Fall back on full backs

France in 1998 proved you can win a tournament with no recognised strikers. Denmark in 1992 proved you can win one based around a great goalkeeper. But these days, no international team can have a hope of success without a top quality full back, or two.
Don’t believe me? Look at the history: […]

Matches of the World Cup: Part Two

Sprouting from the mouth following the end of sport’s greatest tournament were calls that the World Cup did not live up to its early promise; it cannot be reckoned to be one of the best; there were very few shock results; and diving along with yellow and red cards ruined the spectacle.
But in the mix […]

Old order reasserts itself

World Cup 2006: The Review
After the mind-blowing number of upsets at the previous World Cup, the 2006 tournament - with the odd exception - saw football’s established names rule once more. And, though defences ruled and there were a lack of enthralling matches, there is still much to remember from the 2006 World Cup - […]

The curtain draws over Germany

These World Cup finals may have in fact been as close to a fairytale as one dares to imagine. And the core of the story has been superb efficiency from the organising committee and a warm welcoming hand from Germany for the world to enter its walls. The manor in which the German fans changed […]

World Cup 2006: Goals Of The Tournament

Less than twenty-four hours after the BBC launched its Goal Of The Tournament competition in Euro 2004, Maniche curled one in from the corner of the penalty area against Holland. Despite this, Mike Martin hopes he is tempting fate in picking his Top 15 three days early.

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