The Battle of The Underperformers – Argentina v. Belgium
On 5th July, two teams will step onto the turf at Brasilia’s Estadio Nacional to fight for a place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals. Two squads that have a barrage of…
The best in this tournament are in a fitting quarter-final. Against Brazil.
5 inches. That’s how far they were from crashing out of the World Cup in the round of 16. Had Mauricio Pinnilla’s shot at Estadio Minerao deflected in, the tournament would be…
Quarterfinal 1 – France vs Germany
If a time traveler were to travel back in time from July to May and tell me, a self-confessed football geek, that Germany would face France in the quarterfinals, I’d be licking…
A Chance For Algeria to Exact Their Revenge?
Almost everyone is familiar with the infamous incident from 1982 involving West Germany, Austria and Algeria. But this article isn’t about that, so I’ll just get down to the bottom line. The…
Brazil vs Chile: A fascinating contest in store
We are at the knockout rounds of what has been a rather excellent World Cup. Two teams who entered the tournament with almost opposite expectations square up in what now looks like…
The failure that is England
Do me a favor. Count the number of major tournaments in which you have supported England and ended up disappointed. 99% of you reading this will vote for 100% disappointment. Do me…
If You Can’t Beat Them, Bite Them
“Violence, racism, playacting and such acts of indignity have no place in football.” We have all heard this line being spoken like its some commandment by the Footballing Gods. Well, there is…
All in or nothing – Italy vs Uruguay
Before the World Cup began, nobody would have quite predicted that minnows Costa Rica would be on top of Group D with one game to go – as opposed to opinion that…
World Cup 2014: Bro, do you even press?
One of the biggest predicaments in life is that absolutely nothing lasts forever. All things, good or bad, are destined to bite the dust one day. As the last few days have…
Germany v/s Ghana
To predict the outcome of a World Cup group based on its first round results would be foolhardiness; yet, one wouldn’t be considered too brash if they assumed that Germany are going…
The Group B decider – Spain vs. Chile
The 2010 World Cup winners aren’t in a comfortable position right now, and Sampaoli’s anarchists must be rubbing their hands in glee at the thought of knocking Spain out of the World…
Brazil vs Mexico : Task cut out for El Tri
Opening matches have been dealt with, and won. While Brazil were quite shaky off the blocks and needed the referee and some quite sub-standard goalkeeping to get past Croatia, Mexico had a…
Germany vs Portugal: A contest or a walkover?
A well-oiled machine will take on a one-man army in this fierce battle. It is a usual belief that the better team always wins. But anything can happen in football. Germany and…
The most wonderful underdogs: Algeria
That they won the 1990 African Cup of Nations and are the ancestral home of Zinedine Zidane is the closest the nation has been to pure footballing glory and fame. You wouldn’t…
England vs Italy: Not as easy as you might think
Three-time World Champions. Perennial underachievers who cannot click as a team to save their life. When you’re asked to predict the outcome of the England vs Italy game tonight, you could be…
Uruguay – Underestimated Ageing Underdogs?
As a nation that has been at the forefront of the tactical evolution of the game and has generally excelled at the global stage, the Netherlands is frequently held up as an…
2010 World Cup Final Rematch: Spain vs Netherlands
In what is being billed as a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final, Spain will face off against Netherlands – surely the biggest game of the group stages. While Netherlands will…
Countdown to Brazil 2014: Part 9 – FIFA World Cup 2010
The FIFA World Cup 2010 was the first World Cup to be held in the African continent. The total prize money on offer was USD 420 million, with the winner getting USD…
The Rise of Chile – Viva El Sampaolisimo!
“My relationship with Bielsa is almost mythical. Through his excellence he justifies an attacking style that I have always identified with, and I subscribe to his philosophy and ideas. Although Marcelo is constantly…
Countdown to Brazil 2014: Part 8 – FIFA World Cup 2006
” I spent the afternoon of Sunday, July 9, 2006 in Berlin sleeping and playing the PlayStation. In the evening, I went out and won the World Cup. ” – Andrea Pirlo…
The Bane of Club Football – Stars Missing the World Cup 2014
The FIFA World Cup – A spectacle that stops the world in its tracks. Few have played on the biggest stage. Even fewer have dazzled and lifted that hallowed trophy. This year…
Countdown to Brazil 2014: Part 7 – FIFA World Cup 2002
Comebacks are one of the most endearing aspects about the struggles of life. Seldom does someone pass through time without falling, but the ones who possess the ability to stand back up…
The fall, the fall, and the rise of Rickie Lambert
The transfer of Rickie Lambert to Liverpool is no less than a fairytale. Irony works in funny ways, often leaving the observers in despair and malaise. This is not that kind of…
Countdown to Brazil: Part 6 – FIFA World Cup 1998
The joy of lifting the Word Cup trophy in front of home support has been enjoyed on 6 occasions since the start of the tournament. The 1998 FIFA World Cup has been…