Matt Jones

You are crying since Italy (World Cup 1990) ‘till today! You are going to see Messi! The World Cup will be ours! And Maradona is greater than Pele! That’s a rough translation of the last few lines of a song that has been bellowed out by the Albiceleste faithful in Brazilian stadiums during this World […]

There were not many pundits that expected the Netherlands to go this far in the 2014 World Cup. Pitted alongside the holders Spain and a vibrant Chile team, there was a sense that Louis van Gaal’s progressive Dutch side would fall just short in the group stage, but this campaign would make for the core […]

For so long, German teams were perceived as cohesive, diligent and supremely disciplined. But at the 2010 World Cup, that notion was obliterated, as a youthful team swept teams aside a host of nations with a stylish swagger. Four years on, they currently look like a team stuck in limbo between those two aforementioned philosophies. […]

Yellow shirts, enthralling attacking play and rhythmic celebrations; for so long that’s been the narrative for Brazilian teams that have dazzled us all at the World Cup. But in their own backyard, there’s another team stealing the show. While seven of the eight quarter-finalists in the 2014 World Cup were made to battle exceptionally hard […]

A quick glance at the last-16 ties and the subsequent quarter-finals paints a deceptively predictable set of results from the first round of knockout matches at the 2014 World Cup. All eight group winners progressed at the expense of the group runners-up, but as any of us who have been indulging in this fine World […]

Soccer is a sport punctured by “what ifs” and “if onlys”. Stories have been around for decades about teams that missed out on certain players, only to see them go and become superstars. For example, Diego Maradona nearly signed for Sheffield United in the 1970’s, but the Bramall Lane club chose the current Argentina boss […]

With USA facing Belgium on Tuesday at 4pm ET/1pm PT, here’s how Klinsmann should go about setting his team up to progress to the quarter-final stage: 1. Pressure In Midfield – The Belgium midfield isn’t anywhere near as technically adept as the German one, which means the men in the middle for the United States […]

This is where the fun starts for the United States. After negotiating their way through the Group of Death with some wonderful performances, Jurgen Klinsmann’s men will take on Belgium in the last-16 knowing there is very little pressure on them whatsoever. Even if the USA were to depart at this particular stage of the […]

With the England national team on their way home from Brazil after three abject performances in the group stage, the intense coverage of the World Cup has been turned down a notch on this side of the Atlantic. There’s still plenty of excitement as we stand on the brink of the knockout stages of the tournament, but […]

One-on-one with Iker Casillas in the World Cup final, the scores level at 0-0, Arjen Robben had the chance to establish himself as an immortal figure in Dutch soccer history. It was the scenario all players dream of: a golden chance to net the winning goal on the biggest stage of all. But the Bayern Munich winger […]

Manchester United look to be on the brink of sealing their first transfer of the summer window, with reports suggesting that the Red Devils are currently in advanced talks with Athletic Bilbao about a deal for central midfielder Ander Herrera. According to reports coming out of Spain (h/t The Telegraph), a £29 million deal is close to completion and the […]

“We’ve been waiting for years for England to play like Spain. Now they actually are!” That was the gag doing the rounds on social media after England’s 2-1 defeat to Uruguay in Sao Paulo. The Three Lions are on the brink of a group stage exit after losing both of their opening World Cup games […]

It’s extremely difficult to steer clear of the hyperbole that accompanies Wayne Rooney. After all, the current plight of the Manchester United man is a fascinating one and it certainly wouldn’t feel quite right if the English media didn’t impinge their hopes onto one man in the build-up to a big game. Unfortunately for Rooney, […]

“Change” and “stability,” while obviously completely contrasting concepts, are both vital in soccer. Most would agree with the notion that a successful team is built upon the appropriate amount of each, but it’s a precarious balance to strike. After all, too much change and the players will lack familiarity and cohesion. Too little and a […]

In the UK, the World Cup matches are shared between two television stations: BBC and ITV. So as you might expect, comparisons between the duo are rife, as each channel strives to provide the best World Cup package for terrestrial viewers. Both broadcasters have extremely impressive studios on the Copacabana beach. Both have a stellar list of pundits who […]