Accessible for 29 days Spain have conquered the world – yet beyond that trophy lift, what long-term impact might this World Cup leave on the SPFL? Are hydration breaks now football’s answer to a tactical timeout? And should the Scottish game take a hard look at how officials and VAR were handled on the biggest […]
Continue ReadingSpain and Lamine Yamal progressed through the competition, leaving him possessing the world at his feet and holding football’s two most coveted trophies. In addition to his sublime natural talent, he also served as Spain’s talisman. Their command of the international arena was sealed by Ferran Torres’ crucial 106th‑minute strike in extra time. Lamine Yamal […]
Continue ReadingDuring the 37-minute stretch where England first seized the lead against Argentina and then surrendered it, they managed to hold the ball for just 12 percent of the time. It’s safe to say the World Cup final will present an entirely different kind of test against Spain. The Spanish don’t share that deep-seated English impulse […]
Continue ReadingHow we conversed. On late-night broadcasts, floating faces above a scrolling ticker. On flights and rail journeys, at bus shelters and florists and children’s parties, frantically attempting to bridge the dullness of the present with the excitement of what was to come, trying in some way to pre-experience the emotions, the adrenaline spike, the pounding […]
Continue ReadingA coroner has determined that former England international and World Cup winner Nobby Stiles passed away from a neurological disorder linked to frequent heading of the ball. Stiles, a determined and hard-tackling midfielder once described by Geoff Hurst as the “heart and soul” of the 1966 World Cup-winning side, died in 2020, yet his death […]
Continue ReadingThe independent football oversight body has formally cautioned Morecambe after the club’s proprietors disregarded repeated inquiries concerning the management of the team. This marks the inaugural enforcement measure taken by the IFR since the Football Governance Act was enacted one year ago. Morecambe directors Kuljit Singh and Harjit Singh neglected to answer two separate demands […]
Continue ReadingAfter it emerged that match 102, a World Cup semi-final, would pair England with Argentina, the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas war came up during Lionel Scaloni’s media briefing. “No, no, no,” the Argentina head coach said with firm dismissal. “This is purely a football contest. Let’s not search for anything beyond that. It’s a game against a […]
Continue ReadingIt was an evening when, in Didier Deschamps’ words, the spark had vanished by the interval. A revamped French team had been easily defeated by Italy in their Nations League opener, and the Parisian supporters left no doubt about their discontent at the final whistle. Three days later, the traveling show of Les Bleus headed […]
Continue ReadingAvailable for 29 days Following a respectable yet unremarkable seventh-place league position, Dundee United are setting their sights on greater achievements in the upcoming campaign. Andrew Petrie hosts a discussion with Courier columnist Jim Spence and Ronny Costello from The Dode Fox Podcast, exploring a transformative close season at Tannadice. The group examines Jim Goodwin’s […]
Continue ReadingAccessible for 29 days Hearts experienced a crushing near-miss in their pursuit of glory, falling devastatingly short as the previous campaign concluded. Now, a fresh era unfolds at Tynecastle. Andrew Petrie hosts Heart Standard editor Joel Sked and former Hearts defender Ryan McGowan to explore one of the most turbulent close seasons in the club’s […]
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