A qualification process that began in November 2011, the craziness of the African playoffs comes to a head in November. The most intriguing; intense round of all the World Cup qualifiers, eyes will be firmly fixated on the continent. Here’s a preview of the games ahead. Ivory Coast v Senegal The most eye-catching of all … Read more
As I start writing this, the Three Lions have dropped to 16th in the FIFA rankings, their lowest in 12 years, while the ever so ‘Grumpy’ manager of the National Team has hit back to Gary Linekar over ‘awful’ jibe and has defended his Long Ball Tactics. The Former England striker rightly criticized England’s awful passing against Ukraine, expressing … Read more
Brazil cruised to a 6 nil victory over Australia, further affirming their status as the favorites to lift the 2014 World Cup. Luiz Felipe Scolari had to deal with the absence of Oscar, Hulk, Daniel Alves and Fred as he made the brief switch to a solid a 4-3-2-1, giving Ramires and Bernard a start. … Read more
Minute ninety three in a goalless international match, a penalty kick has been awarded. The ball lies waiting on top the penalty spot, hoping for that powerful kick to end the surrounding motionless agony. The keeper, like a sentenced death row inmate, has nothing to lose. The referee gives the signal for the penalty to … Read more
First played at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow on 30th November 1872, England v Scotland is the oldest international fixture in football. On Wednesday 14th August 2013 the rivalry resumes after a gap of almost 14 years. This will be Scotland’s first appearance at the ‘new’ Wembley, which seems a tragedy in itself given the closeness of … Read more
“La Furia Roja” has been dominating the global stage for a bit more than 5 years now, winning two European championships in 2008 and 2012, one World Cup in 2010, and one second-fiddle Mediterranean games in 2009. This emphatic dominance has been accompanied with a style of play that impressed pundits all over the world; … Read more
Could it now be possible that Spain are no longer considered as the best national team in the world? It could well be after their failure add international silverware this summer. Since their win in Vienna back in Euro 2008, the Spanish have been at the pinnacle of international football. Two more major tournaments past, with … Read more
Italy defeated Uruguay 3-2 on penalties in the Confederations Cup third place playoff on Sunday. The match finished 2-2 after extra time, with Napoli striker Edinson Cavani earning a brace. However, it wasn’t enough as Davide Astori and Alessandro Diamanti got on the score sheet before Gianluigi Buffon made three saves in the shootout to … Read more
For the second time in 12 months, Italy was forced into a tactical change before their respective matches against Spain. First at Euro 2012 in the group stage when Andrea Barzagli was injured, and it occurred again in the Confederations Cup semi-final with the Azzurri needing to address the issues in defence. The result, just … Read more
We are a historically great footballing nation. Albert Finney, Billy Wright, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks, Gary Lineker, John Barnes and Paul Gascoigne are all legendary names that have donned the white of England and whose legacy still echo through to the present day. Legendary individual players, historic triumphs and timeless moments have seen … Read more