When Germany thumped Scotland 5-1, amidst all the euphoria and the "Germany will take some beating" hype, a few people dared to whisper that it’s how teams finish a tournament, not how they start it, that counts.
It’s true as well. It always has been. Over the years, anyone who has watched football will have seen teams start strong before running out of steam. Brazil were specialists at it, notably in 1982 when they were regarded as ...
A Journey into the Beautiful Game
Many years ago, a friend of mine was guiding his son towards a career in professional football. I went to watch him play a few times, and he became a local star around Oxford, attracting interest from several clubs. He was a very good player but seemed to flit in and out of games like a Wi-Fi signal at a Turkish hotel.
The Reality of Professional Football
As the trials took place, my friend, who had ...
Yesterday, I pried myself off the chaise lounge, breaking a long-standing habit and watching the football at Oakley Cricket Club. Given that it’s a place where many of my personal disasters unfold, it felt rather fitting to be watching England there. For reasons I can’t explain, I was quietly confident that England would win handsomely. I thought that with the mundane ‘win once and you’re through’ group games done with, England would ...
Every time the England football team faces a setback, there's an obligatory chorus of boring voices claiming the players lack passion. Pundits, fans, and critics alike bemoan the supposed absence of fiery determination, suggesting that if only the players showed more passion, victories would follow. This narrative, however, is utter twaddle. The idea that passion alone could transform England’s fortunes is not only simplistic but also totally ...
As a chez lounge supporter of the England football team, it’s both perplexing and, let’s be honest, occasionally bloody annoying to watch the squad’s recurring struggles against teams that the tabloids label as "minnows" during major tournaments. I have attempted to look what's behind this phenomenon, whilst trying to keep my sense of moderate optimism intact (what else can we do when the football appears to be so lacklustre?).
Psych...
