For the first time in 36 years, there was no African nation in the last 16 of the World Cup. It was a shock, perhaps, with star names such as John Obi…
Tag: world cup
Under the mandarin and pink clouds of a fading Moscow summer evening, on a bench amidst the old white oak trees that line the Moskva River’s southern bank, Kiril Kotov prepared himself…
His talent is in no doubt, and it’s been quite the journey to showcase it to the world. But can Kylian Mbappé become the greatest player of his era?
Football didn’t come home this summer but, in truth, it was never supposed to. For a while it felt like it just might – the entire nation suddenly and inexplicably gripped by…
“Cultural genocide.” Those were the words of Jean-Marie Tjibaou, leader of the Kanak Independence Movement, after the French Government introduced a controversial statute in the territory of New Caledonia in 1988. The law,…
A mix of sun and cloud welcomed the thousands of football fans in the hours leading up to the World Cup final in Moscow. France and Croatia supporters exited the Sportivnaya metro…
There have been few images more powerful at this summer’s World Cup than that of Lionel Messi, standing forlorn, disconsolate and alone after Argentina’s chaotic second-round exit to France. Many were quick…
Moscow and Saint Petersburg are two cities in the same country that have traditionally been rivals. Ask an ordinary Muscovite which city is Russia’s most important and you’ll almost always get the…
Winning the World Cup is a matter of pride for many, but the individual glory is arguably the next best thing when heading out to the finals, and the Golden Boot award,…
Russia’s epic World Cup victory against Spain in the round of 16 unleashed celebrations throughout Moscow that stretched across this massive country of nearly 145 million people and 11 time zones. The…
The World Cup is a stage for players to perform. The greats have all shone there: Pele, Maradona, Romário and Baggio. These names are esteemed champions, although not all have won the…
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. In the centre of the field, shaded from the autumn sun, a lean young man in white stands, feet apart; a slight hunch to his shoulders,…
Awaking across Europe on the morning of 1 July, fans were left to reflect on what would supposedly be a relatively calm day of World Cup action. Following the eliminations of Cristiano Ronaldo…
Achieving something that the politicians couldn’t, Ayrton Senna and Brazil’s football team offered hopes and dreams to the masses in a beleaguered nation
There were 95 minutes on the clock as Toni Kroos and Marco Reus stood menacingly, eyeing up a last-gasp free-kick for Germany after Jimmy Durmaz had clumsily brought down Timo Werner right…
Twenty minutes into France’s 4–3 victory over Argentina in the World Cup round of 16, Paul Pogba restarted play with a long ball from deep in his own half. He hit the…
In 1991, Japanese football was at its lowest point. Their top flight was played by amateurs and the football association knew something needed to be done. The birth of the J League soon…
Nordin Amrabat spent last season living in Madrid and playing in LaLiga for Leganés, but he really wanted to beat Spain last Monday evening. Even though Morocco had already been mathematically eliminated…