Thariq Amir

If anyone suggested that Paris Saint-Germain would be sitting in second let alone third going into the winter break they certainly would not have been met with a gallic shrug, quite the opposite in all likelihood. But that’s the state of play in Ligue 1 which is shaping to be the most keenly contested league […]

A striker is through on goal and hares into the penalty area with just the keeper to beat.   The last covering defender though has a chance to make a last ditch tackle and prevent the striker from getting a shot off; they take a chance and dive in. The tackle is mistimed and instead of […]

You know things are bad in the FIFA house when even the normally vocal Sepp Blatter is keeping a ‘dignified’ silence. In retrospect, it was probably too much to expect FIFA to get its act together and publish a full and thorough review of Michael Garcia’s report into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.  […]

Valencia is currently sitting fourth in La Liga and only two points behind current leaders Barcelona. They’ve already beaten champions Atletico Madrid and look like a decent shout for a Champions League spot on current form. Los Che is being coached by Nuno Santo and assisting him is a 28-year-old Scot who made his name […]

The recently crowned World Cup champions, Germany, haven’t had the best of starts to their Euro 2016 qualification campaign. They won narrowly against a spirited Scotland side, lost for the first time in their history against Poland and were dramatically denied by a dogged, well-drilled Irish team. Joachim Löw has been vocal in his belief […]

It hasn’t really gone to plan for Manchester United has it? Unwanted records are being broken and despite spending a vast sum in the summer transfer window and shipping out a number of players too, the squad still looks unbalanced. In amongst the gloom though there have been some signs of encouragement. United’s sharp-shooting attackers […]

Another day, another humiliation. Newcastle United’s capitulation against Southampton last weekend was the fourth time this calendar year that the Magpies have lost by a four goal margin. Southampton helped themselves to four last season against Newcastle at St Mary’s in March whilst Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur helped themselves to goal gluts at St […]

It has been 10 years to the month since the passing of the greatest manager England never had, Brian Howard Clough OBE. His time in football was dotted with highs and lows. Clough’s achievements with Derby County and Nottingham Forest have gone down in folklore but it’s safe to say he had his fair share […]

The new Premier League season is only two weeks old and Manchester United under Louis van Gaal are already playing catch-up. The pre-season tour feels like a very long time ago now. The Red Devils have placed a significant number of eggs into an Ángel di María-sized basket and the spending may not end there […]

Editor's note: Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the infamous "Death Match". On the 9th of August 1942, a group of men who worked at Kiev’s Bakery #3 took on the might of the Nazi Luftwaffe team and triumphed.  The game was dubbed the “Death Match”.  It was a match that went down in legend and folklore.  […]

It’s amazing to think that Bojan Krkić is only 23 years old.  He burst on to the scene, making his Barcelona debut against Egyptian side Al-Ahly when he was just 16 and even scored in that game too. However, after a promising start his career thus far hasn’t blossomed as he would have liked. Bojan […]

In 2012, Dundee United footballer Ryan Gauld made his full league debut at the tender age of 16.  He struck his first senior goal against St Johnstone a year later in April 2013.  In the 2013-2014 season, he scored eight goals in the Scottish league and cup campaigns and has now signed for the same […]

Belgium’s Golden Generation failed to shine as a professional and disciplined Argentina eked out a relatively comfortable 1-0 win. Something had to give as the Belgians had previously never lost with Thibaut Courtois in goal in 21 consecutive games whilst Argentina have not been defeated in the previous 24 matches Lionel Messi has taken part […]

July 4th is a special day in German football history.  On that day in 1954 the West Germans came from two goals down to beat Ferenc Puskás’ Mighty Magyars and lift their very first World Cup in what is known as ‘The Miracle of Bern’.  Perhaps it is fitting that Joachim Löw’s side progressed on […]