Well, you’ll struggle to find two more contrasting semi-finals. One, an open, high scoring shocker, and the other a predictably tight, defensive show. Brazil did their best to out-passion the Germans in the build up with their operatic renditions...
All of the big clubs are ramping up their transfer chatter now that the World Cup is nearing its conclusion. Who will Man Utd sign next? Are Arsenal really that close to new blood? What about Liverpool? Or Chelsea? Man City obviously have cash to spend…
Something strange happened over the weekend. Something strange, but a little but genius too. A coach went out of his way to manipulate a penalty shootout in his favour. With time running out, in a game his team had...
It’s hard to believe that Argentina hasn’t been to a World Cup semi-final since 1990. It feels like they’re always there or thereabouts. Watching them see off Belgium in a mostly boring quarter, I felt for the first time this tournament that the Argies are probably...
Big teams fall all over the course of every World Cup. Spain, Italy, Portugal and England all tumbled out early this time amidst a mess of underperforming, wasted chances and tough draws. At the same time, less fancied nations...
Goalkeepers. They're the lads who no one really envy's but the lads who are perhaps the most important play in a football team. This World Cup has shown us a pretty attacking brand of footy which has also brought out the best in many of the world's top goalies.
Get your Phoenix memberships ready, kiwi footy fans, because as if David Villa wasn’t enough, Frank Lampard is signing a short term deal with Melbourne City too. It’s been expected for a while that he’d join Villa at New York City FC but the Aussie loan deal wasn’t a sure thing.
Holy Haahmes, Batman! Once the world starts pronouncing your name in the dramatic Spanish way, you can usually say you’ve made it. James Rodriguez is the breakout star of this World Cup, bar none.
Ooh, the knockouts! No more margins for error, no more settling for second best. It’s win or go home from here on, be it through the magic up front or the dreaded penalty shoot out, someone’s gotta come out on top.
Luis mate, I've stood up for you for a while now, defending you from the likes of the Wildcard who despises you. You're making it bloody tough mate. You've got the footballing world watching you perform, you're showcasing your talents to millions who have possibly never even heard of you, so what do ya do!? You fulfill your evil potential.
Rio Ferdinand, recently released by Manchester United after a decorated career there, has linked up with the man who gave him his first league start – Harry Redknapp.
Miroslav Klose, tied for the most World Cup goals all time now with 15. Quality. Not a guy who ever lit up the club stage in quite the same way, but always a man for the occasion. Klose has scored in 4 consecutive World Cups now. Only Pele, Uwe Seeler and Klose have ever done that
Ahh, England. It’s pretty much all over now after a second consecutive 2-1 loss, this time to Luis Suarez’s Uruguay. The South Americans looked a completely different side with their talisman back, even if he wasn’t fully fit, and twice the Liverpool forward capitalised on really weak defending.
The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain as the old tune goes but the Spanish will still need their brollies for the storm ahead. So Spain are out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup after going down 2-0 to Chile this morning, shock horror.
Sometimes a keeper has a game so amazing that he seems unbeatable. Mexico’s Memo Ochoa had a game like that against Brazil, keeping Neymar and co. at bay for the full 90 minutes to squeeze a valuable point out of the hosts and transform himself into a national hero.
Cesc Fabregas is returning to London but he’ll be in blue, not red and white. Chelsea have secured the Spanish midfielder in a £30m deal from Barcelona. Arsenal fans are understandably pissed after their club turned down the chance to buy him back, and Barca don’t seem to pleased with him either...
How good has the World Cup been!? Usually the big show brings us a bunch of conservative teams playing not to lose and trying most of all not to concede. Nil-all draws and boring football. But in Brazil, the country best known for flair and creative footy, we’re seeing the opposite. Four days and 11 games in, we are yet to see a single draw.
Spain’s quest to retain the most valuable trophy in football got off to the worst imaginable start on the weekend. In fact, calling it ‘imaginable’ at all might be a stretch. Not even in their wildest dreams would most Dutch fans have believed what was to happen.
OK, amigos. Let’s do this. The standard pre-tournament hype article where the writer makes his predictions for the spectacle to ensue. You can take it all the way to the TAB if you want, I won’t even ask for my share if you win.
Diego Costa’s move to Chelsea is all but sealed and it may even be confirmed by the time that you’re reading this. Costa himself basically said so in a TV interview, with a £32m deal in the pipeline. Despite his recent injury troubles, he’s already passed a medical (and should be fine for the World Cup).