STRUCK DOWN BY THE SEAGULLS … A rare defeat just before an international break can be especially painful for an elite coach accustomed to winning. With most of the squad immediately departing to represent their countries and collect yet more air miles, there is no quick opportunity to respond on the pitch. This unusually long […]
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Control against chaos. One side represents structure, discipline and carefully rehearsed patterns; the other embraces something more instinctive, accepting football’s flaws and unpredictability. From that perspective, it is wiser to move with the storm than to imagine it can ever be fully contained. That was how the rivalry between Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp seemed […]
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TFG should feel deeply uncomfortable and embarrassed to be compared with previous owners whose limited ambition, inadequate resources or poor management helped create the longest trophy drought in Everton’s history. That comparison comes only 20 months into a tenure marked by the move to an impressive new stadium and the removal of burdensome debt. Yet […]
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Each summer, Pro Ref, the recently adopted name of England’s refereeing organisation, visits every club’s training facility to review a selection of incidents and explain what players should expect during the coming season. The level of engagement varies between clubs. Some players take part in constructive discussions about possible fouls, while others may occasionally struggle […]
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“This is a four-year project designed to carry us through to the 2030 World Cup, with a European Championship taking place during that period,” Malago said while confirming the appointments of Maldini and Leonardo. However, that project survived for barely more than two weeks, as tensions grew following several unsuccessful attempts to fill key positions. […]
Continue ReadingThe World Cup final grew contentious after extra time as Spain claimed the title. Here is a frame-by-frame account of what unfolded. The match is over… or is it? When referee Slavko Vincic sounds the final whistle, Spain’s substitutes rush onto the field to celebrate winning the World Cup with their teammates. Molina throws the […]
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