As settings go for the biggest match in a nation’s footballing history, the Azteca in…
Johnny Rep: the natural Total Footballer who weaved his way into legend
“With so many great players in one team, you make art. You don’t mean to…
How Panama overcome past despair to find the ultimate glory in World Cup qualification
To taste the sweet, you must first have faced the pain. The joy of finally…
When two worlds collide: Claudio Caniggia and Benjamin Massing at Italia 90
BRUTAL ASSAULT or comic collision? Cynical professionalism or amateurish naivety? To laugh or to cry? Whatever your thoughts,…
Salvatore Schillaci: the unlikely hero of Italia 90
IT IS ONE of the most iconic images of Italia 90, along with Paul Gascoigne’s…
The golden ages of the Soviet national team
THINK OF THE RUSSIAN NATIONAL TEAM and you’re unlikely to think of anything particularly positive. One…
Tahiti at the 2013 Confederations Cup: a dream fulfilled
“We’re playing with the big boys now,” was the verdict of the Tahiti coach Eddie…
Antonín Panenka and the greatest penalty of all time
“I WAS ONE-THOUSAND percent certain that I would take the penalty in that way and that…
Euro 96: when football should have come home
It has been 20 long years since Euro 96 had English fans dreaming. Boasting one of the best England squads in recent decades, the Three Lions made it all the way to the semis before succumbing to old foes Germany on penalties.
The uplifting story of American Samoa’s footballing redemption
From the depths of a 31-0 defeat, we look back at the remarkable redemption of American Samoa and their first competitve victory despite being FIFA’s lowest ranked side.
Celebrating the life of World Cup legend Alcides Ghiggia
“THERE WAS COMPLETE SILENCE, said Alcides Ghiggia of the moment he caused nearly 200,000 spectators at…