The athletes recently hit the headlines for their alleged involvement in an illegal gambling scandal. Both midfielders, as well as Nicolo Faggioli, a young Juventus player, are under investigation for their involvement in illegal betting. football federations always take these kinds of allegations seriously. Not only is betting on their matches unethical towards other players … Read more
In 1988, Netherlands forward Marco van Basten won the first of his three Ballon d’Or titles. He became only the third Dutch international to claim the award after Johan Cruyff in 1971, 1973 and 1974 along with Ruud Gullit the previous calendar year in 1987. Gullit claimed second place this time around with his international … Read more
The 1972 Ballon d’Or saw a trio of Germans vying for football’s ultimate individual prize. In the process, Franz Beckenbauer became only the second West German national and Bayern Munich player to win the trophy following Gerd Müller in 1970. He was also the first defender to claim the Ballon d’Or since its inception in … Read more
Stanley Matthews won the first ever Ballon d’Or in 1956, being one of only four Englishman to lift the iconic accolade ahead of Denis Law (1964), George Best (1968) along with Kevin Keegan twice in 1978 and 1979. At the age of 41 years and ten months, Matthews remains the oldest winner of the prize, … Read more
It was the year that Ruud Gullit finally gained ultimate recognition as Europe’s finest talent. He became only the second Dutchman to win the accolade following Johan Cruyff’s trio of prizes in 1971, 1973 and 1974. Gullit’s rise was initially slow and steady. But within the space of two years leading up to his award, … Read more
Igor Belanov’s 1986 Ballon d’Or win remains only the third time in which a player from the Soviet Union has claimed Europe’s most illustrious individual prize. His victory joined that of Dynamo Kyiv forward Oleg Blokhin in 1975 and legendary Dynamo Moscow goalkeeper Lev Yashin twelve years earlier. Belanov’s Ballon d’Or success was perhaps a … Read more
Roller Soccer may sound like the mad fever dream of a disgraced FIFA employee, but it is a game that dates back surprisingly far. The game may not be the first soccer spin-off you think of, but its incredibly unique twist combining high-speed rollerblading with the inexorable thrill of soccer makes it among the more … Read more
It takes a truly special player to score one of football’s greatest goals and still be remembered for so much more. A World Cup and Champions League winner, perhaps the greatest Left-Back to walk the Earth and most importantly, scorer of the greatest free-kick of all time. Roberto Carlos was the complete Full-back. Fast, skilful, … Read more
Thirty-one matches. Sixteen teams, eight venues, eight different cities and two new host countries. Five new stadiums, built in anticipation of the competition. A history-making result defined by the playing philosophy of the winning side. This is the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship. Contentsshow 1Group A 2Group B 3Group C 4Group D 5Quarter-Final 6Semi-final 7Final … Read more
Euro 2008, was a tournament I personally remember well. It was a time of transition in football, that in many ways reflected the world as attitudes shifted towards new ways of thinking. Music was shifting as the Garage Rock scene that followed Brit-pop began to infuse with the cheesier pop music of the time. Genres … Read more