James Trafford appears genuinely offended by the suggestion. The Leeds goalkeeper responds with near disbelief when asked whether his previous season at Manchester City had been frustrating or even wasted. “I won two trophies,” he replies plainly and emphatically. Goalkeepers need resilience, and Trafford displays plenty of it both on and off the field. Selected […]
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Sébastien Pocognoli winced on Friday as he reflected on his first appearance for Belgium. Alessandro del Piero and Italy had enjoyed accommodating opponents while preparing for the 2006 World Cup. In time, Pocognoli may also remember his managerial debut with Scotland fondly. Beneath clear skies in a compact Ljubljana stadium, his side produced an encouraging […]
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When Christos Tzolis moved infield from the left and surged towards the box, Kai Havertz sensed that a familiar pattern was unfolding. Tzolis had produced an almost identical move on his competitive Arsenal debut against Manchester City in the Community Shield weeks earlier. He attacked the full-back, shifted inside and sent a dangerous ball towards […]
Continue ReadingThe global football governing body has been sharply criticized for creating an “open door to fraud” and permitting political interference to undermine the credibility of the World Cup, according to a strongly worded statement from the head of the Council of Europe. In a public letter timed with Sunday’s championship match, Alain Berset urged the […]
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Toone knew that, within hours of each match, Nick would always call her. He and her mother, Karen, regularly attended Toone’s games, while Nick also recorded them on television. After returning home, he would watch the footage again before phoning his daughter to analyse the entire match. “He was completely devoted to it,” the 26-year-old […]
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