Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech Mo Salah might be the Arab world’s biggest footballing star, but Hakim Ziyech of Ajax and Morocco is right up there in terms of performance. In the 90 league games he’s played so far for Ajax he’s recorded 39 assists and scored 32 goals, which for a midfielder is a phenomenal return.…
1) More Friday night Premier League games There were 12 throughout last season and it’s expected that there will be more this year. The season starts for the first time on a Friday with the Arsenal v Leicester match and with Monday night games still numerous it’s going to be more common than ever to…
I have an affinity with the Arabic world. I have it in my blood, via my parents. I’m very proud of being French, but also very proud of having these roots and this diversity. Diversity is a great advantage for any family. Children who have parents of different nationalities speak different languages and learn from different cultures.…
So when can we say he’s the best player of all time? How about now? There was a moment in April 2007, amid the ongoing debate over how close Messi was to the playing level of Maradona, when something brilliant happened. In a Copa del Rey game against Getafe, the famously non-communicative Messi scored a…
1. England’s diminished expectations There’s a line that John Cleese says in the film Clockwise that’s long been applicable to the way England fans have felt about the team at international tournaments: “It’s not the despair. I can stand the despair. It’s the hope!” Well, going into this World Cup the hopes and expectations for…
At the 1958 World Cup our opponents didn’t really know much about us as there was very little television back then. My goal in the quarter-final is quite famous, but I spoke to my friends at the time and they had only heard the goal on the radio. People wanted to see it but TV was…
Do referees favour bigger clubs? Patrick Vieira, who is on the Manchester City staff, thinks officials are biased in favour of certain big Premiership teams. He recently stated that, “When [Man] United play at home they get some advantages that other teams don’t get.” His comments came after Fulham were controversially denied what appeared to…
The strange case of Real Madrid Resort Island, Ras Al Khaimah and “sportatainment” A billion dollar Real Madrid themed resort – initially planned for Ras Al Khaimah but scrapped last year – could well be back on and shifted to the UAE capital, with The National Bank of Abu Dhabi confirmed as a the Galacticos’…
A tournament where Scotland are the most successful team and the current holders are North Korea. On February 17, the title of Unofficial Football World Champions is up for grabs. And the team that has a chance to win is from this very region. Kuwait will play current holders North Korea in Changsha, China. It…
The fashion and business capital of Italy is somewhere to fall in love with Europe again. The strange thing about big European cities, is that you don’t fully appreciate them until you have lived away from them for a while. You almost take their presence for granted. Then when you do visit, they seem like…
Matt Pomroy 