This feature is part of Virtuoso When Maria Callas strode onto the stage as Elvira to perform at the magnificent Gran Teatro La Fenice in Venice in 1949, her breathtaking vocal range…
Tag: world cup
This feature is part of Virtuoso In the summer of 1994, a 34-year-old Paul McGrath travelled to the United States to play in Ireland’s second ever World Cup. To say that the…
The first stanza of the Argentine national anthem had barely concluded on a balmy summer night in Rome when the camera panned to Diego Maradona. “Hijos de puta,” Argentina’s captain uttered in…
It was in November 2017 at the famed San Siro in Milan that Italy suffered one of their most humbling defeats. The scoreless draw in a World Cup qualification playoff, after a…
In February 2002, over 12,000 fans packed themselves into Fratton Park to see former Real Madrid and Barcelona maestro Robert Prosinečki score a scintillating hat-trick against Barnsley. What should have been an easy three…
“I have no words, I just have to thank Real Madrid because they sold him to us … he is absolutely crucial.” José Mourinho was emotional in his praise for Wesley Sneijder in…
During the late 1960s and early 70s, West German football was the dominant force in the game. As well as Die Mannschaft lifting the World Cup in their homeland in 1974, Bayern…
The world’s biggest icons, Mother Theresa and Princess Diana, passed away in 1997, while Bill Clinton was the still the US president. Popular culture was polluted by plenty of bands, P Diddy…
Long before they became regulars at the World Cup, Australia had to struggle for their place, demonating their neighbours while succumbing to rivals
Roughly translated from German, ‘ein kampf zwischen brüdern’ means ‘a struggle between brothers’ and has been used to describe the game that took place as part of the initial group stages of the World…
Flying down the wing, the ball at the end of his toe, movement in his hips and flair in his soul, Denílson was the quintessential Brazilian winger. Any who had the pleasure…
In 1532, Niccolò Machiavelli published a now-famous treatise on leadership and governance. ‘Il Principe’ advised that, in an imperfect world, man must do whatever it takes to succeed and thrive. Machiavelli argued that…
This feature is part of Duology The big man, little man combination is a common thread among successful striking partnerships. There’s the big man, full of muscular hustle and bustle, aggression and…
This feature is part of Duology One was an unfathomably gifted prodigee, a PSV Eindhoven graduate turned timeless Barcelona hero; a Brazilian wonder and undisputed icon to a generation of admirers of…
This feature is part of Duology Considering the sheer size of Brazil — the fifth largest country in the world — it’s surprising just how close the birthplaces of Roberto Carlos da…
This feature is part of Duology The Italians prize their art. It is something that has become a part of their culture, a part of their history for centuries and it still…
In these days of expanded World Cups, bloated Champions League competitions and saturated television coverage, most football aficionados are used to seeing regular clashes between the world’s current top two footballers, Cristiano…
The very mention of Paolo Rossi can conjure to mind just one image, and this is entirely understandable. It’s July 1982 in Barcelona at the Estadi de Sarrià. Wearing the Azzurri number…