Almost twenty years ago England went to Poland knowing that a draw would qualify them for Italia 90. A backs-to-the wall performance and the magnificence of Peter Shilton ensured they had their point and the team then went onto reach the semi-finals of the tournament that arguably saved English football from itself and ultimately elevated […]

It's with a heavy heart that I start this posting, as the sad news that Sir Bobby Robson has finally lost his fight with cancer after a 13 year battle with the disease. Sir Bobby's last public appearance was at the charity match for his foundation on Sunday, and it was heartbreaking yet wonderful to […]

For most football fans, when discussions come round to arguing about who was the greatest English striker of all time, one name will surely always be brought up. William Ralph Dean or Dixie Dean as he became better known is a legend throughout footballing history, with a record that possibly may never be beaten. Born […]

For most Sunderland fans, there is nothing finer than taking a player from Newcastle and making him one of your own. When the Mackems broke the transfer record in 1948 by paying £20,500 to bring Shackleton to Roker Park, they captured one of English football's most mercurial talents. Shackleton was a mould breaker, a player who […]

The English First Division came into being in 1888 and within 4 years, a young man named Steve Bloomer signed for Derby County from local league side Tutbury Hawthorn. Whilst he may have been highly thought of in the local area, such was the turnover of young men trying their hand at football; Bloomer could […]

Well if you're going to start a series like this, there is only one person to start with in my opinion, Sir Stanley Matthews, the wizard of dribble. Matthews is a name that will always be mentioned as one of the greatest footballers of all time, never mind a legend of the English game. He was […]

Today is the last day of Interleague baseball for this season of MLB. It ends coincidentally on the same day as the final of the Confederation Cup. As great as the Confederation Cup has been for Soccer, Interleague play has given baseball a great boost as well. MLB scheduled its Interleague dates to start right after the […]

Yesterday, I asked the question of implementing live video review in football. Today's question is: are our expectations too high for international football? I enjoyed your responses to yesterday's article. Please weigh in with your feelings on international football in the comment section below. It is easy to hold one's international side to an unfair […]

Just when you think you've seen it all, Torino have shelled out £100,000 to lure Dennis Law from Manchester City. Yes, it's 1961 and the record transfer fee paid to or by an English club has broken the hundred thousand mark. Shocking. The previous record was £65,000 when John Charles moved from Leeds to Juventus […]

"Capello was exactly what we needed!" —Frank Lampard "He is one of those managers in that handful around the world who are the best!" —Steven Gerrard "He's given the players confidence and the team a huge amount of respect!" —David Beckham "Who knew?" —Steve McClaren Okay, so I made up that last one. And I […]

Until Fabio Capello took the wheel at England FC, I had this vision of an England World Cup qualifier 40 years from now: England are facing Croatia (who else) in a must-win fixture. The Three Lions are playing with ten men, though nobody's been ejected. On 25 minutes, Luca Modric III goes in for an […]

Since the turn of the year, Aaron Lennon has been in outstanding form. His club exploits have been rewarded with not just an international call up, but a place in the starting eleven in England’s last two matches, the latter being a competitive qualifier. This is just rewards for Lennon as he has been absolutely […]

Gentleman, let us put away childish things. Yes, international breaks can provide some godawful football. Yes, it doesn’t seem fair for a player to risk injury for a team he plays with only five times a year and miss games for the club that employs him on a weekly basis. Yes, nations like Lichtenstein don’t […]

Why can't Stewart Downing show us the form that makes him such a sought after player when he pulls on the England shirt? There is no doubting that at Premier League level, Downing is one of the most dangerous and creative players in the country but after Saturdays performance against Slovakia, it's clear to see […]

Fabio Capello's quiet demeanor and considered words give him an aura of deep intelligence and authority, so much so it can sometimes seems he's foreseen everything through 2010 and beyond. But this week the aura's faded a bit under over doubts about his decision last week to call-up perma knee-knacked Tottenham defender Ledley King, and […]