Steady Now, Jonathan: Pearce Shouts For England & Ronaldo
It has become the cheapest thing in football writing to criticise its television commentators. I almost feel like I’m cheating if I get cheap laughs out of an article on...
Category "International Football"
Euro 2012: The Quarter-Finals – Germany 4-2 Greece
This evening, as we have been reliably, repeatedly and at great length informed over the last few days, is more than a football match. This evening, apparently, is all about...
The Euro 2012 Quarter-Finals: Czech Republic 0-1 Portugal
So, we have had our twenty-four hour break and it is on to the quarter-finals – the business end, if you will – of the 2012 European Championships. And if...
Euro 2012: Group D – The Final Day
The phrase “you make your own luck” is an overused one and it is perfectly possible to argue that luck, by its very nature, is random. There can be little...
“Stop Bunching!” – Are Tactics All They’re Cracked Up To Be?
Ex-professional football players occupy a unique position in British society. For anyone else of any other profession or social standing, years having engaged in an activity on a professional basis...
Euro 2012: Group C – The Final Day
Despite Group C containing three of its best teams, the tension of the final games nearly unravelled the quality with which Spain, Italy and Croatia have sprinkled this tournament to...
The Realignment Of Great Expectations: On England In Ukraine
When England take to the field in Kiev this evening to play Ukraine in their final group match at this years European Championships, the task ahead of them will be...
Euro 2012: Group B – The Final Day
Goodnight, Oranje. The Dutch team arrived at this years European Championships with high hopes, having got to the World Cup final two years ago. This evening, however, they return home...
Valour! Honour! Scott Parker! The Wing Commander Writes On England vs Sweden
Regular – or indeed occasional – readers of the When Saturday Comes magazine forum will probably already be aware of the writings of the Wing Commander, the last living remnant...
Euro 2012: Group A – The Final Day
The bunting will be hanging limp in Warsaw and Wroclaw this afternoon. Poland, the co-hosts of the 2012 European Championships, have been eliminated from the competition at the end of...
Euro 2012: England 3-2 Sweden
There was a point yesterday when it seemed as if history was deemed to repeat itself yet again. As Olof Mellbergs second goal-ward shot on goal made Joe Harts net...
Euro 2012: Ukraine 0-2 France
The rain came to Donetsk last night, and by the end of the evening a dark cloud had settled over Ukraines hopes of getting through to the quarter-finals of the...
Euro 2012: Spain 4-0 Republic Of Ireland
Like they needed the help. Spain were only ever going to be denied victory over Ireland by the sort of rearguard action Giovanni Trapattoni’s men produced in the qualifying group...
Euro 2012: Croatia 1-1 Italy
A good result, this for Croatia. Italy’s midfield trio of Pirlo, Purlo and Pairlo, combined with the rugged centre-back pairing of Chiellini and Collini, would have presented a challenge to...
Euro 2012: Denmark 2-3 Portugal
What a strange game of football this was. Jamie Carragher in the ITV studio called it the tournament’s best to date. But Clyde Tyldesley in the ITV commentary box was...
Euro 2012: Germany 2-1 Netherlands
There are some football matches which transcend mere rivalry and tap into something more deep-seated, as if they tickle a synapse that we may even think that we have evolved...
New Century, Old Tensions: Russian & Polish Supporters Clash In Warsaw
For those amongst us of a certain age, the scenes from the streets of Warsaw yesterday afternoon and evening had a wearyingly familiar look to them – streets of mostly...
Euro 2012: Czech Republic 2-1 Greece
Greece’s manager Fernando Santos knew what was coming – in the first half at least. He had his head down, his eyes shut and his hand wiping a furrowed brow...
Magical Flag Moments From Euro 2012
Liverpool-based artist Dave Williams has designed sixteen magic moments for this years European Championships – one for each competing country – based upon the flags of this summers competing nations....
For The King, The Empire And John Terry: The Wing Commander Writes On England Vs France
Regular – or indeed occasional – readers of the When Saturday Comes magazine forum will probably already be aware of the writings of the Wing Commander, the last living remnant...