Category: Latest

FIFA Under 20s World Cup: Italy 3-2 Zambia

FIFA Under 20s World Cup: Italy 3-2 Zambia

Posted by | Jun 11, 2017 | ,

Eurosport co-commentator Stewart Robson knew. He usually does. “When you come to tournaments,” he noted, co-incidentally listing the ones for which Eurosport had UK broadcast rights, “you are looking for one of the great games. And this,” he added as Italy’s Under 20s World Cup quarter-final against Zambia approached extra-time, “could be it.” Commentator Tim Caple knew too. He usually does…and if he doesn’t Robson is always quick to tell him. “Up to 50 shots,” he gasped. “Almost unheard of.” And Zambia’s occasional “shoot-(impulsively-off-target)-on-sight” policy only contributed marginally to that stat. Italy/Zambia was better still for the significant and...

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The FIFA Under-20s World Cup: Last 16 To Last 4

The FIFA Under-20s World Cup: Last 16 To Last 4

Posted by | Jun 7, 2017 | ,

So, for all my talk of the diversity of successful nations at the FIFA Under-20s World Cup, we have one all-European and one all-South American semi-final. But what larks we’ve had getting there… Second Round Venezuela 1 Japan 0 (after extra-time, score at 90 minutes…well…guess) A match between two such intricate passing teams produced a winning goal of shocking simplicity, Yangel Herrera’s 108th-minute header from a corner with no defender on the post. Japan started slowly, as per, giving Adalberto Penaranda ample space for his trick-and-flicks. They MUST have spotted him, with all that peroxide-blond hair. And he NEEDS...

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Podcast 96: General Election Special

Podcast 96: General Election Special

Posted by | Jun 4, 2017 | ,

Well, the summer holidays are here and we’ve decided that football should take a break for a couple of months during the summer, so now that it’s June it’s time for us to venture out into the big, wide world. This week’s podcast is, therefore, on the subject of the upcoming general election and provides ample proof of why we should be not allowed anywhere near power, ever. Though Ian does reveal who he voted for. Has he broken any laws? As ever, you can download the 200% podcast by right-clicking and saving here, whilst the 200% podcast’s RSS...

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Video Assistant Referees: A Step Too VAR?

Video Assistant Referees: A Step Too VAR?

Posted by | Jun 2, 2017 | ,

Graham Poll would have LOVED it. Every time there was a controversial incident, and he was hardly averse to them, the cameras would have been on him to see if he would refer it to the Video Assistant referees (VARs). And when decisions were reached, the cameras would still be on HIM as he strutted around (and he WOULD strut) making said decision clear. The VAR system is under full tournament trial in the World Under-20s Cup Finals, currently wowing about 3,000 people-per-game in the Korean Republic, now that the hosts are out. It was tested in last December’s...

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Morecambe: Fewer Owners, More Questions

Morecambe: Fewer Owners, More Questions

Posted by | May 30, 2017 | ,

On 23 February I posted about the complexity of the situation at Morecambe. Since then it has become a case of… Less Owners – More questions for the Shrimps. As events unwind at Morecambe and putative owners fall by the wayside, more puzzles seem to reveal themselves. The opacity of the football world and the endemic frustrations evoked support the arguments for the need for more transparency in the dealings around the game. If the club’s finances are hidden, how can fans be sure of the future stability of their club? Current events at Morecambe have provoked a number...

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