Several months after World War Two had been declared a victory Great Britain and its allies, the English FA, striving to discover the intriguing nature of football behind the Iron Curtain, decided to…
Tag: russia
The summer of 2008 was Andrey Arshavin’s summer of ’69. The fabulously gifted midfielder was approaching his peak age as a professional footballer, his club side Zenit Saint Petersburg had battled their…
NIKITA PAVLOVICH SIMONYAN IS A NAME THAT, while relatively unknown to young people today, holds a special place in the hearts of those who were around to watch him play. Known for his…
IT’S NO SECRET THAT BIG TOURNAMENTS CREATE BIG PLAYERS. To this day football fans all over the world still talk about how a 17-year-old Pelé dazzled spectators during the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. While…
I have seen the future. Football’s future. It’s both exciting and tragic. Amidst the reliance on strength, pace and fitness, players have taken centre stage like never before. Long gone is the…
Fabio Capello appeared to be on the brink. Two victories in his last 10 games in charge of the Russia national team prompted a crisis meeting with his bosses on Wednesday, talks that…
This feature is part of A Tale of One City The Gold Room at the world famous Hermitage museum in Saint Petersburg is a sight to behold; the very symbol of opulence at the…
“Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Winston Churchill’s famous words in October 1939 at the breakout of World War Two ring out as loudly today as they did…
The Arctic Circle conjures images of bleak, cold, inhospitable landscapes, but also of beauty and mystery; of the Northern Lights, stunning scenery, secluded fjords and mountains. These are not images traditionally associated…
A TEN-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION, six-time Russian Super Cup winner and the first Russian side to ever win a European trophy, PFC CSKA Moscow is without doubt one of the most globally renowned…
It was once said that of all the unimportant subjects, football is by far the most important. Today, that quote seems so antiquated. Football has transcended the boundaries of a mere sport, into…
This feature is part of A Tale of One City “Daddy needs vodka, or he can’t ensure victory.” When Oleg Romanstev sent his five-year-old son into the VIP box at Anfield during a…
Zenit Saint Petersburg’s Landscrona are one of the most feared supporters’ groups in football, with deep-set violence and racism. But is that really true?