When Russia started the World Cup in 2018 as the lowest ranked team in the tournament (70th in the world), not much was expected. A string of poor results in friendly games heading into the competition led many to think the Russians…

This past summer delivered lasting memories for English football fans. Performing above what many believed possible, England reached the semi-finals of a major competition for the first time in 12 years. ‘Daring to Dream’ tells…

With the Iron Curtain of football complete, we can only wonder what will happen in four years’ time in Qatar?  This World Cup has been wondrous. A marvel for football, a triumph which has excited us all, especially when we're…

As the England team prepare themselves for their World Cup semifinal with Croatia, the hype at home has reached fever pitch. This tournament was all about building confidence and gaining experience with a very young squad. Gareth Southgate’s…

There is no I in team. We’ve already lost you, haven’t we? You’ve already rolled your eyes in distaste at a cliché you’ve come to expect from TV pundits. Stick with us though. The post-mortems have been conducted,…

Many people believe England are a top candidate to win the World Cup. Even more so now that powerhouses Spain, Argentina and Germany are out. The phrase “it’s coming home” is making the rounds on social media. One needs to…

There are few teams in the world with fans so loyal and passionate as Peru's. Worthy invitees to the first World Cup in 1930, fans of Peru have watched helplessly as their team plunged into the nadir among CONMEBOL nations. After their…

The World Cup has produced everything you could hope in less than a week. Russia decimated Saudi Arabia to kick things off, Portugal and Spain gave us a thriller. There are already a few worthy goal-of-the-tournament nominees. Hearts have been…

Football video games are a staple of my life. The crossover between reality and virtuality is beautiful. FIFA's series usually creates a seamless stream of verisimilitude which encapsulates my attention way beyond the recommended session…

World Cup friendlies are quintessential for everyone involved, the manager, players and fans. They let countries know where they stand. Managers generally put out their first team, allow the players to gel, then try to fix whatever…

Anyone who's someone in the beer world views Belgium as the centre of the universe. Even the national flag looks like a taster set, porter on the left, an amber in the middle and ruby red on the right. In footballing terms, the country…

Earth's biggest sporting competition will explode into action within a fortnight. All intelligent life on the planet will be eagerly anticipating their favourite stars performing for their respective nations.  Thinking about the…

Milos Degenek - Australia There are few better examples of a third-culture kid in the J.League. Milos was born in Croatia to Serbian parents; who later moved the family to Sydney, Australia. At youth level, he first represented the Socceroos…

It's an exciting year for international football as Russia will be hosting the grandest stage of them all. The World Cup kicks off in June with the hosts opening against Saudi Arabia and 30 other nations competing for football's most…

Before this week's friendlies, I believed England was in a mess. After seeing this squad, I began to question Gareth Southgate's sanity. Danny Welbeck? The 27-year-old has barely played for Arsenal. Game time is at a premium with…