Cultured Football #133
Rise of Scandinavian Talent. Football vs The Planet. Uzbek Joy. Bill Kenwright. Multi-Club Dilemma.
Oedipus in Boots: A Father-Son Football Saga
By Callum Turner for
Scandinavian football is enjoying something of a revival of late, fueled by the rise of a group of talented and, (contrary to previous generations) technically skillful young players. Orri Óskarsson is the latest one to emerge, scoring goals against all who lie in his path, regardless if any of them feature close relatives.
Bonus Pick: a look at the the scenic surroundings of FC København.
What could more European football mean for planet?
By David Lockwood & Matt Hickson for BBC Sport
In a move that pays no regards to players and coaches' calls to be allowed more time to rest, European football administrators have decided that the best way forward is to schedule more games. This on top of an ever expanding calendar imposed by FIFA. And whilst both claim that they have the sports' best interests at heart, their interests are surprisingly well aligned with those plans that make more money rather than the ones that respect the players. Given all that, should it be any surprise that the impact of more games on football's carbon footprint is also being disregarded?
Pakhtakor And Prayer
By Donat Iskanderoff for Terrace Edition
There is beauty in pieces like this which talk about the history of Uzbek side Pakhtakor FC and their rise to success after a tragic accident, and the intense support and passion for Navbahor. Football once more showing that, ultimately, we are all similar.
Were you forwarded this mail? Like what you see? Here’s what you should do next:
‘Do you really own Everton?’: the day Bill Kenwright gave us a lift to a game
It is extremely sad that the final years of a man who loved Everton so much and had arguably made every decision for the benefit of the club endured such a torrid time. Those final years should not tarnish the reputation of a man, arguably the last of the old school fan-done-good owner, who only wanted to make his club proud.
When Moneyball works too well: Milan, Toulouse and what happens when the nerds take over
By Ryan O'Hanlon for ESPN
With multiple club ownership on the increase, so too will challenges to UEFA’s regulations about participation in European competitions. That was already challenged this season by AC Milan and Toulouse, both of whom have been more successful than expected.
If you liked any of this week’s picks, why not share Cultured Football with someone else who might like it just as much?
Last Week’s Most Read: Big Data Dig: In the footsteps of Championship giants
By Ali Maxwell and Luton Analytics for The EFL Newsletter by NTT20
Is there a player in the Championship who could be as good as Jude Bellingham? Perhaps someone capable of following in the path of Jack Grealish? Or a difference maker like Emi Buendia? An entertaining and insightful use of data to find out.
Before We Leave…
This has been something of a big week for me as it has seen the publication of my latest book ‘Echoes of an Italian Summer’ which talks about the Italia 90 World Cup. To be clear, this isn’t a retelling of what happened during that tournament but rather picks out story threads that came out of it and talks about them. Story threads like that of the other Schillaci who could have been partnering Toto up-front for Italy. Or how Germany got their iconic kits. And why Italia 90 contributed to the evolution of tiki-taka.
If that’s something you think you’ll like or you'd like to show your support for Cultured Football, you would really be giving me a boost if you get a copy.