Looking Beyond Reputation to Aid Lionel Messi May Be Argentina’s Salvation

The overriding reaction in Argentina on Tuesday was one of relief. After four World Cup 2018 qualifiers without a win, the national team’s 3-0 victory over Colombia didn’t just lift them back into fifth in the CONMEBOL group—the play-off spot for progression to the tournament in Russia—it also restored a measure of belief. With most struggling nations, there is an underlying... 

It’s Arrogant and Naive to Expect England to Be Impressive in Qualifying

After the East Berlin uprising of 1953, Bertolt Brecht wrote his poem “The Solution,” in which he made the suggestion that the government should dissolve the people and elect another. Successive England managers must, less ironically, feel something similar. The public and its reaction to the national team—and the media are implicated in this, simultaneously shaping and being shaped... 

Why Sam Allardyce Has All the Right Tools for the England Manager’s Job

There are two groups of people who seem opposed to the prospect of Sam Allardyce as England manager. There is the collective of aesthetes, the purists and the traditionalists, those who believe a national team is somehow representative of the nation and should offer a template of free-flowing, sensuous football. And then there are Sunderland fans, who recognise what a blow losing Allardyce would be. The... 

Evolving Cristiano Ronaldo Has Chance to Exorcise the Ghosts of 12 Years Ago

Twelve years ago, a 19-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo wept on the pitch after Portugal lost in the final of Euro 2004. On Sunday, he will have the chance to crown his career with Portugal’s first international trophy, perhaps by taking on the Greece role and beating the tournament hosts with defensive resolve and organisation. Ronaldo was named man of the match for his part in the semi-final win... 

Belgium Appear to Be Picking Up Momentum, but Questions Remain Unanswered

After the shock of the opening defeat to Italy, a sense of calm has returned to Belgium. They’ve won their last three games, scoring eight without reply, and the discontent in the squad—the vague threat of mutiny—seems to have receded. There is nothing, after all, quite so good for team spirit as winning. As they approach Friday’s semi-final against Wales, though, certain doubts... 

Croatia Are Shining Bright in Spite of off-Field Controversies

In some ways, there’s nothing so extraordinary about Croatia beating Spain on Tuesday. The heart of Croatia’s midfield, after all, plays for the best two clubs in Spain—even if Luka Modric did miss the Spain game with a groin injury. They have the players. What’s remarkable is they’ve been able to play as they have despite having a manager nobody seems to respect and despite... 

Joachim Low’s Germany Have Many Questions to Answer in Bid for More Glory

It has been a strange start to Euro 2016, one that has outlined a tournament of teams who have flickered towards life without really catching fire. Nobody has been terrible, nobody has been brilliant, and every side—with the possible exception of Italy—has shown weakness. What’s most surprising, perhaps, is that two years on from winning the World Cup, none of the doubts that floated... 

Wales Reliant on Strong Core, but Wide-Open Euro 2016 Group Gives Them Hope

Chris Coleman only ever played with a back three once as a club manager, the final game of the 2005-06 season, when his Fulham side beat Middlesbrough 1-0. Yet as manager of Wales, after struggling to a 2-1 win away in Andorra in their opening Euro qualifier, he has played with three at the back in any game in which there was any serious defending to be done—that is, not in the home games against... 

Improving and Evolving England Give Roy Hodgson Time to Tinker with His Squad

After the delight of Berlin, the frustration of Wembley Stadium. It’s the nature of international football that far too much is read into far too little, but what England’s games against Germany and the Netherlands demonstrated was that manager Roy Hodgson’s side are capable of rapid-flowing football but defensively suspect. There are still some doubts, but thinking on who makes... 

Gerardo Martino Must Find Key to Argentina’s Attack If They Are to Flourish

There is still a long way to go. Argentina have 15 games to put right their World Cup qualifying campaign, but three games in, they lie second bottom of the CONMEBOL standings with just two points and one goal. They have Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Pablo Zabaleta and Ezequiel Garay all to return—although not before Tuesday’s game against Colombia—so there is reason... 

Next Page »

Latest News

• Former England Manager Graham Taylor Dies at Age 72
• Bruce Arena Names USMNT January Camp Invitees
• Karamoko Dembele Makes England U15s Debut After Playing for Scotland in November
• USMNT Watch: Bobby Wood Nets 1st Bundesliga Goal Since September
• Rugby Player Bruno Andres Doglioli Banned 3 Years for Tackling Female Referee