Cultured Football #167
Cultured Football #167
Copa America. New Low for England. Gael Kakuta. Groundhopping. St Pauli's Guru.
Predicting every game of Copa America 2024: Who will win it?
By for ESPN
Given the ongoing Euro 2024, this year’s Copa America has not received the usual attention. Which is a pity because it is as balanced an edition as any in its long history. It is also enriched / devalued (pick which camp you’re in) with the inclusion of countries that are guest countries that aren’t from South America. Although you do get the feeling that they are invited for non-sporting reasons as the likelihood of anyone of them winning the whole competition is pretty low.
Bonus Pick: 10 players ready to shine at Copa América [Jon Arnold for The Guardian]
England hit new low with dire performance too bad to be boring
By Jonathan Liew for The Guardian
Typically post-match reactions don’t get anywhere close to inclusion in Cultured Football. But this is quite simply a brilliant piece of writing. Including one paragraph where Liew doesn’t use the letter A simply to prove a point about what England are doing wrong.
'I’d still be at Chelsea today if things turned out like they were supposed to...'
By Jack Kenmare for Sport Bible
When Chelsea first laid eyes on Gael Kakuta they were desperate to sign him. So much that they were willing to break enough rules that cost them a two transfer window ban. Yet matters did not pan out as expected for Kakuta who never really made it either at Chelsea or anywhere else. That was partly his fault - he wasn’t mature enough - as he readily admits but not completely.
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What is Groundhopping?
By Guirec Munier for Terrace Edition
For all the stigma towards groundhoppers, I have always viewed them kindly; perhaps even enviously. As someone who lives outside of the UK, I would love to have the ability to 'simply' experience any game they want in England. The stigma seems to be receding - there are now apps which allow you to boast who many different stadia you've been at - and much of that is down to the ability of those who can document their journeys so brilliantly.
Transfer Gurus: St Pauli's Andreas Bornemann
By Bergas Brillianto for Analytics FC
When St Pauli won promotion back to the Bundesliga, their highly innovative young coach Fabian Hürzeler was identified as the main reason for their success. Yet, whilst the Brighton bound Hürzeler was highly influential there were other key people who contributed to St Pauli's success. Starting with Sporting Director Andreas Bornemann.
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Every Saturday, Cultured Football brings you five great football articles you will enjoy reading.
Last Week’s Most Read: 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.