Author Archive

Manchester’s claim to be the centre of the footballing universe might have to wait for further  ratification. The excitement of a couple of wins in the Premier League went to the head of those of us diagnosing a north-westerly shift in the game’s Continue reading →

What a difference a week makes in the rolling soap opera that is the England football team. Ten days ago Fabio Capello was complaining that, in the absence of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere and Ashley Young, he “didn’t have any pl Continue reading →

Sepp Blatter is the gift that keeps on giving. Whenever he opens his gaping, foot-sized mouth he makes himself – and the body he represents – look ridiculous. His racist-abuse-should-be-forgiven-with-a-handshake calumny this week fits neatly into a pa Continue reading →

Genk had not scored a goal in the Champions League before yesterday. Until last night they played the role of group stage patsy with unerring efficiency, leaking goals at every turn and failing decisively to return the favour; they had looked unlikely e Continue reading →