Cultured Football #166
Passion of German Football. World's Most Secretive Team. Using Data to Pick Managers. In Exile from Afghanistan. Psych it Up.
Bratwurst, beer and bellowing – what to expect from a German stadium experience
By Ian Plenderleith for When Saturday Comes
Watching football in Germany is a vibrant, passionate and affordable experience. Wonderful advert for making the effort to catch a game in Germany.
Inside the world’s most secretive soccer team
By Gawon Bae, Hanako Montgomery and Andrew McNicol for CNN
The North Korean national soccer team is shrouded in secrecy, with even its star player Han Kwang Song disappearing for years due to diplomatic issues. All of which leads to plenty of rumours and conspiracy stories. Yet it isn’t necessarily like that.
Using Data In The Search For A New Manager
By Jaymes Monte for StatsBomb
This summer has been pretty unique for the number of clubs looking for managers. And for the ones who have made rather left-field choices. Data is clearly playing a significant part. This how football clubs can and should utilize data to analyze and evaluate the playing styles that managers have implemented throughout their careers, incorporating this analysis into the hiring process.
Bonus Pick: One of the most intriguing managerial appointments this summer has been that of Fabian Hürzeler by Brighton. If you’re wondering who this 31 year old is, here’s a detailed look in. [Pratyush Anand on Medium]
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Khalida Popal: ‘I was accused of wanting to brainwash women to play football’
By Donald McRae for The Guardian
Khalida Popal, former captain of the Afghan women's football team, faced death threats and danger in Afghanistan for speaking out against repression and exposing sexual abuse within the team. The Taliban's return to Afghanistan has created even more danger for women, and Popal has been receiving desperate pleas for help from those trying to escape. This is a harrowing story but also one of hope and strength of the human spirit.
How do you psychologically prepare for a major tournament?
By Sarvatra Vijay for
Euro 2024 is rich in talent not only as far as players are concerned but also when it comes to managers. Still, it probably won’t be the most astute technically who will win out but those who can best manage the pressures of tournament football.
Bonus Pick: Here is a list of players who are expected to truly announce themselves on the global stage at this competition. [Chris Bevan for BBC]
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Every Saturday, Cultured Football brings you five great football articles you will enjoy reading.
Last Week’s (Joint) Most Read: Searching for Liverpool's Champions League winning Starting XI
By Andrew Beasley for Andrew Beasley (BassTunedToRed)
There is a famous photo of that which many think is the peak Liverpool starting eleven during the Klopp era (Alisson - Alexander Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson - Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson - Salah, Firmino, Mane). Yet that side started only one game together, the final of the 2019 Champions League. How come that side play more games together?
Last Week’s (Joint) Most Read: Hell is Empty and all the Devils are Here
By Floyd Heubel for Terrace Edition
Things have not been good for FC Kaiserslautern of late. Absent from the Bundesliga for the past eleven years - four of which were spent in the third tier - they spent past season battling against relegation. Reprieve came from the cup where they surprisingly made it to the final and fans decided to make the most of it by invading Berlin. Wonderful scenes.
Bonus Pick: A look at one man’s passion for the game documented through a photo from every game he attended last season. Makes me want to see more games in person (and get better at taking photos). Brilliant. [By Glen Wilson for Popular Stand Fanzine]