Pitarch would become the new sporting director at Villa Park. Unsurprisingly, Smith’s appointment has caused a mixed reaction within the Aston Villa fan…
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Real Madrid’s Lack of Goalscoring Threat Isn’t Due to Julen Lopetegui, but Florentino Pérez
It’s been 409 minutes – across all competitions – since Real Madrid last managed to score a goal. Real Madrid has gone through the past four and a half matches without scoring a goal. And while failing to score against defensive juggernauts like Atlético Madrid would be acceptable, Real Madrid has failed to find the…
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The Fernandinho Conundrum
For all the attacking flair on display last season at the Etihad, there was one man who captured the hearts of City fans for with his relentless work ethic and robotic consistency. Fernandinho may not have received the plaudits his midfield counterparts did last season, but Pep Guardiola was a keen admirer, heaping the Brazilian with praise…
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Sokratis: The Old-Fashioned Veteran That Arsenal Didn’t Know They Needed
This past summer transfer window was a mixed bag for Arsenal. With Lucas Torreira, Mattéo Guendouzi, Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and Stephan Lichsteiner, there was a blend of youth and experience. Of the five, Sokratis, Torreira, and Leno were seen as either starters or at the very least challenging for a starting berth. Guendouzi, even…
